Student Storage

Dorm Room Organization Guide

So, it’s time to move into your new college dorm room, but where to begin? Dorm room organization is very important. You may even be a seasoned student who wants to declutter your dorm room. Your dorm will now become your temporary home for the next year. So more than ever, it is important to see its value, organize and begin a new journey! With a little resourceful and creative thinking, you can make the most of your new space.

Declutter Your Dorm Room

Start with leaving items that you’re not going to actually need at home. Accumulating new and fun mementos is a must have in college. So you will need to toss out the old to make room for the new. Keep your items to the bare minimum once you travel from home.

Focus on furniture with multiple uses. Most dorm rooms are furnished with your basic living pieces such as beds, dressers and working desks. Adding extra furniture can be a plus. Especially if you add a multi purpose item! For example, instead of placing a living chair in your dorm room, try a storage ottoman on for size. this will provide a place to sit and also act as a storage container! It may help you declutter your dorm room.

Handy Dorm Room Organization Hack

A handy dorm room organization life hack is using your vertical storage! Check out over the door hanging items such as shoe racks, towel racks and hanging baskets. These over the door wonders are perfect for storing your must have items. Such as accessories or even cleaning items. Opt for a wire shower caddy for those clutter based items such as pens, notebooks. Also loose leaf paper and other random items that live on your desk.

To really make your dorm room feel like home, a dining area is a must, but how? You may have items such as a mini-fridge, a microwave and a coffee maker. So it is imperative to set up kitchen station! Organize in the best way possible by using a small utility cart on wheels as well as adjustable cube shaped storage. These placement items are optimal for keeping your dining items together and out of the way. Plus it just feels good to have the feeling of home in your very own dorm room. Feel free to add small baskets and little plastic shelves for snacks, utensils and more!

1. Storage Under Your Bed

One of the most underrated storage areas in a dorm room is right under you, literally. Storing items underneath of your bed is ideal for keeping things organized and decluttered. Plus its a perk having your items close to you. Most dorm room beds can be adjusted to raise up or lower down. Thus creating adequate space for storage containers, totes, drawers, or boxes. Some dorm room inhabitants have been known to loft their bed to keep a small sofa or futon underneath for seating. If your dorm room bed does not lift and lower, fear not, bed risers are available and won’t break your bank. Sure, things can also get cluttered if you’re really utilizing the space. Therefore if the look bothers you, purchase a long bed skirt to hide your items. This is one of the simplest ways to declutter your dorm room.

2. Other Storage Alternatives

If you don’t want to store things under the bed, you can always store things over the bed as well! Using your wall space is the best thing you can possibly do. You can add shelves above your bed to keep things up and out of the way. There are organizational shelves made especially for twin beds that are optimal for keeping things out of the way, tidy, close to you and looking clean. Some of the shelves even allow space for a headboard, which makes organizing your room much easier.

3. Closet Storage

With most dorm rooms, you are also have some kind of closet space or wardrobe cabinet. Sometimes it seems like the easiest way to just hang your things up and pile your shoes anywhere. However, there are ways to truly amplify the space you’ve been given with a few handy items! Create more hanging space for your clothing by using thin, felt hangers. As opposed to bulky plastic or wood material hangers. In the spirit of keeping things cohesive in your spaces, use a hanging organizer for laundry items such as garment bags, detergent, fabric softener and other items.

You could easily conceal those in a basket and place them in the organizer! Place the plastic shelving on the top of the closet for towels and washcloths. Use the plastic shoe bags for shoe organization on the back of the closet door. Also the nearest flat surface, freeing up the floor of the closet for added space. Make sure to leave enough space for a hamper! If this area does not have a door, a trusty shower curtain rod with a curtain or even a stylish shower curtain can help keep your area looking neat.

4. Use The Dresser

If your room has a dresser, save room in each drawer by rolling your clothes! This is a special folding technique that can allow you to store many more tops and bottoms in one single drawer. This method can also help prevent those annoying wrinkles. If you do not have a dresser, you can use a set of plastic drawers. these will help in your quest to declutter your dorm room.

5. Entertainment Area

Another relaxing aspect of having your own dorm space is creating an area for entertainment. Whether you want to watch television or play video games. If you or your roommate has a small size flat screen television, you can save space on your desk or dressers by creating an entertainment center with cube shelves. All you have to do is stack the organization cubes and place the TV on top! These cubes can make it easy to store games, magazines, small decorations, a game console, movies and more! For an added touch, add accessories or stylish decor that you enjoy or even contact paper for the top.

