Maybe it's just the style with English departments, but when I was in college our common areas were full of hand-me-downs: plaid wool couches from the 1970s and burgundy velveteen wingback chairs from some dead grandmother's basement. Chairs that sagged and sofas that sank-our lounges were full of backaches waiting to happen. Today's student body has dramatically better options.

Campfire Screens. Manufactured by Steelcase.

Work, Study, and Think in Private-Without Being Too Solitary

Take the Campfire collection by Steelcase. Each piece is designed after something casual and commonplace-a park bench, a campfire, a beach umbrella. The idea behind the suite is "to create a space within a space…to create a familiar place where people can gather and collaborate informally," says Design Director Kirt Martin. Students can hide themselves away in a corner to study quietly or join a larger group in the center of a room.

For those moments when some privacy is needed, the Campfire Screen is the answer. They allow people to separate without confining them too much: "Campfire Screens can be pulled close to define a space, while still being translucent enough to let you know where everyone is." Available in right-hand and left-hand versions, the Campfire Screens by Steelcase can be used alone, in pairs, or in groups.

For a wonderfully cozy study niche, two couches can be set facing each other with two Campfire Screens behind each seating group. For one student, a lone Campfire Screen is enough to create a little personal space. The idea is to "define your boundaries"-to let passersby know that you need a little privacy. But the screens are more than practical: they construct a "favorite place" where you can "escape and focus." Campfire Screens give students (or any user) a little slice of the architectural pie-it's your space to use how you want.

About the Manufacturer: For nearly 100 years, Steelcase has been manufacturing "a comprehensive portfolio of workplace products, furnishings and services." Globally accessible through a network of more than 650 dealers, Steelcase has its headquarters in Grand Rapids, Michigan. With three core brands- Steelcase, Turnstone and Coalesse-as well as specialty sub-brands like Nurture, their healthcare division, Steelcase offers a comprehensive line of products.