If there’s one thing that all PBSA operators, landlords and student furniture suppliers know for sure, it’s that their furniture is going to take a bit of a beating.

But we’re only young once, and you can’t really blame students for letting loose. For many of them, it will be their first time away from home, and it’s easy to forget that there are still rules to follow (even if they’re not living under their parents’ roof any more).

To counterbalance the lapse of judgement on their part, student furniture needs to be long lasting. Standard sofas, beds and desks from your average high street store won’t even make it to the end of Freshers Week, but student accommodation furniture providers such as ourselves come fully prepared.

Furniture can be long lasting in student properties, but items need to be designed with the end users in mind. In this blog, we discuss how to get the most out of your pieces and the best student furniture to install.

TOP TIPS FOR LONG LASTING STUDENT FURNITURE

Furniture that isn’t right for the market won’t last very long. This will mean a lot of added expenditure for replenishment. Prevention is always the best cure, so follow our top tips to get a good few years out of any piece you purchase.

TIP #1: REACH OUT TO STUDENT ACCOMMODATION FURNITURE SUPPLIERS

We’ve seen it all in our 18 years of fitting out student properties. From beds that have collapsed thanks to drunken students attempting to fly like Superman, and coffee tables that have been propped up with textbooks because three of the legs have mysteriously disappeared. Nothing surprises us anymore when we’re brought in to update furnishings for the first time in used student properties.

With nearly two decades worth of experience in the market, we’ve developed strong contacts with the best student furniture manufacturers. Our pieces stand the test of time, ensuring weekly replenishment duties are a thing of the past.

Durability is key, and we source products to reflect that including:

  • Furniture that meets Crib 5 standards
  • Waterproof mattresses and bedding (with 3–4 days notice)
  • Items designed from hard wearing materials

Which leads us nicely to our next point:

TIP #2: KEEP MATERIALS IN MIND

The biggest mistake that can be made when looking for the best student furniture is forgetting to consider the materials. As an example, there are some truly lovely velvet sofas on the market, but would you trust a student not to get beer or bolognaise sauce all over it?

Neither would we.

On the other hand, leather and vinyl sofas have greater durability, so clearing up spills is more straightforward. Your student residents won’t need to ruin cushions or throws by covering up the pasta sauce ingrained into the arm of the sofa either, so that’s also a plus.

Hardwoods are a great choice as well for coffee tables, sideboards and media units, as they’re naturally more durable than softwoods. And it would take some serious dedication to break furniture with metal frames and bases.

If you’re struggling to pick the right student furniture that makes the grade, contact a member of our team for help.

TIP #3: EDUCATE

Every day is a school day, and that goes double for students who should literally be learning as much as possible while they’re at university. You don’t have to teach them Engineering or Maths, but you can teach them to care for your (and technically — their) furniture properly.

Generally speaking, students aren’t going to know the best furniture care methods off the top of their heads.

As an example, leather sofas and chairs should be treated with specialised cleaning products every four weeks at a minimum. This keeps the leather from wearing out quickly. But if no one tells the students this, how are they to know?

If possible, try to give the students a practical demonstration on how to care for furniture, and leave them a cheat-sheet or care guide to help. This will encourage them to take better care of furnishings, and stop them from trying an old wives tale such as using white wine to get rid of red wine stains.

And just in case you were wondering, white wine can remove some of the red pigments, but it’s not the most effective solution. Plus, it leaves the entire room smelling like a vineyard, so we definitely don’t recommend it.

WHAT’S THE BEST STUDENT FURNITURE TO INSTALL?

Knowing how to keep student furniture as long lasting as possible will keep you in good stead, but the type of furniture you install will also make a huge difference. Below, we list the best student furniture you should use in your property.

SOFAS

As you’ve probably guessed by now, we wouldn’t advise putting a fabric sofa in a student property. A more durable and stain-resistant material is needed to ensure the sofa lasts for a good few years.

We have a range of leather sofas, including two-seaters and three-seaters, so just ask. Don’t forget we have leather armchairs to complete the set, too.

BEDS

Your best bet to prevent beds from breaking is to go with a metal frame. They’re extremely durable, more resistant to general wear-and-tear, and they’re also the most cost-effective option.

All of our metal frame beds can be assembled and installed by trained LOFT team members, ensuring every nut and bolt is in place. Before leaving, we also carry out safety checks to make sure the bed is fit for use (by which we mean sleeping, not trying to be Superman).

DESKS

Hopefully, your student residents will be keen to study. When they hit the books, they’ll need a strong and spacious desk to work from.

Our collection of desks come with large worktops for spreading out worksheets and text books, drawers to keep everything neat and tidy when not in use, and an ample amount of legroom underneath.

SOURCING THE RIGHT STUDENT FURNITURE

Finding the right student furniture isn’t always easy, but knowing the best people to approach certainly helps. LOFT has been fitting out PBSAs and student house-shares for nearly two decades, so we know how to source furniture that suits everyone’s needs.

All of our pieces specifically cater to the student market, selected by our procurement team and interior designers. This is how we know they’re sturdy and on-trend.

And when it comes to delivery, you have the option for our installation staff to assemble and install every item of furniture, ensuring it’s set up properly and ready to be used safely, time and time again.

We’re always keen to talk about new projects, so contact the team with your requirements today.

CONTACT US

Contact us today to speak about how we can help upgrade your property

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