6. Bedside Table

Something essential is a beloved bedside table! To make your bed experience feel more cozy, try out a rolling cart for a small nightstand. Bulky tables can take up space and are not practical. Using a rolling cart is your best bet. All bedside items such a book can laying on it. Also a bottle of water, a clock, an alarm clock or a small fan. It would also be great for keeping your phone close to you while it charges at night. A perk with the rolling cart is all of the sweet little storage areas underneath!

7. Do not forget the desk

The desk in your dorm can take up a lot of room, so maximize that space and add a hutch! A desk hutch comes in a variety of sizes, shapes and finishes. They provide loads of storage space for your books, school items and electronic devices. Throwing in a few small boxes, baskets and magazine holders can be placed on top of the hutch for added storage and organization. You can also utilize binder clips around the desk to create an affordable solution for cord storage. Just simply add a few clips and weave the chargers as well as cords through the loops to keep your cords accessible and cleaned up. You’ll never have to worry about pesky cords getting tangled again. You can also keep your devices organized on the desk with a DIY charging station. You can match each device’s charger to their designated device with decorative tape.

8. Bathroom organization

Your dorm room may or may not have its own bathroom. If so, you may have to think outside of the box. You and your roommate will both need space for your personal hygiene products. Small size bins that stack ideally fit underneath of sinks. These are perfect for items such as toothbrushes, deodorant, soaps and shampoos, mousse, hairsprays, and even your medications. Wire baskets and small hanging baskets suspended from cabinet doors can also be added for more storage. And as always, don’t forget to label!

If your dorm room does not come with its own bathroom, worry not. For a shower caddy is your best friend. Sharing a bathroom with an entire floor of students means you have to take your own items back and forth. You can make your bathroom routine so much easier by keeping your toiletries in a shower caddy or tote. You can store all of your items in your caddy such as shampoo, soap, razors, shower lotions and even a loofah sponge! Not only does the caddy or tote keep things organized, they create more space in your room and they’re easy to find when you need them.

9. Wall Hooks

And finally, stacking up on command hooks are something to remember when you want to declutter your dorm room, reorganize and start over fresh. These are a lifesaver and can work with any budget. You can use them for absolutely everything. Whether it’s creating a place for your keys, a place to hang a robe and towels or even for art and photos on the wall.

Organization and proper storage can be a real game changer when it comes to making the most of any space. Following these easy budget friendly dorm room hacks and clever storage ideas, you can create a personal space that feels like home sweet home! This is when all your efforts to declutter your dorm room will pay off.

Call Box-n-Go 1-877-269-6461

Should you find yourself with too much stuff consider decluttering using student self storage from Box-n-Go. Box-n-go actually offers many services far beyond self storage. All the items you do not use regularly can be in storage, where you can retrieve them with ease. Also, when the summer comes, use summer storage services from Box-n-Go to move out from your dorm room with ease.

College Dorm Checklist

The fall semester is approaching for many. Many students will be heading to college to begin a new phase of their journey as young adults. As a part of that transition, many students will be moving away from home. Living at the place here they will be studying to get their degree. Moving into a college dorm is definitely a different and potentially trans-formative experience. For some, it could be partially intimidating moving away from home. Adapting to new living conditions. For others, it could prove to be very fun and exciting time transitioning into a new phase of one’s life. Having a good college dorm checklist may help in getting your school year to a great start.

Regardless of the situation, it is very important to be prepared. So that you will have everything you need to maximize your college experience. Here is everything that you should make sure you have on your college dorm checklist.

Desk and Office Supplies

One of the first set of items you need to be concerned with on your college dorm checklist is where you will be doing your work and studying. Your office space is where you will be taking notes, studying for tests and doing other important schoolwork.

You will first need your standard school supplies. This will include pens, pencils, notebooks, folders and binders to keep your notes or PowerPoint handouts. If you are studying a specific specialty, you may need certain items such as scissors, rulers and potentially tape.

Certain students find that taking notes on index cards help them memorize material better. So that may be something to consider. Highlighters to organize your notes and have key concepts down are also a popular commodity among college students.

Being organized with all of your assignments will be one of the most important things you will have to do in college. One of the best items to purchase to help with this challenge is to bring a planner and meticulously plan out the rest of your week at once.

You may also want to bring sticky notes so you could set yourself reminders of important events that are happening. Bringing a printer and paper is an option for some, but colleges typically provide you with your printing needs.

Electronics and Entertainment

Electronics have become somewhat of a necessary evil not only in society, but in school. You will seldom find a college student without a laptop. You may find yourself needing one to conveniently take notes, do research or perform other important school functions.

Laptops could become very expensive, and you should prioritize getting a quality laptop that will get the job done and perform all the functions you need. Do not be tempted to shell out hundreds of dollars just based on the quality of the screen or other cosmetic details. Certain students like to use tablets in order to do some convenient reading.

