Setting up your college dorm room? With a little creativity and careful planning, you can organize your dorm and maximize your small space with these decluttering tips. Check out these helpful dorm room organization ideas!
Focus on Multi-Use Furniture
Photo via @room.422
Most dorm rooms are furnished with beds, dressers, and desks. But if you need to add extra furniture, maximize your space by choosing multi-purpose pieces. For example, instead of adding chairs to your dorm room, opt for storage ottomans or a trunk to provide seating that doubles as hidden storage!
Take Advantage of Your Vertical Space
Photo via @elfashelvinguk
One handy dorm room organization hack is utilizing vertical storage! Since you’re living in a small space, items like over-the-door shoe racks, over-the-door towel racks, or hanging baskets are perfect for storing everything from accessories to cleaning supplies. Hanging wire shower caddies with command hooks is also an inexpensive way to store pens, notebooks, stationery, and other items next to your desk.
Designate a Kitchen Area
Photo via @get_emmypaiged
Do you have a mini fridge, microwave, and coffeemaker in your dorm room? Set up a kitchen station using a rolling utility cart or adjustable cube storage where you can keep appliances and other kitchen items together. Don’t forget to add storage baskets so you can keep snacks, coffee, and utensils organized!
Maximize Under the Bed Storage
Photo via @sterlitecorporation
An excellent dorm storage hack is to utilize hidden storage space under your bed. Many dorm room beds can be lifted to make space for storage bins, drawers, or boxes. You can also loft the bed to keep a desk, dresser, or futon below. If your dorm room bed doesn’t adjust, consider purchasing bed risers. If you’re worried about the space under your bed looking cluttered, add a bed skirt to hide your storage!
Utilize Above the Bed Storage
Photo via @emmagraceharrod
Looking for storage ideas to go above your bed instead of under? Add shelves to keep everything up and out of the way! You can even add over-the-bed shelves specifically designed for twin beds that also allow space for a small headboard. This dorm room organization idea is great for freeing up floor space!
Make the Most of Your Closet Space
Photo via @dfwdeclutterdesign
Whether your dorm room has an actual closet or a simple wardrobe cabinet, there are a few ways you can maximize your dorm closet space! Skip the bulky wooden hangers and create as much room as possible with thin felt hangers. Or add a hanging closet organizer to store sweaters, jeans, and shoes. Make sure to leave enough space for a hamper, as well as laundry supplies like detergent and dryer sheets.
Create a DIY Entertainment Center
Photo via @adashofadrienne
If you or your roommate has a small flatscreen TV, save desk or dresser space by making a TV stand with cube shelves! Simply stack the cube shelves and place the TV on top. Cubes also make it easy to store a DVD player, game console, movies, and more!
Use a Rolling Cart as a Side Table
Photo via @housejunkie_
Bulky end tables and nightstands can take up precious space in a small dorm room. A rolling cart is a smart bedside option for dorm rooms of all sizes. The shelves on the cart can hold a small fan, books, and an alarm clock while also providing room beneath for additional storage.
Get More Storage with a Desk Hutch
Photo via @alysse.armstrong
Your dorm room desk can do double duty with the addition of a hutch! Desk hutches come in all sizes and add plenty of storage space for textbooks, school supplies, and electronics. Small boxes, wicker baskets, and magazine holders can be placed on top for extra office storage.
Label Totes with Shared Supplies
Photo via @straightened_spaces
One great dorm organization idea is to keep shared items like first-aid items, toiletries, and cleaning materials in clear plastic containers. This makes it easy for you and your roommate to find everything you need and know when you’re running low on certain items, especially when it’s time for some dorm spring cleaning!
Use Stacking Bins for Toiletry Storage
Photo via @harmonyorganized
If your dorm room has its own bathroom, you may have to get creative with storage, especially since your roommate will need space, too. Small stacking bins fit well under sinks or in small cabinets, and they’re perfect for toiletries like toothpaste, deodorant, soap, styling products, and medications. You can also add wire baskets or small hanging baskets from cabinet doors for even more bathroom storage.
Roll Clothing to Save Dresser Space
Photo via @organisewithabi
Save space in your dresser drawers by rolling your clothing, also known as file folding. This unique folding technique allows you to store twice as many shirts and pants in a single drawer, and it can even prevent awkward wrinkles!
