By Samantha Keating
With summer ending and college move-in season approaching you may be beginning to stress over the impending move. Figuring out what to pack is an issue, but deciding where everything should go is incredibly stressful; especially in a small, shared space.
As someone who lived in a dorm for two years the best piece of advice I can offer is to get as much under-the-bed storage as possible. I could fit two, three drawer storage bins, a hamper, and a miniature shoe rack under my bed, among other things. The key to this is making sure your bed is raised, this can be done yourself if you have someone helping you or you can contact your school’s housing to have someone do it for you.
Another key factor is utilizing your desk space. Most desks provided by the school are wide enough that you can use the top for storage as well as still have enough space to do homework or eat on top. To utilize my space I got two things, one being a textbook “tree” tower that sat on the corner of the desk. This was miniature enough that it didn’t take up too much room but still was large enough to hold all my textbooks. The second thing I got was a shelf that contained multiple different-sized openings. I was able to put my makeup case as well as school supplies in this. It was definitely a life savor being able to have everything readily available but still organized.
If you have a roommate be sure to communicate with them about shared space so you both get the most out of them. Sharing things such as a mini fridge and a mirror will definitely give you guys some extra floor space and make the room look less cluttered.
Good luck with moving in and make sure to remember that under your bed is your new best friend!