Residential Life

Furnishings Provided by the University

Information about residence hall room furniture provided by Brown, under-bed space and rules regarding furniture removal.

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Each resident is supplied with:

Bed frame
Bookcase
Bureau
Closet or wardrobe
Desk and desk chair
Mattress (36" x 80" - twin extra long)
One recycling bin per room or suite
One trash can per resident

In various buildings, some of the above items may be "built-in" rather than free-standing.

General room lighting is provided, but additional desk and floor lamps are not. Windows have pull shades, curtains or blinds (fire retardant).

The diversity of living options we have on campus extends also to furnishings that may be unique to certain locations. Thus, rooms in Andrews have private sinks, residents of Perkins have cork bulletin boards furnished in the room, and there are towel bars on the interior of the room doors in Wriston Quad.

Under-bed clearance varies depending on the bed’s height setting. Beds are generally set at a medium-high level when students arrive, and students may adjust them to their preferred height. At the lowest setting, there are approximately 11 inches between the floor and the bed frame. We recommend measuring after arrival before purchasing storage containers or risers; any risers must accommodate the bed’s wide legs.

The Brown Bookstore and other vendors sell bed risers that will elevate the bed frame about five or six inches while still providing a solid and safe footing on the floor (these commercial products are made of plastic and are less likely to scar the floor).

You should talk with staff in the Key Office at the Office of Residential Life (3rd floor, Grad Center E) before making any changes to University-provided furnishings.

When you move out, it is expected that your room will contain the same furniture it did when you moved in. Missing furniture will incur a residence hall damage fine; extra furniture that requires Facilities Management to move it out will also incur a residence hall damage fine.

There are fines per piece of non-returned furniture upon vacancy. If a piece is not found, the resident will be charged for the cost of replacement.

Safety-related Furniture Restrictions

While you may certainly add items to your room to make it more suitable to your style, remember that furniture that was not provided by the University is prohibited when it poses a fire or life safety hazard. Thus, prohibited furniture items include, but are not limited to:

Furniture of flammable construction
High cinderblock pilings
Some lofts (see Restricted Items)
Tall objects that could interfere with sprinkler system coverage

Health and safety inspections of student rooms are conducted to ensure reasonable compliance with University Fire Safety Regulations and to evaluate the structural integrity of any non-University items. Conditions deemed unsafe by the inspector must be corrected. Unsafe conditions may result in the removal of the safety hazard and/or a fine.