Dorm rooms can be pretty stuffy and it can be hard to adjust from having a bedroom all to yourself to sharing a room with a stranger.
Stuff can spill over from sides and you may find it difficult to keep all of your belongings in order.
We’ve got the tips to keeping your room neat and tidy while also maximizing storage and getting the most out of your space. You don’t need to chuck everything you own in order to make space; follow these tips and you’ll find yourself with extra room where you need it most.
1. Trim things you don’t need.
I understand that your room may be packed with all types of cool stuff, but this may not fly in dorms. Space is valuable. So if you don’t need it, don’t bring it.
If you end up finding more space later on, you can always bring things back after breaks or have them mailed up by your rents.
I didn’t think I’d manage to fit everything I had in my dorm, but I managed to organize myself and ended up bringing more and more every time I came back home.
2. Go vertical.
Floorspace is cramped in college. Your bed and desk will probably take up most of your rooms square footage. The best way to get around this is to stack up.
Shelving units are great, especially if they can be put on your walls. Plastic drawers or even boxes work out, too.
My roommate keeps the majority of his clothes in a plastic drawer set that comes with 5 compartments, and it sits comfortably in a corner, only about 3 feet wide. Another space saver? The space under your bed! Pick up some risers, lift up that bed and call it a day.
3. Arrange efficiently.
Don’t waste an inch of space. If one thing can’t fit somewhere, another will.
Many students bunk their beds to save the space of one bed, which is huge. Some even just bunk their own bed and put a futon or couch underneath for themselves or guests.
Have things sitting right up against each other, even on your shelves. Keeping your clothes folded allows you to use space very well. The most efficient way to store laundry that I have seen is to hang it.
A large laundry bag can be hung from the top of your door, or by a hook on a wall. The closet and drawers should be well arranged and sorted too. The back of these storage units are hard to get to, so remember to put the more important things up front.
4. Hook it up!
Wall hangers and hooks are a great way to make use of wall space. I have seen a room get creative and fashion a whole system of shelves out of wall hooks, rope, and plywood.
See what you can do if you need the extra space. When in doubt, improvise. Part of being a college student is adapting to problems that come up, and where there’s a will, there’s always a way to cram as many things as you can into a room!
