For years, student housing furniture was seen as cheap, easily attainable furniture that resembled shacks put together by local groups. And for years, that perception was true. However, that isn’t the case anymore.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the student housing industry has changed significantly. One of the biggest changes has come from the growth of amenities and quality furniture that can be found in student housing complexes.

Rather than seen as concrete dorms that just happen to be located off campus, student housing complexes are now routinely fitted with full gyms, luxury pools, golf simulators, and a number of perks that resemble a resort more than student housing.

Where Did This Desire for High-Quality Student Housing Come From?

While the large shift came after the pandemic, it wouldn’t be fair to say that COVID-19 was the sole cause for this change. According to Walker & Dunlop’s 2024 Student Housing Outlook, there are a variety of factors that have led to the change in the quality of student housing furniture.

The first change comes from the natural progression of student housing. What started as basic apartments located close to campus grew to include things like pools, gyms, and basketball courts. However, just like any other progression, the next wave had to one-up what came before them.

On the surface, these student housing complexes mirror vacation resorts and luxury hotels. Some modern complexes have features such as movie theaters, simulators, open bar lobbies, and more that would’ve never been seen 10 to 15 years ago.

Large Universities Linked To Off-Campus Student Housing Growth

Large universities are where the money has been made regarding student housing development. When the pandemic hit, small schools got hit hard, which led to unprecedented numbers in student growth for larger universities as they could provide student resources that smaller schools couldn’t.

With this sudden jolt in enrollment, larger schools quickly ran out of on-campus housing. This has led to large universities turning to developers to create off-campus student housing.

Along with this, large universities are often billed as a haven of independence for new adults who are entering college with the goal of starting their life and getting out of their parents’ sights. These desires have helped boost the demand for off-campus student housing.

Student Housing Furniture Can Help You Stick Out

According to Student Housing Business, there was an uptick in competition within the student housing marketlast year. The overall slowing of college enrollment, widespread building of new complexes, and rising living costs have all combined to fuel the fire of competition for student renters. One way to pull ahead is by investing in the quality of your student housing furniture.

It’s no secret that students are going to research potential options before settling on a complex to live in. Despite the industry changes since 2020, student housing is still saddled with the reputation of having cheap and low-quality furniture. This is where you can rewrite that narrative and present yourself as a modern, sleek complex.

While there was a race to create lavish complexes, research is showing that students are not swayed by elegant amenities anymore. What had, briefly, become a spectacle of arcade rooms and luxury pools has turned into a desire for simplicity and convenience for student renters. This desire for simple, high-quality furniture is something that F3 is happy to supply.

Let F3 Function First Furniture Handle Your Student Housing Furniture Needs

With over 30 years of furniture manufacturing experience, you can our team to furnish your apartment complex. We have completed a wide variety of student housing projects ranging from Oregon University to the University of Tennessee Knoxville. Our ability to reach across the nation helps us guide your student housing complex to victory.

With custom orders and bamboo-made furniture, our work is designed to fix issues and keep them solved. In addition to sustainably manufactured furniture, our student housing projects come with a one-year refresh service in which we will tweak and refresh your complex’s furniture to ensure it looks brand new when students arrive.

Call (888) 335-6881 to explore student housing furniture options with the team at F3 Function First Furniture today.