34 Best Dorm Room Organization Ideas All Freshman Should Know

This post is all about best dorm room organization ideas.

Move in day is such an exciting time! Making your dorm room look perfect for that Instagram post is so fun. The real struggle is finding ways to keep it looking that way!

When moving into a dorm, it can be hard to adjust to the size. That's why it is so important to stay organized and maximize space! These dorm organization tips and products are some of my favs that literally saved my life in college so I can personally guarantee that using these ideas will keep you organized and make the transition SO much easier.

This post is all about dorm room organization.

THE BEST DORM ROOM ORGANIZATION

TIPS AND TRICKS:

1. Cut Down On Seasonal Clothes

Only bring what you NEED! As far as clothes go, it is not necessary to bring winter coats when its warm out! If you will be going home frequently you can switch out clothes as needed. If you live farther from home, put your seasonal clothes in bins and store them under your bed.

2. Limit The T-Shirts

T-shirts are SO easy to overpack. As comfy as they are you don't need as many as you think! If you are joining a club, sorority, fraternity or even just walking around campus, you WILL get loads of t-shirts while in college. Bring less from the start so you have room for the new ones!

3. Hang Clothes Under The Bed

This is a genius idea I had not heard about until just recently. Buy a tension rod and hang it between the posts of your bed. You can hang extra clothes under there to optimize space! This works best with higher raised beds.

4. Take Advantage Of Vertical Space

Hanging organizers will be your best friend when it comes to dorm room organization. Hang organizers like over the door shoe organizers any where you can for extra storage space.

5. Roll Clothes

College dorm drawers can be super small so it is important to make use of their space. A great dorm room organization tip for clothes is to roll them instead of fold!

6. Wait To Buy Until After You Move In

I know it is SO tempting to buy everything before you move in. But buying things early can leave you with things you don't need. Wait to move in to buy the smaller things!

7. Talk To Your Roommate

Communicating with your roommate is an essential to dorm room organization. You don't want to show up on move in day with two vacuums and duplicates of cleaning supplies!

8. Know The Space You Are Working With

Not taking into consideration the size of the room you are working with can leave your room cluttered and cramped. When buying any furniture, make sure to check the sizes and think about how it will look in the space.

9. Look Up Photos Of Your Dorm

Not only does looking up photos of your dorm give you an idea of how big it is, but you can also see what others have done and take dorm room organization inspiration from that!

You can check out our Pinterest for all different types of dorm inspiration pics!

THE BEST DORM ROOM ORGANIZATION

IDEAS AND INSPO:

10. Use The Space Under Your Bed

Recreate this dorm room organization idea:

A dorm room is so small that no space should go to waste. This is the perfect example of using the space under your bed for extra dorm room organization!

Not only are these three-drawer very budget friendly, but they are super practical.

11. Plastic Organizers Will Be Your Best Friend

Recreate this dorm room organization idea:

Plastic organizers can help keep your dorm room looking clean but also allow you to easily see what is inside. Use these to store makeup, toiletries, or jewelry.

12. This IKEA Drawer Unit Is The BEST For Dorm Rooms

Recreate this dorm room organization idea:

You've definitely seen these in Youtubers makeup rooms but let me tell you, these drawers are the best in dorm rooms.

First, they're tall so they take up less floor space but still have a ton of places to put things. Second, the different sizes make it so nice to divide up different products.

13. Utilize Wall Space To Create Extra Storage

Recreate this dorm room organization idea:

Taking advantage of the wall space is always a great idea when it comes to dorm room organization. You are guaranteed to be limited on the amount of space you have available in your room so definitely make sure to create extra storage by hanging organizers on your wall!

This idea not only ensures your space stays organized, but also makes great dorm wall decor that can be completely personalized!

14. Bring In Shelving Options That Don't Look "Dormish"

Recreate this dorm room organization idea:

I love this dorm room because it doesn't look like a dorm!

These shelving units that look like they could be in a home is the perfect way to make this room more cozy while giving you so much more dorm room organization space.

15. Use Under-The-Shelf Baskets 

Recreate this dorm room organization idea:

Small things like jewelry, hair ties, bobby pins and other accessories are easy to lose! Using drawer jewelry organizers for these small items keeps it organized and easy to find!

16. Hanging File Holders

Recreate this dorm room organization idea:

Hang file holders up with adhesive strips to store papers, files, or even makeup or snacks! 

17. Use A Dorm Bed Skirt To Hide Everything Under Your Bed

Recreate this dorm room organization idea:

A special dorm bed skirt is the perfect way to hide everything happening under your bed!

18. Use A Shared Dresser

This is where talking to your roommate is an essential to dorm room organization! If your beds are near each other, use a shared dresser instead of buying two!

This dresser is hollow inside to store the unsightly fridge in!

19. Multi-Purpose Furniture

Recreate this dorm room organization idea:

Because dorms are so small, it is so necessary to use every inch of space. Buying furniture that can be used as seating and storage is a win win!

Jewelry organizers are the perfect way to take advantage of your dorm rooms vertical space. This can be a super fun dorm room organization DIY too!

THE BEST DORM ROOM ORGANIZATION

PRODUCTS:

25. Cloth Storage Containers

These cloth storage containers not only make moving in easy, but are a great idea for extra clothes storage. Use these instead of large plastic bins to take up less storage space.

26. Space Saving Hangers

Space saving hangers make dorm room closet organization so much easier! They allow more room in your closet without stuffing clothes in.

27. Mirror With Storage

Most college students have an over the door mirror, so why not take advantage of the door space! This mirror allows jewelry, makeup, toiletries and accessories to be stored but also out of sight, helping with clutter.

28. Over The Door Storage

These over the door storage pieces can are perfect to store much more than just shoes! Use them for food storage, extra clothes, or school supplies.

29. Plastic Makeup Organizer

Plastic organizers are cheap dorm room organization pieces and help keep that desk clutter free.

30. Bedside Pockets

This is one of the best college dorm room organization items out there. If there isn't room for a side table, opt for this bed side organizer to store your phone, chargers and books.

31. Over The Fridge Storage

A fridge organizer keeps your food and utensils in one easy access place and also serves as a cute accessory to your fridge area.

32. Rolling Cart

Use a rolling cart as a side table or a storage unit for food! If you have a bathroom of your own in your dorm room, these are great for storing toiletries, makeup, and hair products too! 

You can find exact links for these dorm room essentials by clicking here. They are game-changers!

33. Drawer Organizers

Drawers can get messy. Use drawer organizers to keep underwear and socks easily organized!

34. Laundry Backpack

I SO wish I had known about this when living in my college dorm room. Carrying a large laundry basket down to the laundry room in dorms is such a pain. Opt for this laundry backpack to put all your dirty clothes in!

This post was all about the best dorm room organization ideas.

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