Even though you’re probably all moved in and have everything the way you want it, the inevitability of waking up one day and wanting to completely rearrange your room is fast approaching. Sometimes, you just need a change, and rearranging your dorm room can help. For a lot of CNU students, you don’t live by yourself — sometimes, you live with two other people, and that means there isn’t much you can do. However, there are a few things that won’t require you moving your roommates things and causing a huge RA-intervention fight. Check them out!
Raise your bed
This is really easy to do. Put in a work order and ask maintenance to come raise your bed however many notches higher. I do NOT recommend lofting your bed for the main reason of changing your sheets and falling out while trying to sleep. However, if you’re never going to change your sheets and have great control of yourself while sleeping, lofting your bed might allow you to move your desk and even some storage totes underneath it. You can purchase a bed skirt or a tapestry and attach it to the bed frame to hide what you don’t want seen underneath it. Some people take it a step further and make a mini living space (like the one below), but I wouldn’t recommend it. If you just raise it to as high as it can be without being lofted, you can fit storage totes and everything underneath it. You can buy a really cute but sturdy ottoman to help you climb up there, too, and just store it under your bed when you don’t need it!
Switch out the floor lamp for string lights
The best part about waiting to buy string lights is that places like Target and Walmart have awesome sales on their college items. Floor lamps do illuminate a large space with just the twist of a switch, but the bases take up space and you have to get out of bed to turn them off. Invest in some awesome string lights (if you want a fun DIY project, purchase some fairy lights and twist them around the top shelf of your desk) that give off a warm, inviting glow and ditch the floor lamp.
Utilize storage containers
I’m not talking about the plastic ones you used to move in with. Target and Walmart sell these awesome decorative plastic storage containers that can go with any dorm theme. If you don’t mind people seeing your things, you can even buy some metal baskets. They fit great in dresser and desk drawers and are perfect for organizing your things. Stack the storage containers and put them in the bottom of your closet/wardrobe or slide them under your bed, and you never have to see them again!
Roll everything
I learned this the hard way. I would highly recommend rolling everything instead of folding it. You can fit more in a confined space — I fit two sets of bedding in one large storage container this way! I even roll my clothes in my dresser instead of folding them. It works out so much better — I have a whole dresser drawer that is empty because I rolled my things instead of stacking them on top of each other! Rolling is much quicker than folding, too, and the best part? No wrinkles!
Use washi tape to hang things up
Don’t waste your money or your wall space with photo frames and command hooks. Not only can command strips damage walls, but photo frames are ridiculously bulky and can break easily. Washi tape is super sticky, safe on all walls, and can be used in a variety of different ways! Also, when you decide to rearrange the photos on your wall or put new ones up, it’s so much easier than trying to take apart photo frames. If you want to have a board or section of your wall where you hang up accomplishments, washi tape is a great way to do that. It’s also much cheaper to print out 4″x6″ photos and hang them up than it is to buy canvases with quotes on them — just save your favorite quotes from Pinterest onto your phone and head to your nearest Walgreens, Target, or anywhere that has a photo station.
Most importantly: Don’t buy unnecessary things!
Do you really need that wall sign, or those magazine racks? Think practical, not performance. Yes, your room should be a haven and the place where everyone hangs out. But, you should also remember that you have to move all that stuff out at the end of the year. Take the shorts and tanks home once the weather starts to cool down. Don’t buy all the things because it’s cute and will give you Insta likes, buy it because you know you’re going to use it. I learned this the hard way — my apartment is actually bare compared to what my rooms the previous years were. In fact, I have more space and feel like I don’t have enough things! However, I know I’ve got what I need, and that’s what matters most. There’s beauty in simplicity (plus, minimalism is a huge trend rn, so your room will still be Pinterest worthy if you don’t have thirty throw pillows or a full jewelry rack).