Music is a way for certain students to relax, and getting a set of portable speakers could be a great way to help you unwind after a long day. In order to keep memories and records of your events, bringing a camera is also something you may want to consider. Although if you already have your cell phone, you could take your photos there.

Whenever you want to take a study break or completed an assignment, you could reward yourself by playing video games. Bring along a console, controllers and some of your favorite games if you have them. If video games are not your style, you could try opting to see if your roommate would be down to playing some card games.

Clothing

This area will probably take up most of your time in terms of packing on your college dorm checklist. But you still need to ensure that you are adequately prepared clothing-wise for the semester. You need to ensure that you carry enough shirts, pants, socks and underwear. When you plan to exercise or be active, you should bring along some sweats.

At night, ensure that you have a good set of pajamas for you to sleep in. As for proper footwear, you will need to carry an assortment for different situation. When you are walking around campus, you should bring along comfortable sneakers and shoes to walk or run in. If you are not traveling any long distances or will be localized in your dorm, you may ant to bring a pair of slippers with you.

Certain events may call for certain dress code, so you will also want to pack a set of dress clothing for formal events that you may want to go to. If you plan on getting wet and if your school has an area for you to swim, bring along a swimsuit.

One important factor that many students forget to consider is the fact that the weather will be changing from summer to fall and eventually to winter. They do not account for the fact that the weather will get colder. Only pack as though they are still on summer vacation. Do not forget to pack warm clothing so you can adapt to the weather as the temperature drops.

In order to adequately prepare for this change in the weather, you should pack sweaters, light or heavy jackets, scarfs, gloves. Also any other warm clothing that you can find.

Toiletries

Taking care of your body will be incredibly important as you will no longer be under the confines of your house. You will need to carry important articles used for you to take care of your body and ensure that you optimize your health as best as you can.

On your college dorm checklist, you should ensure you have adequate amounts of soap, and shampoo for when you take a shower. You should also pack along sufficient toothpaste, floss and mouthwash for your oral health.

Cosmetically speaking, you will want to bring along moisturizers, deodorant, combs or brushes. Also nail clippers, shaving cream and cotton swabs. Depending on your hair needs, bringing a hair dryer may also be necessary for you. Cologne or perfume are also items to consider bringing along to keep a fresh scent throughout the day.

Certain students have certain medical conditions or deficiencies that need to be resolved with medication. Others may also suffer from headaches or pains throughout the semester. If you find that this happens to you a lot, then you should consider bringing along pain relievers such as aspirin and vitamins.

Shared Items

You will also have to consider items that you may be sharing with the roommate that you are assigned with. Before you officially move in, you will be able to meet with them and establish a rapport with them to see if there is mutual interest in certain items.

Certain items that may be shared among the both of you may include TV players, a mini-fridge (if the school has not already provided you with one), a rug, posters and audio equipment. Consult with your roommate prior to confirm what is allowed in your dorm and which items you would like to share together.

Personal Belongings

Being away from home for an extended period of time could predispose to one being homesick or potentially depressed. It may be important for you to bring along reminders of your family so they do not seem too far away. Bringing along family photos, heirlooms or personal items can help alleviate some of this potential loneliness. Leaving it on your desk while you work or perform other tasks can give you certain comfort.

Handy Items

There are other items that also may want to have handy, although they are not exactly considered essential. If you plan to visit areas off campus in the local neighborhood, you may want to bring a map.

In addition, if you want to write letters to loved ones from college to inform them of your progress. Bringing along some envelopes and stamps may be helpful for you.

To accommodate all of your electronic needs, bringing along an extra power strip or extension cord may be convenient for you. Especially if you want to have all of your electronics being charged in one place.

As you can see, there are plenty of things you will need in order to maximize your college dorm experience. Everybody’s needs are different. However this is a general sense of what you will need to pack in your bags before you move out of your home. Make sure to double-check that you have everything on your list so you do not have to make separate trips. Get all of the items that you need well in advance, and best of luck for the new school year.

How Box-n-Go Storage & Moving Can Help

Box-n-Go is a student self-storage and moving company that services many of the colleges in Southern California. While we are most useful when it comes to moving out, we can also help with move in. Some students ship their belongings to us, instead of traveling with them. We then deliver those items to your dorm room, for a reasonable fee. This simplifies your move in process as you can do the shopping inline and have all your items delivered to your dorm room.

Call us at 1-877-269-6461 for more information or receive a quote today.

Moving and Storage Tips for College Students

A college student? Inevitably a school year will end and you will have to move out of your residence. Here are the 8 moving and storage tips for college students to help you with this difficult process.

