Dorm Room Organization

When I went away to college, everything I needed to take with me fit neatly into a trunk. An army trunk. I put the army trunk at the end of my extra-long dorm bed, used it as a nightstand, and called it a day. That was then. This is now.

Now, dorm room organization and decoration is a huge business. Dormify, The Container Store®, Target, Amazon, Pottery Barn Teen, the list goes on and on. In my day, it was Venture for toiletries. That was about it.

Now, I’m watching my friend send her children off to college. Creative decorating and organization for a college dorm room are a real thing. Who knew? Not me. As I’ve watched her pack a headboard, hutch, sheets, regular-sized pillows, European pillows, decorative pillows, mattress pads, towels, school supplies, and toiletries (just to start), I’m thinking to myself that I didn’t get this much stuff when I got married. Times have really changed. So, too, has dorm room organization.

Dorm Room Organization and Decorating

With some planning and strategic purchases, your student will have absolutely everything they need to turn a dorm room into a comfortable and cozy home for their time away at college.

Here are a few highlights that I have learned from watching her:

Vertical space is key:

If you refer back to our Organizing Hacks 101 blog, you’ll see that we love vertical space. For college dorm rooms, vertical space is best served by over the door/behind the door storage systems. There are a multitude of choices, ranging from ones sold on Amazon to others at The Container Store®. The objective is to get as much space for your buck as possible, and using the back side of a door is a perfect place to start. In the hanging door storage (pockets or shelves) you can stash shoes, toiletries, scarves and gloves, school supplies, and anything that fits in the little pockets or on the shelves.

Plastic Drawers:

Plastic drawers can be used as a nightstand or to store additional items such as school supplies, medicine, extra toothpaste, and face wash, you name it. They come in a variety of sizes and can be stored under the bed, as well (see below). There are a lot of good options at Target that come in a variety of sizes, shapes, styles and colors.

Command Hooks:

My friend told me that her daughter’s school discourages Command hooks, but that there is a work-around. Instead of putting the Command hook right on the wall, place painters tape on the wall first, then put the Command hook over it. It shouldn’t leave any marks. Command hooks can be taken down without damaging the walls when it’s time to move out. They’re sold everywhere. I found this site, How To Hang Wall Art In Your Dorm Room - Without Getting In Trouble!, to be particularly helpful for dorm room wall decor. (By the way, my son was a fan of Command hooks in college when he lived in an apartment, so I’m very familiar with these.)

Hutch for your desk:

I was shocked when my friend told me she was buying hutches for her student’s dorm room. Hutches? Seriously? Yes, it’s a real thing. Hutches for on top of the desk help to maximize vertical and wall space. Hutches give students a place to put their books, and can be purchased from Amazon, another student, or you can even build a hutch yourself.

Under-Bed Storage:

Every school has a different policy pertaining to under-bed storage options. Some students opt to raise their bed to the highest level that the frame will go to store lower items underneath like flat plastic storage containers. Other students rent or purchase lofts, which give the student a good deal of clearance under the bed to place a desk. Others choose less expensive options like risers that come in a variety of heights. Whichever option you choose, one of these ideas will provide much-needed storage space to put either a desk, extra clothing and coats, or overflow toiletries.

Let’s face it, there are a ton of hacks to help your student find extra space and storage in a dorm room. Whether your budget is unlimited, or restricted to less than a few hundred dollars, you can find ideas at Amazon, Target, or Pottery Barn Teen without spending a fortune.

I remember going to college and spending $79 for everything I needed. That was years ago, and times have changed, but the essential ideas are still pretty much the same. College teaches great life lessons, and dorm room living is one of the best experiences most college students will have. Dorm room space can be tight, so good organization, and a few hacks, make the dorm room feel bigger and brighter.

Enjoy your year! We hope a few of these ideas help ease the transition and free up a little extra space. And, while you’re at it, check out Dorm Deck at our sister site, life Hack Decks™. The Dorm Deck is a great idea to send alongside some of these organizational items. It helps college students get and stay organized throughout the year and sets them up for organization and planning success!