Assemble a Shower Caddy
Photo via @coactionpr
Sharing a bathroom with an entire floor means you have to carry toiletries back and forth from your room. Simplify your bathroom routine by keeping your shampoo, soap, razor, lotion, and other items in an easy-to-carry shower caddy or tote. Not only does a shower tote prevent bathroom items from taking up space in your room, but it also keeps them organized and quick to find when you need to get ready!
Organize Items Using Magazine Boxes
Photo via @caleighjournals
If you can’t get ready in the community bathroom, get ready in your room! Store tools like brushes, curling irons, hair straighteners, and other styling products in magazine boxes that can be stored on dressers or bookshelves next to mirrors in your room. You can also use magazine boxes to store other college essentials like water bottles, binders, notebooks, and more!
Store Makeup on a DIY Magnetic Board
Photo via @celebrationscreations_by_liz
Save space by sticking magnets on eyeshadow palettes, makeup brushes, and lipsticks and hanging them on a magnetic makeup holder. Learn how to create a DIY makeup organizer using a metal baking sheet!
Add Organizers to Your Desk
Photo via @iheartorganizing
Looking for simple dorm desk organization ideas? Keep extra pens, pencils, notepads, rulers, and other items neatly arranged with dorm desk organizers or trays. If you don’t have desk drawers, mason jars are an inexpensive and cute way to store writing utensils as well!
Keep Track of Cords with Binder Clips
Photo via @bycherished
Binder clips do more than keep your papers together. They’re an inexpensive cord storage solution for your dorm desk! Add a few binder clips on the back or side of your desk, and thread the chargers through the loop to keep cords accessible and organized.
Make a Charging Station
Photo via @bestadvisor_electronics
Keep all of your electronics organized and in one convenient spot with a designated charging station. Consider using decorative washi tape to match each charger to its designated device. Not only does this hack keep you from mixing up your chargers, but it also adds style and color!
Put Up a Cork Board or Whiteboard
Photo via @wallpops
A cork board or whiteboard acts is a place where you and your roommate can leave each other notes and reminders. Put it up on the front door or near communal spaces so it can easily be seen by the both of you. You can also fill the board with push pins or hooks to hold keys, and include a hanging file organizer to store student IDs, mail, flyers, and more.
Use Clip Lights to Save Space
Photo via @deckoutdorms_byhang
Clip lights and lamps can help save space by attaching to dorm room headboards, overhead shelves, and bookshelves. They’re also ideal if you’re studying or reading after your roommate has gone to sleep.
Store Blankets & Throw Pillows in a Basket
Photo via @caffeineandcacti
Looking for a space-saving dorm idea for storing extra blankets and pillows? A decorative wicker or fabric basket is the perfect place to keep cozy throws, blankets, and pillows within arm’s reach.
Keep Accessories in Cubby Shelves
Photo via @doublebfamily
Need a place to stash scarves, mittens, hats, wallets, or wristlets? Hang cubby shelves on the wall by the door so these accessories are easy to reach when you’re on your way out! You can also attach hooks under these shelves for a convenient place to store umbrellas, coats, or backpacks.
Display Jewelry with a Hanging Organizer
Photo via @blancometro
With just a few tools and a little creativity, you can turn your jewelry collection into an art display with a DIY hanging jewelry organizer! These versatile organizers can hold a variety of pieces, and they make it easy to keep all your jewelry in one spot.
Organize Hats on a Wall Rack
Photo via @thingsinorder
Have a large hat collection? Don’t take up space in a dresser drawer or on top of your desk. Install a DIY hat rack on your wall to keep all of your hats up and out of the way in your dorm room.
Hang Scarves with Shower Curtain Rings
Photo via @pepperandpine
Plastic shower curtain rings are an inexpensive, handy way to store scarves in a closet, wardrobe, or on the wall. Add a few rings to clothes hangers or install a wall rod to keep scarves wrinkle-free.
Use Command Hooks for Everything
Photo via @tiffanyshearobinson
Adding command hooks to walls and doors is a dorm room storage idea that can work with any budget. Strong, durable, and easy to install, command hooks are incredibly versatile! You can use them to hold your keys near the door, inside closet doors to hang up towels, or to hang photos and art on the walls.
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