As a rising junior in college, I have a lot of experience in dorm decorating and move-in/move-out. Don’t get me wrong, it takes forever and it is certainly stressful! But don’t worry, I’m here to give you some do’s and don’ts for move in day and room decor!
Move-In:
First of all if you can drive to school, I’d suggest you do so. It makes your move-in experience a lot smoother! I have to travel across the country, so unfortunately I have to fly to school. For those of you who have to fly, I’d suggest not bringing anything besides clothes. Bed Bath & Beyond allows you to pick stuff at a bed bath and beyond near you at home then when you arrive at school you can go grab those exact items from a store nearby. This would make it a lot easier to travel because you wouldn’t have to bring things such as a shower caddy, drawers for under your bed, bedding, etc. I highly recommend it and it’s what I did! For those of you driving you can do whatever is easier for you! I have friends who have bought all their things at home and drove them up and others who also did the pick-up in-stores.
For people driving to school a good move-in hack would be bringing your clothes already on hangers! My roommate wrapped her clothes into a large plastic bag and she made a hole at the top and carried her clothes that way. This allowed her to just open her wardrobe and put the clothes right in. Super easy and fast, I couldn’t do that since I flew in. Unfortunately for all of flyers, we can’t do this. I recommend you invest in under bed drawers because those will be good for extra storage in your room. I didn’t understand how little space I would have for storage until I got to campus and needed more room. Those under the bed storage boxes have helped me store more clothes and helped me keep a neat room. I do suggest that no matter how you get to school you don’t bring any food. It makes more sense to do a quick target run after you have finished unpacking because it is very likely that you will be needing something you left behind or forgot to buy.
As for clothing, I suggest you only bring things you absolutely need. Freshman year I brought my entire closet and I didn’t use most of my clothes and they did not all fit in my room the way I wanted it to and it was very hectic. I suggest for people who fly home for Thanksgiving bring winter clothes then and maybe switch out some of your summer clothes. For people who are able to drive home, it is a good idea to go home and bring winter clothes when you need them. Overall, I suggest that you don’t bring things that are unnecessary. Don’t bring shirts you never wear in hopes that you someday will because trust me when I say you will not be wearing it.
Dorm Decor:
As for room decor, a good things to put on your walls are pictures and tapestries. Putting these up will make your room feel more comfy and cozy. I also have really enjoyed having lights hung up on my walls because it gives it some cool vibes. You should probably invest in a full size mirror because that can add something to your walls and it will also be extremely helpful for getting ready in the morning. I do suggest not buying a lot of little things to put on your desk and on the walls because it will just be a lot of clutter everywhere. While at school, you don’t have much time to sit around and clean your room. Overall, just get things that are absolutely necessary, a couple pictures to hang up, some lights, a tapestry, and some throw pillows! This will add some personality to your room and help it feel more at home!
Move-Out:
After a year full of shenanigans, move-out day has arrived and you’ve got to figure out what to do with all your stuff. For people driving home, it’s pretty easy, pack it all up and throw it in your trunk. I do suggest that you keep things you will not use while at home in your drawers so you never need to worry about unpacking and repacking them. If you are traveling far and need to take a flight I suggest you look into your school’s storing options, sorority house storing options, or rent a storage unit with some friends off campus. This will be easier to travel to and from school. These are just a few suggestions that I’ve learned over the past few years and have made my life a trillion times easier!