Clean & Clutter Free Professional Organizing Services

CLEAN & CLUTTER FREE BLOG

Simply Organized

  • Home
  • SERVICES
    • VIRTUAL ORGANIZING
  • Blog
  • Testimonials/Gallery
  • Contact Us
  • About
  • Press Releases
  • Resources

7/24/2020

Do’s & Don’ts for Organizing College Dorm Rooms

0 Comments

Read Now
 
Picture
​​The key to getting and keeping your college dorm room organized, is to ensure that you have everything you need, and nothing that you don't...
​
With my daughter going off to college in a few weeks, dorm rooms have been on my mind, along with the shock of how fast these last few months with her have passed.   I sent my oldest daughter off to college 3 years ago and so we have been through it all before.  With exception to enduring a day full of emotions and tears, these tips will ensure that all goes as smoothly as possible on move-in day.
 

DO:  PLAN AHEAD FOR FURNITURE AND DECOR
If you know ahead of time who you are going to be rooming with, talk with your future roommate in advance to avoid duplication of larger items such as a dorm refrigerator, microwave, TV, coffee pot, etc.  This is also a good time to discuss decorating, and come up with a style or theme together so that your choice of decor style and color doesn’t clash with your roommate’s.

DO: SPACE PLAN
If possible, measure the spaces in your dorm room a head of time and take photos of closets and bathroom spaces to ensure that larger items like futons, dorm refrigerators, and other items will fit into the spaces available.  Use your creativity to rearrange the existing furniture to create more space.  If you are short on space try stacking the beds or moving a dresser to your closet.  

DON’T:  PURCHASES ITEMS WITHOUT MAKING SURE YOU NEED THEM
Be sure to use a college supply checklist to ensure that you don’t forget anything.  Knowing what to bring will not only prevent essential items from getting left behind, but will help you to avoid bringing items that you don’t need, that ultimately end up cluttering up your small space.  Check with the school to see exactly what they provide, that way you don’t buy a trash can just to find out that there is already one provided.  Take advantage of local stores on move-in day.  When my older daughter moved in to her dorm room, we held off on buying several questionable items until move in day because we knew we could stop at the store down the street.  By the time we had her situated, we were able to buy only what she actually needed and found that we needed less than expected. 
 
DO: ESTABLISH ZONES WITHIN YOUR COLLEGE DORM ROOM
If possible, create small areas for different activities such as studying, sleeping, entertainment and eating. Store everything that you need for each activity in those zones. For example, for studying, create a place to store pens, pencils, highlighters, a comfy pillow, portable light, glasses, etc. so that you will have everything you need at your fingertips when it is time to study. 


DON’T:  BRING OUT OF SEASON CLOTHING IF YOU DON’T HAVE TO
If you live within reasonable driving distance from your college, leave your winter clothing at home until colder weather arrives.  Swap your summer and fall clothes for your winter clothing as the weather changes. You will free up much needed space in your dorm room closet if you only store the clothing and accessories you actually wear.  
  
DO: TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EVERY INCH OF DORM ROOM SPACE
Bed risers and under the bed storage bins are a great way to utilize the space underneath your bed for extra storage space. Add storage cubicles to the bottom of your closet if you are short on shelf storage. Consider bringing a small night stand with open shelves so that it can double as a small book case. Stackable storage cubes also work well.  Over the door pocket organizers are great for extra closet and bathroom storage.  Utilize wall space by adding removable damage free hooks on doors to hang things like purses, coats, robes, towels or your backpack. 

​Taking these steps will ensure that you have everything you need in your college dorm room and nothing stealing space that you won't use.


Share

0 Comments

6/17/2017

College Dorm Room Organizing

0 Comments

Read Now
 
Picture

Organizing College Dorm Rooms; Ideas To Make The Most of Small Spaces

PLAN AHEAD FOR FURNITURE AND DECOR
If you know ahead of time who you are going to be rooming with, talk with your future roommate in advance to avoid duplication of larger items such as furniture, television, microwave etc.  You could also discuss decorating, and come up with a style or theme together so that your décor doesn’t clash with what your roommate brings to the room.

SPACE PLAN
Measure the spaces in your dorm room and take photos to ensure that everything you are bringing will fit into the spaces available.  Try rearranging the existing furniture or stacking the beds to create more space.