College is difficult enough without having to worry about moving. However, unless you are one of those rich kids that can simply pay others to move your things, you will need to deal with this problem. While most people will reasonably expect the academic side of college to be tough, many do not consider the fact that you will have to move twice a year. Once when the dorms open, and again when the dorms close. This can add up to a lot of time, trouble, and money that you probably do not have. With that in mind, here are a few tips to make your college moving experiences a little easier.

1. Prior Planning:

As a general rule, you should remember that early planning makes everything easier. College students are infamous for doing everything at the last minute, but try not to adhere to the stereotype on this one. Make sure that you take a good look at your new dorm room before moving in, with an eye on what you need and what you don’t need. Think about what it will be like going through your normal daily activities around this place, and what you will need or want while doing so. You should also make sure to write down the move-in and move-out dates for reference.

Moving and Storage Tips for College Students #2 Take Good Measurements:

Most of the time, a dorm room will consist of rather limited space. Add to this the fact that you will probably be sharing the space with others, and you begin to see that space issues will arise. This is a situation that requires you to reach new heights in terms of efficient space usage. Obviously, you can take a little shortcut and hang many items on the wall, or even from the ceiling. This is a great way to save space, but you can’t do that with many items, especially your furniture.

When you go into your dorm for the first time to check it out, make sure you bring a tape measure and a notebook. This will enable you to draw a quick and accurate map of the interior. No, it doesn’t have to be as exact as professional-quality blueprints, it just has to give you a rough idea of your work area and its limits. Take accurate measurements of any areas where you expect to place large items like beds, dressers, nightstands, etc. At this stage, it is a good idea to have your future roommate (or roommates) with you. Not only can you work out the details of your furniture arrangements, but they can also hold the other end of the tape measure for you.

3. Buy Used Furniture:

Don’t make the mistake of getting happy with your residual money. In other words, don’t buy new furniture for your dorm room. It is neither necessary nor worth the cost. There are so many places where you can acquire used furniture at rock-bottom prices. Just make sure to be careful with couches, chairs, and especially beds. Check them thoroughly for bedbugs or your entire floor will hate your guts!

4. Find A Friend With A Truck:

The single biggest expense when moving is always going to be the truck. However, a dorm move is a much smaller-scale move and does not require a huge truck. If you know someone who owns a large pickup truck, their services can probably be obtained for a much cheaper price than the cost of a rental truck. If you have an uncle who owns a great big truck, now is the time to call him.

If you don’t know anyone with a truck, you might put an ad in a local online classified. However, there are some safety concerns if you go this route. While this kind of thing is usually safe, there are some real psychopaths out there, and you don’t want to end up as their next victim. Make sure you meet them in public places and wear a body cam if possible when dealing with them.

5. Avoid Redundancy In Your Packing:

As the survivalists often say, “the more you know, the less you need.” This advice holds true for dorm life. It is good to keep your personal belongings to a relative minimum since you will be living in a small space with at least one other person. So, don’t bring two devices that perform the same function. For instance, don’t bring both the electric skillet and the grill, because you don’t really need both of them. For that matter, you might not need either of them if your dorm room has a full kitchen.

Moving and Storage Tips for College Students #6 Work Out The Utilities:

Have you ever lived without electricity and running water? It’s not easy, and you don’t need those kinds of distractions when you’re trying to focus on your education and future. Before you move in, make sure that everything is properly arranged for your power, water, and internet. That last one is crucial because the internet will be essential for most of your college work. Without it, you will be spending an awful lot of time in the library.

7. Pack Your Fragile Items Separately:

Ideally, you should try not to bring excessively fragile items when you move into a dormitory. Even if you and your roommates are not the “party animal” types, it is still very easy for accidents to occur. You are much better off to leave those items at home where they will be safe. However, if you choose to bring anything made of glass or anything else which is fragile, wrap it up very well before you put it in the box. I recommend using multiple layers of newspaper, followed by a layer of bubble wrap.

Moving and Storage Tips for College Students #8 Think About The Temperature And Weather:

There is a good chance that you will be attending college somewhere that is relatively far from your home. As such, you may have to consider the different climate when you think about your time in the dorm. Don’t neglect this factor, as it can make a big difference in your overall comfort. For instance, the weather will make a big difference in terms of which clothes you bring and which clothes you leave at home. It will also have an impact on the activities that you will be engaging in when you aren’t doing schoolwork. Finally, you will need to consider the impact of the weather on your electric bill when doing your financial planning. As a general rule, heating and cooling are the two biggest power-suckers in any home.

In conclusion, it is safe to say that moving can be a relatively easy experience.

However, it tends to be an awkward and stressful experience without the proper planning.

Try Box-n-Go Services

We hope that this article has been useful to you and that your scholastic journey is not hindered by the semi-nomadic life that you are temporarily forced to lead. For more information on student self storage, contact us today for a quote. Student self storage units start at $10 a month.