Going away to college is one of the most exciting times in a person’s life. And organizing and decorating your dorm room is just one part of that. In order to efficiently organize your dorm room, you can take a couple of easy steps. Ultimately, it all comes down to choosing functional things and furniture, along with arranging them in the best way possible. With these steps, you will quickly find yourself in a dorm room you’ll be happy studying and spending time in.
Pack only the essentials
The first step to organizing your dorm room is ensuring there isn’t any clutter taking up space. Pack only the essentials to prevent the clutter from taking up your dorm room. However, when moving away to study, it can be challenging to determine the right amount of items to pack for college. One of the most important things you should bring is the ones you use daily. Create a packing list in the weeks before the move, so you don’t miss anything important. This way, you’ll find it easier to remember what you will need rather than trying to think of it all in one day. You can ask your friends and family for advice when deciding whether to take something with you.
Consider the layout of your dorm room
If you can, try to find out what the layout of your dorm room is before you arrive at your college. This will help you visualize the dorm room and plan the furniture layout. You will be prepared if you have to go out and buy small furniture or decor items. And, in case you have any space on your side of the room, you can use this to maximize storage space or add a comfortable chair. Having a small nook where you can read or relax will drastically improve your room’s overall feel and look. You will find it cozier and more inviting when you make it more than just a place to study and sleep. When choosing smaller pieces of furniture, such as a chair or an ottoman, make sure you pick one that comes with extra storage space.
Separate and organize the kitchen area
The best change you can make to efficiently organize your dorm room is to separate the kitchen area if you have one. Depending on the regulations in your dorm, you might be able to bring along certain kitchen appliances, such as a mini fridge or a microwave. Make sure to check whether these items are allowed before you buy them so your money and effort don’t go to waste. In case you can bring some of these appliances along with you, it’s best to separate them from the rest of the dorm room. This is something you can organize with help from your dorm roommate.
If you can get in touch before the move-in day arrives, talk about who will bring which item to avoid unnecessary clutter in the dorm room.
Once you’re all set with the appliances and kitchenware, it’s time to organize them inside your dorm room. Keep them in an area closer to the door, so they don’t take up space on your or your roommate’s side of the room. A small, freestanding shelf is the best way to keep all your kitchen-related items in one place. Combine it with decorative baskets for kitchenware and supplies, and you’ve got yourself the most functional and beautiful kitchen nook you could have in a dorm room.
Efficiently organize your dorm room with storage solutions
When it comes to organizing a dorm room, it can sometimes be difficult to do it efficiently with limited storage. Luckily, certain storage solutions can easily fit into any storage space. One of the best ways to add storage is to utilize the available vertical space. You can hang a shoe rack or baskets over the door. One of the smaller storage solution ideas you can implement is adding a storage cart for all the things you need on a daily basis.
As for the area under the bed, you can use it to your advantage. Add shelves or boxes to keep all your items in. Best of all, this area won’t even be visible with the right-sized linens. Professionals from homegrownmoving.com advise you to use high-quality packing boxes that you can reuse when moving back home. These can also serve as a storage solution while living in your dorm. You might be tempted to add shelving above your bed. However, not only is this probably against the code, but it can also be dangerous. If you do have any shelves above the bed, it’s best to put only lighter items on them.
Create an area for studying
With limited space available, separating the study space from the rest of the room can be challenging. But there are a couple of things you can do that will help you stay focused. Depending on the layout of your room, you might be able to add a room divider. This will not only help you study better, but it will also be much easier for you to relax when you don’t feel as if you are in the same space that you study in. Keep only the things you will need on your desk for studying and schoolwork. Keep your school supplies in drawers using drawer dividers so you can minimize the clutter. When organizing your dorm room, it’s crucial to reduce the number of distractions on your desk so you can stay focused for extended periods.
To sum up
As we can see, creating a dorm room that is functional as well as inviting isn’t too difficult. With a good room layout and enough storage space, anything is possible. You’ll soon find yourself living in a clutter-free and aesthetically pleasing space. So, before you leave for college, remember to follow these steps to quickly and efficiently organize your dorm room.