Office
of Residence Life
Making
Your Room Your Own
Living
in a small space does not mean you have to live a cramped
uncomfortable existence your college years. Understanding
what activities will take place in your dorm room and then
planning in advance for these activities will drastically
increase your chances of successfully living and studying
in relative comfort. Creating
a functional space is easy if you keep these few pointers
in mind.
Make
every inch count! Think
function and dual purpose. Can a storage trunk also be a
decorative table? Under beds are great for storing your
schoolwork in plastic totes or containers. These plastic
totes can also be used to carry items to the showers etc.
Prepare the containers for what you will store things in
before you move. Pack your sheets, towels clothes etc. in
these containers and don't even worry about unpacking when
you arrive, just shove them under your bed!
Don't
forget about vertical storage.
Use bookcases to hold everything from books, towels, to
even your favorite coffee mugs. By giving each item a place
you will have accomplished a number one challenge for dorm
residents. ORGANIZATION!
It
is always a good idea to work
with your roommates to decide who will bring what "necessity"
prior to move-in. This
simple step will avoid duplicates and could save you both
from having to over pack. If you are already in the situation
of storing duplicate items - start shipping them home! You
could sure use the space and the peace of mind!
Some
dorms allow the construction of loft
beds. These beds are elevated off the ground
on a stilt type frame, (it looks like the top of a bunk
bed with a small study space under it). This is a great
way to use your vertical space and gain a wonderful sleep
/ study / storage / kitchen area using very little floor
space. Always check with your specific college resident
rules, some colleges don't allow this type of constructed
bed.
Invest
in hanging wall shoe pockets
for your closet door. Don't limit it's use to just shoes,
store whatever will fit from soda can's to pencils to socks.
Keep
you dorm room as picked up as possible. The
cleaner you keep it...the more space you will have!
The
nutshell solutions to surviving the small space of your
dorm room is to stock only
what you need and find a place for everything and keep everything
in it's place!
from
the Rental
Decorating Digest
