This post is all about dorm organization ideas that you’ll love!
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Dorm rooms can be pretty small which is why organization is key! I lived in a quad my freshman year and basically had a small corner of the room to myself. After a while I learned how to use the limited space to my advantage with organization.
There are so many dorm organization ideas available which makes it hard to know which ones are actually useful.
These dorm organization ideas have worked really well for me and I know they will help take your dorm to the next level!
This post shows you 16 of the best dorm organization ideas available for college students.
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Best Dorm Organization Ideas
1. Under The Bed Storage:
Under the bed storage is one of the best ways to organize your belongings and maximize your space in college.
If you can, raise or loft your bed so that you have a lot more under the bed storage.
This extra storage unit was super helpful during my freshman year! I like this one even better because it isn’t see-through and doesn’t have wheels like mine did so it won’t move around.
If you’re using the extra storage unit above for miscellaneous items, find containers to fit in the drawers so that your belongings are even more organized.
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2. Night Stand:
Having a nightstand next to your bed is very convenient because it’s the best place to store little products that you don’t know where else to put. It’s also the perfect place to put some of your essentials (phone, water, and air-pods) before bed.
The nightstand in the photo above is super cute but rolling carts also work really well.
Many college students use rolling carts like this cute one as makeshift nightstands. Others will use their rolling cart to organize makeup and accessories.
The best part about rolling carts is that they come in a lot of different colors so it shouldn’t be hard to match them to your dorm colors or theme.
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3. Storage Ottoman:
Storage ottomans are very popular in college because they provide extra seating and storage. They can also help you get up onto your bed if it is lofted or raised.
I have two storage ottomans in my dorm this year and they are the best place to store some of my belongings that I don’t have a specific place for.
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4. Pocket Organizer:
A pocket organizer is by far the best way to organize miscellaneous items in your dorm room. I have one like this on the inside of my closet door and it makes finding things so much easier.
All of my belongings have a home and I don’t have to spend 10 minutes looking for where I put things like my trash bags or scrunchies. My roommates also use a pocket organizer and really like it!
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5. Drawer Organizers:
With your busy college schedule and running around from one place to the next, it can become very easy to just throw random items into your desk drawers.
Before you know it you’ll have a junk drawer that is super messy and it will be difficult to find anything. These desk drawer organizers are the best way to organize your desk so that a junk drawer doesn’t happen.
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6. Over-The-Bed Shelf:
Over-the-bed storage units are a great way to use wall space to your advantage. This will also give you a great place to put some of your important belongings like your phone and air-pods while you’re sleeping.
You may also be able to find a headboard that has storage built into it. Make sure that the shelf you buy works for dorm beds (size twin XL).
7. Desk Shelf:
In my experience desks can get messy super quickly which is why using a desk shelf or other organization methods is helpful. It is also important not to fill your desk with too many decorations/furniture because you’ll want enough room to spread out your work.
One of my friends has a smaller desk shelf on her desk that allows her to add decorations without them actually being on her desk. The desk shelf also provides extra room to store desk supplies.
I would definitely recommend having a pen/pencil container on your desk like this gold one as well. My pen/pencil holder makes it a lot easier to find my writing utensils and makes my desk neater.
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8. Storage Bins:
One of the best ways to organize some of the things that you need for college but don’t use every day is with storage bins. In my dorm, I have 3 fabric storage bins like these on the top shelf of my closet. I store different things in each bin so that I can always find my belongings.
My roommate also uses fabric storage bins and they help to keep our dorm room really organized.
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9. Food Storage:
There are many different ways to organize your food in college and it usually depends on how much space you have in your room. Some college students use a rolling cart to organize their food while others use a bin or a plastic drawer unit.
This year, my roommate and I use a plastic drawer unit like this one to organize our food and it works very well.
{RELATED POST: Best Dorm Room Kitchen Essentials Every College Student Needs!}
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10. Storage Trunk:
If you’re looking for a way to store miscellaneous items, a storage trunk can be useful and looks cute in any dorm room. You can put your storage trunk under your raised bed or in another spot if you have more room. Some girls put their storage trunk at the end of their bed too!
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11. Makeup Organizer:
You’ll definitely want a place to organize your makeup and accessories. I have this makeup organizer and really like it. All of my makeup has a place, and I don’t have to rifle through my makeup bag trying to find a particular product.
If you don’t have a ton of space you may want to get a makeup organizer that is taller so that it doesn’t take up too much space. This makeup organizer is big enough to keep hair accessories and jewelry as well!
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12. Shoe Organizer:
It’s smart to have a place to keep your shoes so that they don’t end up all over your room. Some girls use the over-the-door pocket organizer to organize their shoes while others use storage furniture like the picture above.
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13. Clothing Rack:
If you don’t have a lot of closet space, you can use a clothing rack like this one to hang some of your other clothes.
One of my friends didn’t have a ton of closet space so she used one of these and it looked so cute with her clothes hanging from it! It also has room for some of your shoes.
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14. Bedside Pocket:
Bedside pockets are the perfect place to put some of your important belongings before bed like your phone and journal. They don’t take up a lot of room and provide the perfect amount of extra storage.
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15. Shower Caddy:
Shower caddies are a must in college! You’ll need a way to organize your shower/bathroom supplies which is why a shower caddy is perfect! Make sure to get one with a strap so that it can hang from outside the shower if needed.
My shower caddy is one of the best organization products that I use everyday in college!
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16. Mini-Fridge Organizer:
It is important to have a place where you can organize your eating utensils, plates, cups, bowls, etc. A mini-fridge organizer doesn’t take up any space and provides extra storage which is really helpful!
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I hope that you liked this post about the best dorm organization ideas! I hope that these tips help you organize your dorm room. 🙂
{RELATED POST: 5 Easy Ways To Keep Your Dorm Clean Every Day!}
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