There are many great and terrible things about going to college. One of the best things is your room, be it a dorm, apartment or house. It's a space for you to be tranquil at the end of a long day, whether or with roommates. However, I will say that there are certain perks of having your own private bedroom.
1. You get to express yourself
One of the best things about having a room, private or not, is getting to decorate it! But in a private room, you have the whole space to decorate however you want without having to worry about whether someone likes that painting/picture/plant. So decorate away! Move the furniture. If you're into feng shui, double bonus! Nobody is there to tell you they don't like the bed where it is or the dresser in the corner.
2. The space belongs to you
The space is yours. The whole closet, dresser and storage space belongs to you, so you don't have to worry about cutting down the amount of clothes you bring for the sake of others. That being said, you might want to consider how much you will have to carry in!
3. So does the food
Specifically, in a dorm, you can make any food you want without worrying about sharing it or making the room smell. Generally speaking, you can just enjoy food in the privacy of your private room and take a step back from the day you just had.
4. You can be noisy
Aside from people living above, below, or next to you, being too loud or distracting is not a problem. You can crank your tunes or watch your favorite show without headphones in the peace of your private space!
5. Or you can have silence
However, when you need it to be quiet, it will be. You don't need to fear asking your roommate to "keep it down" or worry about their snoring!
6. You can sleep uninterrupted
Speaking of snoring, in your own private room you don't need to worry about your tendencies to snort, talk or walk in your sleep! Okay, well you don't need to worry about it in terms of disturbing anyone else in the room.
It also doesn't matter whether you're a night owl or an early bird because no matter what time you get up or go to bed, no one will be bothered. You can do what you want with your sleep schedule without worrying about waking someone up in the process!
7. You can have the shades open
One thing I found to be frustrating when I lived with my first roommates in the dorm is that one of them hated having the curtains open. They weren't very interested in allowing the light in the room or in the survival of my poor bamboo plant. So, the good news is, if you love the light streaming into your private room, great! You don't have to worry if someone else hates it! And if you hate the light coming into your room (are you a vampire?), then you don't have to worry about a normal human--I mean, someone who likes light--opening the curtains all the time!
8. You can come and go as you please
When you have a private room, you don't have to worry about disturbing your roommatewith your preference for night- or early-morning classes. Stay out all night! Come back at 3:00 a.m. Wake up at 5:00 a.m. and turn the lights on! Nobody will judge you and nobody will be constantly annoyed by your coming and going. On the flipside, you don't have to worry about being annoyed by a roommate who is always in the room.
9. You can have guests over...or not
If you love having people over, plan a party! Have as many people over as you want and don't worry about a cranky, introverted roommate. If you're the introverted type and don't want people over all the time, even better that you have a private bedroom. You don't have to worry about that pesky extroverted roommate with the screaming friends.
10. You have freedom
Most of all, you have a sense of freedom and an opportunity to be your own individual and grow as a person. You're not tethered down by a restrictive roommate or being constantly bothered by someone in your own personal space.
Having your own room is a step toward adulthood. It requires a lot of responsibility, but also provides unique opportunities, including the chance to express yourself creatively in the ways you decorate, eat what you want when you want and avoid sharing. The best part is having a place to just exist and call your own.