Space Saving Tips for College Students

If you or one of your family members is moving into a college dorm this upcoming fall, you’ll soon experience the difficulty of trying to fit all of your belongings into a 12×19’ space, which gets smaller still if you have a roommate. Thankfully there are clever solutions to help make the most out of your dorm experience.

• Pare down: Before you move in, going through all of your things and getting rid of or donating anything that isn’t necessary will make living in the dorms easier. A good rule of thumb is that if you haven’t used/worn something in over a year, chances are you could part with it and survive just fine.
• Use bed risers: If your dorm does not provide materials to bunk the beds, consider purchasing bed risers to lift your bed off of the ground and allow for storage underneath. Those few extra inches make all of the difference, and will let you store more than you could have otherwise.
• Tension rods: Tension rods are inexpensive and can be used to cover closets that don’t have doors, or to create storage areas in small, awkward spaces. They can be used to hang clothes, belts, or even high-heeled shoes.
• Use wall space: Hanging wall racks or over-the-door organizers take advantage of space that would otherwise be left unused. They create quick spots to store items that you use regularly.
• Store extra items: No matter how much space saving you do, there may be items that simply do not fit in your dorm room. In this situation, consider renting a small self-storage unit nearby to house your things until you move out of the dorms. This can be used to store seasonal items or larger pieces of furniture that you will use when you move into a house or apartment, but do not need while in the dorms.