Madison Wuu

Living in the basement: a hidden gem

Before coming to Dartmouth, I was skeptical when I found out I'd be living in the basement of French Hall. Will my room have a window? Will I spend my first year enclosed in my the basement? I had a lot of concerns and anxieties about living in the basement, so I wanted to write this article for any student who might feel skeptical about their dorm assignment—especially if it is a basement room.

When I first moved in, I walked down the stairs into a dimly lit, long narrow hallway. But after nearly two terms here, my perspective of my dorm assignment has completely changed. What many don't realize is that living in the basement of French Hall is a pleasant arrangement. Here are a few eight perks that might change any negative perceptions you may have of living in the basement.

#8) It's soundproof! 

Basement rooms are surprisingly soundproof! My next-door neighbor blasts music occasionally, and while it's audible in the hallway, I can't hear a thing once I'm in my room. At the start of the year, I worried that my other neighbor—whose bed is literally on the other side of my wall—would hear my conversations, music, or movies. But he assured me he hears nothing. Noise isn't a concern here, and that's something I truly appreciate.

#7) There are wooden floors 

Compared to other dorms with carpeted floors, we're lucky to have wooden floors, which I personally prefer. First off, they just look better. Wood has a sleek, modern vibe that makes the space feel cleaner and more polished.

But beyond aesthetics, wooden floors are easier to maintain. Spills, dirt, and dust? A quick sweep or wipe, and they're gone. Carpets, on the other hand, trap stains and dirt deep in their fibers, making them harder to clean and less allergy-friendly. In fact, I know someone who had to switch dorms because their carpeted room was triggering allergies, but ever since moving here, they have been totally fine.

#6) Fewer people, less waiting

With about half the number of residents as a typical floor, the basement is quieter, and the bathrooms are rarely occupied. Plus, at least in the French Hall basement, the showers are actually twice the size of a regular one.

#5) A quiet retreat within a social dorm

For the 28s, French Hall is a social dorm, so having a bit of separation when walking down to my room is actually nice. As someone who enjoys being social but also values alone time, the basement feels like a perfect retreat when I need a quiet, undisturbed space. 

#4) Available study spaces

We have two open study rooms in French Hall, which are versatile spaces. I've used them to hang out with friends, conduct an interview, work out, and, of course, get some studying done.

#3) The basement does, in fact, have windows

Before meeting my roommate, I remember texting her online. We were slightly worried that our room wouldn't get any natural sunlight—understandable for anyone assigned to a basement dorm. Thankfully, the basement does have windows, so there's no need to worry! My view has been surprisingly lovely. In the fall, I spotted deer and groundhogs; in the winter, watching the snow fall against the trees has been beautiful.

#2) Easy access to laundry

Laundry has never been an issue for me. In French Hall, we have four washing machines and four dryers. There's an app called LaundryConnect that lets you track available machines; however, living in the basement, I rarely need it since the laundry room is just a few steps from my door. But you can't always rely on the app. By the time you check, someone else might have already started their load. Sometimes, the app marks a machine as available, which is technically true—but in reality, it's still occupied because someone hasn't taken their laundry out. It's frustrating, but it happens. I can't imagine how much worse it would be for someone on the fourth floor, hauling their laundry downstairs, only to find every machine in use. Yet another win for the basement!

#1) Spacious and Private Room Options

The basement offers singles, two-room doubles, and three-room doubles, which provide more space and privacy compared to a standard one-room double. I really like my two-room double setup. I think it's the best of both worlds because I still get to see my roommate every day but also get my own separate space to myself. Another thing I like that came with my room is that we were provided with a mini fridge and microwave. Every room in French Hall was provided with these amenities, and so while it's not unique to the basement, it's something that only first-year students living in the River cluster (French and Judge Hall) and the Choates cluster (Little, Brown, Cohen, and Bissel Hall) have, which is a sweet bonus. 

Given any bad views of living in the basement you originally may have had, if you've made it this far, I hope I've convinced you that it's not as bad as it seems. At the end of the day, there's genuinely no place I'd rather be.