August is upon us, which means that college students across the country will be packing up their belongings and returning to dorm life. Dorm rooms are known for being small and cramped, with very limited storage. You don’t have to live in cramped quarters. There are many clever ways to maximize the space you have. Continue reading to find out how to transform your dorm into a comfortable, functional space.
Rise Above It All
You must make the most of every inch of space you have in order to get the best out of it. You can make your bed more spacious by placing it on bed risers. This space can be used to store bins or containers with blankets, books, and clothes. You can choose from many different styles of storage containers. Some even have wheels that make it easy to find what you need. Seventeen.com recommends looking for risers that have built-in outlets to charge your tablet, smartphone, or laptop from the comfort of your bed.
Handy Hooks
Hooks are useful when you need to hang clothes, bags, or accessories. It is frowned upon to drive nails through dorm walls. Also, it can be difficult to get a nail through concrete walls. Temporary hooks are a good solution. They stick to the walls securely. These hooks can hold many items, from coats and bathrobes to keys and backpacks. Simply remove the hooks at the end of each semester.
Stack ‘Em up
Stackable baskets and bins are a great way of gaining vertical space on your desks, on top of armoires, or on the ground. You can store your most used items in open bins to make it easy to find what you need.
Over-the-door Shoe Organizer
One of the most common complaints about dorm rooms is a lack of closet space. An over-the-door shoe organizer can be hung inside your closet to organize your shoes and free up space. Shoe organizers can also be used to organize other items. These organizers are great for organizing toiletries, pens, and highlighters, as well as paper clips.
Tension rods
A majority of dorm closets only have one hanging rod, which is not enough space for all your clothes. To maximize space, add an additional rod. They are simple to install. Look for rods with hooks that extend above the rod. Simple! According to the pros at Ambersorganizing.com, if possible, avoid bringing an entire semester’s worth of clothing with you at the start of the semester. To avoid overcrowding, swap clothes if you are visiting your home.
Corner Check
Dorm rooms often overlook corners. Although the corner between your desk and bed might not be large enough for a full-size shelf unit, it may be large enough for a rolling cart or freestanding shelving rack. Hanging an adjustable tension rod to hang scarves, belts, or ties in a corner is another way to maximize space.
Avoid Duplicates
You should contact your roommate if you plan to share dorm space with them. This will ensure that you don’t overcrowd the room with duplicates. You can save valuable space by only using one TV, microwave, iron, iron, and ironing board.
Miscellaneous Tips
A shelf that is placed over the bed can be very small in floor space but provides additional storage.
The bedside storage caddy comes with plenty of pockets for your TV remote, phone, or other reading materials. The caddy can be securely placed between the mattress and box spring.
You can replace bulky, clunky hangers with slimmer, more slip-resistant hangers. They are smaller and more practical while preventing your clothes from slipping.