Baby + Kids
25 Dorm Storage Ideas for a Spacious and Organized Room
Whether it’s your first year away from home or your final year in the dorm, leaving for college is an exciting time. You likely have many to-dos on your plate, including planning your dorm room decor.
Your college likely won’t provide you with much personal space, but you should try to make your dorm room a sanctuary from the chaos of class and social events. With these dorm storage ideas, your room can feel spacious and organized as you navigate the school year ahead.
Here are our favorite dorm storage ideas to make your dorm room feel like home.
1. Pin it Up
As a college student, you’ll likely have important papers to keep track of as you make your way through the year. These papers may include dates and deadlines for class or graded tests you’re particularly proud of. When you have papers or pictures you don’t want to lose, having a place out of the way to display them is useful.
2. Put Cubbies on the Walls
The key with a tight dorm room is to make the most of your space. When you can’t expand your space, try using wall space by adding cubbies. You can store several items in these wall units and keep your floor clean from clutter.
3. Store Clothes Under the Bed
When you’re looking for dorm storage ideas, utilizing the space under your bed is essential. This space can store your shoes, clothes or extra books when not in use. If you’re worried about dust building up on your belongings, bring along an under-the-bed container.
4. Bring Extra Drawers
College dorm rooms will usually provide you with one small dresser for your clothes. Depending on how much stuff you have, you may need more storage for clothes, towels or other knickknacks. It never hurts to bring an extra set of drawers, especially since your set will be portable and multipurpose.
5. Buy Baskets-a-Plenty
You can never go wrong with baskets and bins for everyday storage. Baskets are a storage accessory that come in many shapes and sizes and can hold many items. You can store your bins under the bed, on or under your desk, in your closet or in your bathroom. If you’re unsure of what storage items to bring, baskets and bins are essentials.
6. Create Closet Space
Organizing your dorm closet can save you a lot of frustration when unpacking and trying to fit all your clothes on the pole provided. By adding hanging cubbies to your closet, you can fit folded clothes and hangers in your closet space. With this simple accessory, your closet will feel more spacious and organized in no time.
7. Makeup Organization
It’s difficult to keep your desk clean when you use it for both school and social activities. If you aren’t sure how to keep your makeup out of the way while you’re working, then a makeup organizer is a great tool. Not only will this caddy make it easier to do your makeup, but it’ll keep your desk in check when you need to study.
8. Stick to Stackable Bins
Anything that stacks is an immediate space saver in a small dorm room. Stackable bins can hold books, games, desk supplies or clothes. You can stack these bins away when you don’t need them and unstack them for easy access.
9. Keep Clothes Off the Floor
You may do your own laundry for the first time when at college, and the washer and dryer likely won’t be next door. Having a designated place for your dirty clothes can save space on your floor, and a functional laundry basket will make your trip to the laundry room a breeze.
10. Place a Nightstand by Your Bed
The school will provide you with furniture essentials including a twin bed, a dresser and a desk. But if you want to personalize your room and create additional storage near your bed, you may have enough space for a nightstand. If your nightstand has drawers, it can hold books, vitamins, jewelry or chargers in close reach.
11. Add Square Footage With a Bookshelf
Bringing a bookshelf to college may not seem like a reasonable dorm storage idea, but there are lightweight and easily transportable options available. A small bookshelf won’t take up much space and can add a lot of storage to your dorm. You can also lean a ladder bookshelf against the wall to make the most of a tight space.
12. Stack Your Shoes
You may pass up this dorm storage idea because you don’t think you have a lot of shoes, but the wise thing about stacking your shoes is that it saves space in your closet for other things like baskets and bins. By creating vertical space with stacking organizers, you’ll free up your floor space and your dorm will feel roomier.
13. Accommodate Your Wardrobe
Everyone prioritizes what they pack for college differently, and you may decide that clothes are at the top of your list. If you unpack and find that your closet is stuffed, then a garment rack can give you additional wardrobe space. You can lean this rack against your dorm wall and use it to organize any extra clothes and shoes you have.
14. Use Your Door as a Hanging Tool
Closet and bedroom doors are a great place to hang towels, clothes, purses and belts. When you have hooks for the top of the door, hanging things becomes easier and keeps your hanging items high and out of the way. A hanging rack with multiple hooks will give you even more space in your dorm.
15. Try This When You Have Too Many Shoes
Shoe storage isn’t easy to find in a dorm room shared between you and your roommate. Stacking shoes on a floor rack will only make room for a handful of pairs. When you have too many shoes and not enough space, a hanging shoe holder can store up to 16 pairs of shoes in its narrow pockets.
16. Hide Things Away
Trunks were once a go-to packing accessory for college students and campers. While you don’t need to bring an old-fashioned trunk to college, you can add a stylish bench at the end of your bed for a smart dorm storage idea. A bench can store bedding, clothes and books, while also creating extra seating in your dorm.
17. Keep Jewelry Organized and Protected
Your dorm room can become hectic when finals are approaching. With everything going on in your life, you’ll want to make sure you keep your most treasured items in a safe spot. A jewelry box can hold your valuables, including keepsakes from home.
18. Place Your Most Used Items Close By
Having a way to organize your most used items is a great dorm storage idea. Whether you’re lying in bed or studying, you won’t want to waste time looking for your phone, your glasses, a pen or a computer charger. With a bedside caddy for these essentials, you can stay on task or under the covers.
19. Raise Your Bed for More Room
Drawers in the nursery dresser or changing table are the ideal spots for clothes and smaller items, but without an organization system, things can get cluttered pretty quickly. Focus on folding everything neatly and organizing everything by style, color or size.
20. Upgrade Your Study Setup
Studying in college is a top priority, but as we mentioned earlier, it’s hard to focus if your desk is messy. The best way to get your brain in gear is to keep your desk clutter-free. With a desk organizer, you’ll have space for everything, including notebooks, folders and smaller drawers for supplies.
21. Find What You Need On Your Way Out
Another essential you should have in your dorm room is a designated hanging area near your doorway for on-the-go items. Without this area, your bags, jacket and keys may end up in one large pile on the floor. When you organize your items by the door, you’ll leave your dorm faster and get where you need to go sooner.
22. Save Space With This Multi-Use Mirror
If you’re in search of dorm storage ideas, you’ll want to get creative with every item possible. A wall mirror with hidden storage is the perfect dorm accessory because it’s both a mirror and a pinboard. When you’re not checking out your outfit, you can use it to pin up important papers and pictures.
23. Put Your Snacks in a Safe Spot
Without snacks, college is hardly any fun. Unfortunately, dorm rooms can get riddled with crumbs and ants if you don’t keep your snacks in a safe spot. With a bread box, you can store your snacks in a designated place so that ants (and your roommates) aren’t tempted to eat your goodies.
24. Roll Your Stuff Away When Not in Use
There are many unique furniture items built for kitchens and bathrooms that you can make use of in your dorm room. A storage container on wheels, for example, could be the perfect solution for your small space. You can use a rolling cart to store snacks, toiletries and other supplies. When not in use, simply roll it out of sight.
25. Use Jars to Store Supplies of All Kinds
Jars are a dorm storage accessory that can have multiple uses. You can use jars to store snacks, desk supplies, toiletries, jewelry and beyond. With endless uses, jars are a great option for small items that need a place to go. Adding labels to your jars can also give your space added organization.
Moving into a dorm is your first chance to live on your own, and it’s important to make your space feel like home. These dorm storage ideas are a jumping-off point so you can start your college career in an organized and clear state of mind. We have plenty more desk organization ideas if you want to brainstorm further.