ESTABLISH ZONES WITHIN YOUR COLLEGE DORM ROOM
If possible, create small areas for different activities such as studying, sleeping, entertainment and eating. Store everything that you need for each activity in their assigned zones. For example, for studying, create a place to store pens, pencils, highlighters, a comfy pillow, portable light, glasses, etc. so that you will have everything you need at your fingertips when it is time to study. 

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EVERY INCH OF STORAGE SPACE
Bed risers and under the bed storage bins are a great way to utilize the space underneath your bed for extra storage space. Add storage cubicles to the bottom of your closet if you are short on shelf storage. Over the door pocket organizers, are great for extra closet and bathroom storage.

STORE IN-SEASON CLOTHING ONLY
Bring only your summer and fall clothes to school until cooler weather arrives.  Take your summer clothes home with you and bring back your winter clothing as the weather changes. You will free up much needed space in your closet if you only store the clothing suited for the current season.

MAKE USE OF HANDY ORGANAZING PRODUCTS
Stackable storage cubes are perfect for college dorm rooms because they not only to give you extra storage space, but can also double as night stands or end tables. 3M command hooks are handy for hanging purses, coats, robes etc., and they can be placed anywhere without causing damage to the wall. Inexpensive plastic portable drawer systems can be placed in your closet for extra drawer space.

USE A CHECKLIST TO ENSURE THAT YOU DON'T FORGET ANYTHING
Visit the following website to print off a checklist of recommended necessities to bring along with you to your college dorm room: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-in/making-a-decision/off-to-college-checklist. Knowing what to bring will not only ensure that nothing essential is left behind, but will help you to avoid bringing items that you don’t need, that ultimately end up cluttering up your small space.  This list is exhaustive, so you won't need to bring everything on the list, think about what you really need and only bring what you will use.  You may also be able to share some of these items with your roommate which will save on space.  

Share

0 Comments
Details

    Categories

    All
    Antique Dishes
    APPRECIATING OUR BLESSINGS
    Avoiding Family Chaos
    Avoid Organizing Mistakes
    Avoid Wasting Food & Money
    Back To School
    Basements
    Black Friday
    Blessings
    Busy Families
    Buying Foods In Bulk
    Catching Memories
    Change Of Seasons
    Christmas Decorations
    Christmas & Grandparents
    Cleaning Tips
    Closets
    Clutter Build Up
    Clutter Control For Creative People
    Cluttered LIfe
    College Dorm Room Organizing
    Coronavirus
    Craft Room Clutter
    Decluttering
    Dining Room Organizing
    Distractions
    Establish Helpful Routines
    Estate Planning
    Fall Wardrobes
    Family Keepsakes
    Family Members Belongings
    Family Organizing
    FRAMED PHOTOS
    Get Organized
    Gift Buying
    Giftster
    Giggle Log
    Grocery List
    Haiti Mission Trip
    Home Staging
    House Cleaning
    Imperfection Rules
    January Purging
    Just For Laughs
    Keep Pantry Simple
    Keepsakes
    Kids And Keepsakes
    Kids Artwork
    Kids Room Clutter
    Kitchen Organizing
    Lazy Susans
    Less Is More
    Life Simplified
    Living In The Present
    Living Lighter
    Make More Room In Your Pantry
    Memories
    Money Saving Tips
    Moving Tips
    Organized
    Organizing & ADHD
    Organizing Children's Toys
    Other People's Clutter
    Pantry Organization
    Photos
    Physical Therapy
    Practice Doing Less
    Routines
    Scrapbooks
    Senior Downsizing
    Senior Moving Tips
    Serving Others
    Shopping
    Simple Organizing
    Simplify LIfe
    Simplify Your Home
    Slowing Down
    Small Spaces
    Spice Cabinet Organizing
    Spring Cleaning
    Stop Multi-tasking
    Storage Rooms
    Storing Christmas Decor
    Stress Free Organizing
    Stuffed Toys
    Teaching Organizing Skills To Kids
    The Danish Art Of Hygge
    To Do Lists
    Too Many Sets Of Dishes
    Wardrobes
    Weekly Planning Sessions

    RSS Feed



    Archives

    November 2020
    September 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    November 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    March 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    October 2015
    June 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    January 2014
    November 2013
    September 2013

    Laura Coufal

    Laura is the Owner of Clean & Clutter Free, professional organizing services.

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • SERVICES
    • VIRTUAL ORGANIZING
  • Blog
  • Testimonials/Gallery
  • Contact Us
  • About
  • Press Releases
  • Resources