Back to School Organization Tips for College Students
Within the next few weeks, college students around the country will be getting ready to head to the dorms for fall semester. Freshmen everywhere are excited about the next phase in their lives, while returning students look forward to seeing friends and getting back to class. However, while as fun as living in the dorms with close friends can be, getting adjusted or readjusted to the small amount of space provided can be quite the challenge!
Back to College Tips to Keep You Organized
It’s no secret that dorm rooms tend to be on the small side. In fact, some rooms only measure around 300 square feet! This is why optimizing the amount of space you have is of the utmost importance. Whether you’re headed to college for the first time or returning for your second or third year, here are a few back to college tips for organizing a dorm room you should keep in mind:
- Start purging belongings early. Before you start packing is the perfect time to go through your belongings and pare down what you have. Not only will this help you pack more efficiently, but your parents will thank you for leaving your room less cluttered.
- Pick up your moving supplies in advance. Another easy back to school organization tip is to start gathering your packing and moving supplies at least a few weeks before you head to college. This way, you can even get a jump on your packing once you have your boxes, packing tape, etc.
- Make lists. Writing lists is the ultimate way to stay organized during these hectic few weeks before school starts. Make lists of things you need to do before your move and supplies you need to buy to ensure you’re staying ahead of the game and on top of everything that needs to get done.
- Over pack the storage solutions. While normally over packing is a big no-no, when it comes to storage bins, baskets, crates and boxes that can provide extra places to store things in your dorm room, in this case it is ok bring more than you might think you’ll need. For example, you may end up needing to stack crates to create a bedside table with places to store extra blankets, pillows, remote controls, extra charging cords, etc. Or, utilizing bins on the top shelf in your closet helps make clothing more easily accessible and less messy-looking.
- Use space creatively. Organizing a dorm room that is half the size of your bedroom back home, plus that you may be sharing with another person, definitely takes some creativity! Get risers for the bed so you can utilize that precious storage space underneath. Pick up shelving, racks or hooks that can be adhered to the wall to go vertical with your storage.
- Design an organized workspace. The area where you’ll be studying and writing papers is arguably the most important space in the room, so make sure your desk is as clutter-free as possible. Eliminate things that could distract you and keep supplies organized in containers or bins inside drawers.
- Rent a self storage unit. Self storage units are perfect for college students who need to bring more items with them than they can store in the dorms. For instance, items like sporting equipment or seasonal clothing can easily get placed in a storage unit until you need them throughout the year. Plus, maybe your roommate is having the same issue- go in on your unit together and save money on the rent!
National Storage have secure self storage units near Michigan State University, University of Michigan, Western Michigan University, Eastern Michigan University, Notre Dame, University of Dayton and Wright State University. Contact us today to learn how we can help college students with extra storage space throughout the year!