No college student living in the dorms has ever complained about having too much space. While it’s true that student housing tends to be more efficient than it is roomy, it doesn’t mean the space is unlivable. Here are a few tips to make the most of the space you have while living in the dorms:
Look elsewhere for storage
Not everyone can leave their extra belongings back at mom and dad’s place. Whether you can’t make the return trip home or your room has been magically transformed into a home gym, you may have furniture or other large items that won’t fit in your dorm room. If that’s the case, check your area for a self-storage facility. They’re a great and affordable place to keep your belongings until you move into a place that’s a little more substantial in size.
Build up
Lofting your bed or beds is the perfect way to free up extra storage space. You can move your desk into the free area, and you’ve just increased your square footage dramatically. If you can’t – or prefer not to – loft your bed, pick up a set of risers. They’ll give you a few extra inches of space that can be used to store all kinds of boxes and bins out of sight.
Hang what you can
While desk and dresser space may be at a premium, you probably have plenty of free space on your walls and behind doors. Use those areas to hang up storage solutions. For example, a few small hooks on the wall can become an out-of-the-way jewelry rack. Also, you can pick up a hamper that hangs on the back of your door, keeping it out of sight from guests.
Give yourself a system
In such a small space, little messes can be a big deal. Instead of strewing papers all over your desk, make a filing system, separating the paperwork for each of your classes into their own folders. Just as importantly, make sure you throw out anything you don’t need. If you’re already wading through a pile of papers to get to what you actually need, take an hour and go through every single thing in your desk to get rid of what you don’t need. You may be surprised by how much stuff you’ve accumulated in such a small amount of time.
Whether you’re at home or away at school, check out your nearest SecurCare Self Storage for a self-storage unit near you.