La Crosse, Wisconsin—home to beautiful neighborhoods and beautiful homes, unless you are a college student. In that case, your home is most likely the size of Taco Bell and your room is the size of a taco. It’s just a fact of life, and fitting every item you own, along with all of your 1 to 7 roommates’ belongings, in a tiny dorm room or apartment is hard to tastefully do. With the help of this article, however, you will learn how to optimize your small spaces so that your cheap (or not so cheap) college housing feels more like home and less like…well…the shrieking shack.
1. Bedroom storage.
Your bed takes up so much space, especially if you have a full bed or larger (which is highly suggested btw). So if you don’t have any more space to go horizontal, it’s time to think vertically. Maximize your bed space by using (sturdy) storage shelves as your bed frame. It’s a lot more efficient than stuffing blankets and those extra 10 pairs of shoes into the depths of your bed. Plus, it looks much neater.
2. Get savy with your clothes.
Make more closet space by using shower curtain rings to hook all of your tank tops or scarves on one hanger. Look for hangers that have multiple tiers to optimize your closet space, as well. You can use these to hang all of your dresses, pants and maxi skirts.
3. End table alternative.
Don’t have room for an end table or coffee table? Use the arm of your couch as a table instead (This is laziness to the next level, but what can you do?).
4. Ottomans save lives.
The key to small space living is hidden storage. The great thing about ottomans is that they can be used as a foot stool or vanity seat, or they can simply be a lump of decor in the middle of your floor. Either way, they are a great use of storage for MORE blankets or MORE shoes!
5. Optimize your cupboard and kitchen space.
Use storage for storage. Unless you’re lucky, college housing doesn’t include much cupboard space. Use racks and shelves to create room for more food.
6. Use your doors.
Closet doors, bedroom doors, cupboard doors–any of these are a great way to hang any extra baggage. You can hang shoes, clothes, food, cleaning supplies, more shelves and the list goes on. But don’t over-do it. If it gets too cluttered it may just lose its taste.
If there is one thing to take away from this list of how-tos it’s that small spaces require vertical and hidden storage. The less that’s out in the open and the less floor space you see will make for a much more spatious and tasteful home away from home!