If there is one space that needs clever storage ideas, it is the dorm room. Dorm rooms are hard working multi-taskers that function as a place to sleep, study, and hangout with friends. But they aren’t known for being spacious or particularly orderly. Below are 5 creative ways to make the most of these small, hard working spaces, along with some genius products we have seen in action.
P.S. You don’t have to be a dorm dweller to find these ideas helpful. You can just be someone who wants to maintain a tidy and functional small space.
Take advantage of under the bed space. Many dorm beds are adjustable. If not, you can use bed risers to lift the bed for a little extra storage underneath. Store seasonal clothes or linens in roll out bins like this or this covered one. Have a little more space? Check out a cube system with baskets like this that allows you to configure it multiple ways.
Source: The Spruce, Jason Donnelly
Invest in multi functional furniture. One example is a coffee table that holds blankets and extra linens, and can double as a night or entertainment stand. Another is an ottoman that stores hair tools or chargers and doubles as a footstool or seating for friends.
Don’t waste door space. The back of your dorm room and closet doors are perfect spots to add more storage for bulky items like shoes or smaller items like makeup and accessories. Over-door storage bags are available in all kinds of shapes and sizes of cubbies and pouches. For those wanting a full-length mirror, go for an option that opens up with hidden storage like this.
Use all available real estate. There are so many ways to maximize space by going up. Display books vertically, which is a space saver, and also a cool piece of decor. Over the bed storage shelves, hanging shoe organizer, or desktop shelving take full advantage of often unused space. You can also use wall space for collections of hats or purses by using decorative command hooks.
Source: Tee Books
Embrace the rolling cart. A three tiered rolling cart is a serious organizational hack that can be used anywhere in a dorm room. Use it as a nightstand to hold chargers, books, glasses or bathroom storage for makeup and hair tools, or even to house snacks and office supplies. You can decorate your rolling cart or pick a color to match your dorm decor.
Source: The Container Store
Here are three other bonus ideas for organizing your dorm space:
Acrylic shelves divide wide shelves to easily stack items such as clothing, towels, and linens into neat, tall piles.
Bedside caddy is an easy clip on way to increase your bedside storage, especially helpful with a loft or bunk bed.
Expandable drawer organizers make it easy to divvy up drawer space.