The fall semester is halfway over and that means it’s probably time for an organization overhaul. If you’re living in a dorm, this likely means it’s the month you’ll realize how hard it is to keep your closet organized while living in a small space. However, there’s no need to fret. These tips and tricks will help turn your jam-packed closet and overflowing drawers into the wardrobe of your dreams.
Try Your Best to Downsize
If you’re as obsessed with shopping as I am, living in a dorm can be pretty tricky. Minimal storage space forces some hard choices to be made. Try going through each piece you own and asking yourself if you really need it with you right now. If you haven’t worn something in the past few months you probably don’t need it taking up some of the precious space you do have.
On the other hand, half of your wardrobe may be items you love that happen to be out-of-season. The best option for these pieces is to store them in your closet at home and change them out over break. If this isn’t an option for you, try folding any out-of-season items and keeping them in bins under your bed. This way you can switch your closet and dresser out seasonally to maximize space.
Maximize Your Hanging Space
Dorms aren’t famous for having walk-in closets. If you do have a closet in your dorm, the room available for hanging clothes probably isn’t great. To make the most of the space that you do have, try purchasing something that will let you stack your hangers. I found these from Amazon to be particularly useful during my time in the dorms.
Stacking vertically in your closet can basically quadruple the space that you’ve been given. Getting ready in the morning will also be easier when you can see all your options instead of having to flip through everything individually. It may not always seem like it, but there are plenty of space-saving hacks to help you organize your dorm closet!
Get Creative with Shoe Storage
Trying to figure out where to store your extensive shoe collection in your dorm room is no easy feat. I brought way too many pairs to college with me and quickly realized that you couldn’t stuff shoes in a small space the same way you could with clothing.
There are a few ways around the shoe storage fiasco. One way is to keep your less-worn shoes in an under-the-bed bin like your out-of-season clothing items. They could also be stored in a storage ottoman if you happen to have brought one of those with you.
Another great solution for storing your shoes is a hanging shoe organizer. These go over your door and can hold your entire shoe collection plus a few more. You can share the organizer with a roommate or keep it for yourself. Either way, it’s a functional and space-saving way to keep your shoe collection from becoming a tripping hazard. You can purchase one on Amazon here.
Folding Technique Matters
If you’re anything like me, your dresser has always been a messy place where you throw whatever you’re too lazy to hang up for the time being. When you’re in college, this has to change. Use your drawers to hold items that won’t wrinkle easily such as denim, sweaters, and athletic wear. Try to keep your items separated by category as best you can so that you have easy access when looking for a certain item.
It’s also a good idea to hit up Pinterest for different space-saving folding techniques. There’s not one way that’s necessarily best, however, I have found that rolling jeans instead of folding them was a big help to me personally. Make sure that you stay on top of your dresser organization. Don’t let it become a catch-all for your unfolded laundry.
Use Your Fashion as Decor
Who said you had to keep your accessories in your closet? Since you might be short on storage space for purses and other accessories in your room, try using them as a fashionable way to spruce it up.
You can make a purse wall by using Command Hooks and arranging all of your bags in a creative collage above your bed or desk. You can also try getting cute hooks that match your color palette and hanging your jewelry on them. Arrange them in a cute shape on your wall or attach them to your desk cork board. It can even be something as simple as hanging your favorite hat off of a bedpost.
These tips may not make cramming everything you own into a tiny dorm room easy, but hopefully, they’ll help make it a little less painful. Remember, you won’t live in a dorm forever. There will be plenty of time — and room — in your dream closet when you don’t.
Featured photo by @ohmadellyn.
