Efficient Storage Tips for Dorm Belongings

Providing a guide on organising and packing student essentials

University is a massive step for students embarking on their next milestone in life. It’s an exciting time, filled with possibilities but also challenges. One immediate challenge new students face is where to fit all their stuff in the limited square footage of the average dorm room. 

They are going from being able to spread out their belongings around the family home to a single, tiny room is a bit of an adjustment. 

However, with clever packing strategies and strategic use of space, you will soon be able to create order out of the chaos. 

Decluttering Before Packing

Before you can start cramming the next four years of your life into a tiny dorm room, you should first declutter. Decluttering is a practical approach to simplifying your life and will help you:

• Make the best use of the space available

• Reduce stress

• Save time

After decluttering, the packing process will be more manageable and will ensure you have room for all the essential items. 

• Sort your items into three piles: Donate/sell, discard, and keep.

• Donate or sell items that are still usable that you no longer need.

• Discard anything that’s broken, outdated, or otherwise unusable.

Knowing What to Keep and What to Throw?

You may need to be brutally honest about what to keep and what to get rid of—asking yourself the following questions will help to remove any doubt:

• Have I used this item in the past 12 months?

• Does this item have sentimental value or serve a practical purpose?

• Will this item fit in my dorm room?

Using Space Efficiently

Once you’ve selected everything you’ll keep, it’s time to pack them in a way that maximises efficiency. These tips will help:

Roll, don’t fold: Rolling clothes can save a considerable amount of space in your luggage. You’ll also minimise wrinkles, so your clothes will be ready to wear without ironing. 

Use vacuum bags: Bulky items like winter coats and bedding can be compressed to a fraction of their size. 

Nesting items: Pack smaller items inside larger ones. For example you can fit at least two pairs of socks inside a pair of shoes, and bowls and containers can stack inside each other. 

Use every nook and cranny: You can pack smaller items into gaps left by the bigger ones, such as tucking toiletries into shoes or filling pots and pans with cooking utensils. 

Prioritise accessibility: Once you arrive on campus, your schedule will likely be jam-packed with activities. Make sure you keep your most essential items readily available so you don’t have to unpack everything as soon as you get there.

Pack by use case: Group items by where you will store them in your dorm room. For example, keep all your desk items together, kitchen items together, etc. 

Use Vertical Space

Floor space is always limited in a dorm room, so you may need to make clever use of vertical spaces. Use wall shelves for additional storage for books or kitchen supplies. Over-the-door organisers are an excellent way to create extra storage space behind doors.  

Pegboards are great for office supplies and kitchen utensils and can be customised with hooks, baskets, and shelves. 

Consider getting a tall bookshelf or cabinet for extra shelf space if your dorm room allows. 

Increase Your Storage Space for Cheap

Your studies may take you miles from home or even abroad, so you want to ensure you have everything you need to survive the months of study. However, your tiny dorm room may not be able to accommodate everything you need to keep with you.

Fortunately, expanding your storage space is easy and cheap at 1800 We Store It. For just a few dollars a week, you can get up to 10 cubic metres (around 35 cubic feet), which is plenty of room to keep essentials like winter gear, electronics, or whatever else you need to access but can’t fit inside a dorm room.

Call 1800 We Store It today so you can concentrate on your studies without wondering where everything will fit.