Back to School: Storage and Style in the Dorm
It’s that time again when parents and students from coast to coast are shopping for college dorm supplies, loading up cars, and packing boxes as they prepare for an exciting adventure, but also one that will come with some logistical challenges.
Dorm rooms are notoriously small and poorly appointed, and it’s almost a rite of passage to learn how to live in a tiny space with one, two, or possibly even three roommates. But innovative product designers, retailers, and creative people the world over have transformed dorm living, making it possible for college students to achieve both stylishness and order in their tiny spaces.
When I was a college student (about a million years ago!), I relied on Target and the Container Store for storage, bedding, and accessories to help make my shared living space somewhere I could be both productive and happy. These retailers are still classic go-tos, and every day they add exciting dorm-related options like shower caddies, study pillows, rolling carts and the like to their offerings.
But along with the classics — as well as Amazon and Ikea of course — today there are numerous websites focused specifically on providing dorm living solutions. Dormify is one popular site that offers a wide range of stylish and functional options for those oddly sized twin-XL beds, cramped or communal bathroom situations, as well as storage and desk accessories. I’m particularly intrigued by their removable fabric headboard options that dramatically transform institutional beds from boring to stunning while doing double-duty as a comfortable backrest.
When considering where you can possibly store all of your stuff with barely a drawer and a shoebox-size closet to work with, get creative and use every nook and cranny. Most dorm beds now have adjustable heights, allowing ample under-bed storage (Word to the wise: bring a rubber mallet to make adjustments and “loft” your bed). Containers or storage boxes on wheels can create extra dresser space under your bed that you can just pull out as needed. If you prefer a ready-made option, the Container Store sells pre-designed systems that include a bed caddy for additional storage.
Your walls are not just for art and pictures, but make sure to be compliant with strict residential policies. Use removable adhesive products like those made by Command to adhere hooks for robes, jackets, or towels to your walls or doors. Also don’t forget, there are plenty of storage products available that hook over doors or closet rods to create extra areas to store shoes, clothing, or other items.
To add color and style, consider a small rug; pretty removable wallpaper (if permitted) for a focal wall; fun lighting; personalized products like a “Dorm Sweet Dorm” sign from Etsy for your door; and of course photos and meaningful accessories from home. Making this space truly yours and filling it with objects you love will help create a mindset that will set a positive tone for each day on this grand adventure.
If the incredible dorm-room images that regularly appear on Instagram or Pinterest are any indication, in colleges across the country clever students (and their parents) are transforming blah spaces into showrooms worthy of the pages of Architectural Digest. With just a little creativity and some ingenious storage and décor solutions, you can totally transform a dorm room into a beautiful, functional space you will enjoy living, working, and socializing in for the next year.