I recently received this question from a blog reader:
I just turned 18 and I am getting ready to move out of my parents house and attend college. The dorm rooms are smaller than the normal space I am accustomed to living in. Therefore I was just wondering if your could give a few tips on how to store all my clothes without cluttering everything. Inside the dorm there are two chest of drawers one for me and one for my roommate.
Thanks for your question and congrats to you! College is such an exciting time and with a few simple organizing strategies up your sleeve, it can be an organized time, too. Keep these two key principles in mind to keep your dorm room clutter free.
Principle 1
Make the most of the space you have. Add storage solutions that take advantage of all the available space. Take advantage of unused vertical space by adding a set of tall storage cubbies and canvas drawers. Make the most of your closet and hanging space by adding hanging organizers to make more space for sweatshirts, sweaters, tees or even shoes. Or, take advantage of the space between your hanging clothes and the floor by adding storage drawers to tuck in below your hanging clothes. You could also look for space under your bed using an under-the-bed storage system, or add hooks or an over-the-door-shoe organizer to take advantage of the space behind your door. Once you’ve gotten creative and stretched your storage space, it’s time to embrace principle 2.
Principle 2
Don’t pretend you have more space than you do. This is the tough one … if you have space for ten sweaters, only keep ten sweaters in your dorm room. Trying to fit more into a space than will fit results in clutter! You can still have variety in your wardrobe by changing out items when you go home to visit … which you do plan to do, right? Take your very favorite things to school, keep the extras at home and change out items when you go home.
Good luck to you!
Another suggestion is that most college dorm rooms have options to “loft” your bed. This will give you a lot more floor space in those small small dorm spaces. Then you can store things other out of the closet and make room inside for your clothes.
“Don’t pretend you have more space than you do”
The best advice, even for those of us who are a *few* years past college age!
I’m going to make a sign for my scrapbook room (and my closet, Grace’s room, the livingroom…) that says just that!
Can’t wait until tomorrow…
Christall
also, you may want to contact your roommate before school begins and decide on a color and design scheme that works for both of you. The Company Store has great linens, sheets, towels, bedding sets, many of them on sale. A room looks more “together” and feels more cozy when the design is coordinated.
best to you, my daughter is off to boarding school in September so we will be following these great suggestions, too!
all the best,
Jessica from It’s Not About Your Stuff
There are tons and tons of different styles of all of the above mentioned ideas. You can be functional and stylish all at the same times. Check out http://www.dormbuys.com for ideas.
I have two sons in dormrooms. I found a great shelf unit for their desk’s. Provides up to 12 feet of shelf and takes up one inch of floor. Does not touch walls. http://www.therackforyou.com
Hey I have a dorm room to myself and I have a lot of space and i want it to look full but at the ssame time not messy or cluttered..how can i make my dorm room look full but nice and designable(if thats a word lol)?