More specifically, of all-double suites

The housing lottery is fast approaching, and you’re probably dreaming of a single, or at least that your housing group snags a suite with singles and you’re one of the lucky ducks chosen to have one. However, I’d like to give a few reasons why Bwog readers should consider aiming for an all-double suite this year.

(Before I am accused of attempting to dissuade people against singles so I snag one for myself, I’ll announce that I won’t be living on campus next semester and won’t be doing the lottery, so I have no stake in the game.)

I have spent my junior year living in a humongous suite in 600 consisting of doubles, which was in fact the first choice of my housing group in the last lottery. Why? The biggest consideration was the humongous kitchen. We cook and eat in a massive, sunny room complete with a pantry, huge windows, and more cabinet space than we have ever been able to fill. This has made our suite perfect for all of our hosting needs, as we can hold everything from friend group potlucks to massive ragers in our kitchen. The entrance hallway is also so large that we were able to turn it into a living room, with a sofa, dresser for hanging coats, and now even a bunch of floor pillows, for small and cozy hangouts there. If you and your housing group are big on hosting and/or cooking, a suite like this might be right for you; usually, and especially for juniors, the tradeoff is between large and nice common areas like ours and the option of a few singles.

Additionally, double-only suites that aren’t the kind usually filled up by sophomores (like the A suite in 600, for example) tend to have much larger double rooms than you might expect. My roommate and I’s room is so large that in the identical suite on other floors it is sometimes the kitchen! The space in a single is all yours, but is often small. A double with someone you live well with may actually allow for more personal space than living alone.

Finally, of course, the main thing that made me and my suitemates so willing to live in doubles despite it technically being possible to get singles was that we each enjoy our roommate’s company, and each other’s! Currently all the roommates in my suite are best friends with each other (especially me and my roommate–we are three years strong) and love the time we spend interacting in our rooms. Because the whole suite gets along, we never let the ample common space go to waste. Every night we work together at the kitchen table, or maybe take a break to play cards; we co-host parties; we share dinners. Being in a group with people you love and love to be around makes the shared space feel far more important and attractive than your own.

Of course, living styles are highly personal. However, if you’re an extrovert and deep lover of your friends as I am, or if you love cooking, hosting, or just a room full of sunshine, I hope this brief article has made you consider that you may love living in a doubles suite for another year, too.

Header image via Bwarchives