6 Tips for Dorm Room Layout & Organization

Kit Pollard
I'm a design and food-obsessed freelance writer and market research analyst, and a stay-at-home mom.
I'm a design and food-obsessed freelance writer and market research analyst,... More »
About two weeks ago, I went to IKEA on a Sunday. That's a regular trip for me, but it was decidedly not a regular day at the Swedish superstore. I'd forgotten: it's back to college season.

For IKEA, that means hordes of family-sized groups trying to decide if their rising freshman needs a new bedside lamp. On a grander scale, it means hordes of family-sized groups trying to make design decisions for their kids. Design decisions that are hampered by the notoriously stringent constraints provided by dorm room living.

If you're in that category, here are a few tips that might help the organization part of moving into the dorm run a little more smoothly:
loft bed
1. Loft it. Lofting beds isn't always an option (it's against the rules some places), but if it is, it's a great way to free up floor space for seating, desks, and accoutrements (like mini refrigerators and stacks of ramen).
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2. Double up the desks. At some schools, you're allowed to bring your own desks, which means you can purchase something streamlined and sleek. Even if that's not an option, lining desks up against one wall gets them out of the way.

Small desk chairs are another great space-saving option.
eclectic home office by gallery.apartmenttherapy.com
by gallery.apartmenttherapy.com »
3. Curtains! I like the way this curtain gives this bed a little privacy of it's own...
eclectic Martha Stewart Storage idea
And the way this simple curtain hides shelves that are sure to get messy.
contemporary kids by Busybee Design
by Busybee Design »
4. Butting beds. Just like with the desks, sliding beds over to the side of the room gives everything a more spacious feel. Plus, they end up with a sort of daybed/sofa vibe (perfect for late night parties! Just kidding, moms!)
traditional kids by Kerrie L. Kelly
by Kerrie L. Kelly »
5. Don't forget the dry-erase. Unless something's changed since I was in college, a dry erase board on your outside door is a must-have. I like the idea of a big central calendar for each roommate in the room, too. Looking back, I remember college as full of naps and parties, but I'm sure I felt busy at the time!
jewelry storage
6. Look for storage everywhere. This last tip is definitely the most important. Dorm rooms often look junky because there's just too much stuff in too little space. Making the most of that space to store stuff is critical.

I like this idea of storing jewelry on the wall, maybe on a board designed for the use.
modern Modern Under the Sink Bathroom Storage
These little shelves are perfect for a bathroom shared by a zillion people.
traditional kitchen Frenchflair
These racks on the wall hold cookbooks in this kitchen, but in a dorm room, they'd be perfect for notebooks, mail, or any of the assorted papers college kids collect.
traditional living room by The Old Painted Cottage
by The Old Painted Cottage »
This vignette is a great reminder not to let one single shelf go to waste. Every spot can hold something!

Comments

jennyg87 - Cork board cut into long strips works great for jewelry holders in dorms!
- In my last dorm my roommate and I both had lofted beds, but I slept on my futon (which was under the loft), my loft ended up being perfect for storage.
- Don't forget about under the bed storage crates...they are also life savors.
3 years ago ·
roccosmodlife I appreciate that these tips can be applied to dorm rooms, but every time I read an article like this I wish it included pictures of real dorm rooms. It's so much harder to work with a 10 X 8 space with cinder block walls...
3 years ago ·
00kate Yeahhh, as a college student, these pictures look NOTHING like what we have to work with. It would be great if we had room for our own beds and our own desks and our own giant floor space, but that just ain't happenin.
2 years ago ·
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