Dorm Room Organizing Tips from a Pro
If you or your child are heading off to college, these tips will help you make the most out of a small dorm room space. Many of these ideas can also be applied to a small apartment.
Start with a plan
If you can, ask for measurements and photos of the dorm room and furniture ahead of time. Whether you prefer hand-drawing or an online application like SketchUp, draw out ideas for room layouts that maximize open space and natural light. When you arrive on move-in day, you will have already thought of various layouts and can quickly act on the best one. This may seem obvious, but avoid blocking the window(s) with a loft bed—I did this my freshman year of college and realized in hindsight it made the room feel smaller and darker. While creating a plan, establish clear spaces for each zone: clothing, workspace, personal care, snacks, and sleeping.
Establish boundaries with your roommate
If you have the contact information for your assigned roommate, get in touch and get to know each other ahead of time. Learn about one another’s living preferences—are you both tidy, both messy, or one of each? Hopefully your roommate will be on the same page as you and it will be a great relationship! However, there’s always a chance that your preferences won’t align. In this case, be sure to respect their boundaries. If they keep a messy desk and don’t want your help tidying, you will have to accept it. It is fair to expect any shared spaces to be clean, but their bed, desk, or closet space is off limits. One trick I learned with messy roommates was to imagine their spaces were in a separate apartment that was not attached to my space. This helped me detach from needing everything to be tidy at all times.
Decide what to bring with you
Your school may provide you with a suggested list of supplies. Beyond that, think about what you will need to bring from your existing clothing, personal care items, etc. The dorm room will have limited space, so I always recommend bringing less than you think you will need. Worst case, you can always bring more back with you if you go home for winter break—or ask your family to ship items to you if going home isn’t feasible. Avoid bringing things “just in case”—if you can’t think of a realistic and important use, leave it behind. College will be a new adventure, so travel light and enjoy the moment. Check out Minima’s other blog post for more help: “Beyond Sparking Joy: How to Decide What to Keep or Discard”.
Organize & maximize space
When you move in, it’s time to organize what you’ve chosen to bring with you. This is the fun part! Use the file fold technique (upright rectangles popularized by Marie Kondo) to create more space in your drawers. Corale your cords and cables and decant your snacks to reduce visual clutter. Look for the hidden vertical space (walls, under bed, under sink, back of cabinet/closet doors) and use hooks, drawers, or shelving to create more storage. Use drawer dividers to organize the inside of your medicine cabinet or desk drawers.
If you need customized help organizing your dorm, we can assist with virtual organizing sessions (or in-person if you’re here in Richmond). Simply fill out the form below and we’ll be in touch!