Small Dorm Storage, Share advice or past mistakes

[mom31257]

Dd is going to be in an older dorm with small rooms. She and her roommate have been texting, and they don't want to put the beds into a bunk bed situation because neither wants to be on top. She will have a single closet, a chest of drawers, and a desk. There is a sink in the room, and we already know the roommate is bringing a mini-fridge and microwave. 

 

We do live near an IKEA, but we won't be able to purchase anything really expensive. 

 

Thanks for any advice or past mistakes we could avoid!

[bettyandbob]

When I was in college, I put my bed on square cinder blocks that my dad had made a wooden cap for the ends. This lifted the bed another 6 or 8 inches. So, still on the ground. This gave me significantly more storage (I put everything under there. A very large trunk. My laundry basket fit under with clearance.). I think you can buy blocks specifically for this. Check with the school. Some schools do not allow this.

[TechWife]

Check with the school to see if they allow risers - ds' university does in some dorms, but not others. They require risers made for that purpose and do not allow cinder blocks. 

 

Sometimes you can get extra space by turning the desk so that it is across the end of the bed, but it will totally depend on how big the desk is.

[bettyandbob]

See I knew after 30+ years someone was making something for this problem.

 

http://www.dormco.com/Extra_Tall_Bed_Risers_Adjustable_Height_p/front-bins-etbr.htm

 

You just have to check if they are permitted. I know why cinder blocks aren't permitted--without the lip around the edge the bed could slide off. That never happened to me in 4 years of dorm living and it didn't happen to my sister before that, but I guess it could happen. Anyway, those things linked look like they'd be approved most places, just ask.

[TechWife]

See I knew after 30+ years someone was making something for this problem.

 

http://www.dormco.com/Extra_Tall_Bed_Risers_Adjustable_Height_p/front-bins-etbr.htm

 

You just have to check if they are permitted. I know why cinder blocks aren't permitted--without the lip around the edge the bed could slide off. That never happened to me in 4 years of dorm living and it didn't happen to my sister before that, but I guess it could happen. Anyway, those things linked look like they'd be approved most places, just ask.

 

 

You can also get them at Target, Bed, Bath & Beyond and many other places. 

[Angie in VA]

Well, KonMari folding changed my world. More stuff in less space (and I'm by no means implying your dc has too much stuff!). 

 

 

[FaithManor]

My school had risers. We would put our beds on them, and then use Rubbermaid underbed storage tubs for a lot of items.

 

Well, until my roommate and I decided we needed a rabbit. We purchased a dwarf rex, named him Thumper, and put him in a cage under my bed with my extra long quilt hanging over the side so if the RA entered the room, she would not be able to see his cage.

 

We housebroke him to a small, aluminum pan of kitty litter and most of the time he ran loose in the room since he learned to run and hide when the door opened. We changed his litter every other night at midnight because security had done it's rounds at that point and would not see us sneaking garbage out to the dumpster.

 

We kept him for two years then when she headed to Japan for study abroad, and I to an intensive summer music program where I would not be able to keep him, re-homed him to a set of new freshman girls in our dorm. He lived in the dorms for about seven years before making his way to a permanent home off campus, LOL!

 

So there you have it! You can get a lot of versatile space out of a set of bed risers! :D

[justasque]

Seconding the riser option. 

Many dorm beds have several settings as to how high you can put the mattress - kind of a built-in riser effect.  

I've seen lots and lots of dorm beds with big Rubbermaid tubs underneath.  (None with rabbits though!)

Sometimes you can find a small footprint where you can put a tall bookshelf.  This can help a lot, especially if it's a fairly deep shelf.

An extra blanket can be hung over the end of the bed.

A sturdy bed dust ruffle can be fitted out with pockets for all kinds of things.

You can get a hook that goes over a closet or wardrobe door to hang a towel, coat, or bathrobe.  (Make sure there is a good place for a towel to dry!)

Ultimately, the less stuff you bring, the easier it is to fit it all in and care for it.

[mom31257]

Thanks! We were able to look online at her specific dorm's info page. There is a picture of a room with a bed on risers and the mattress high up on the bedframe. There is room to put the chest of drawers underneath and have room for other storage items. 

 

 

[Tree Frog]

Seconding the riser option. 

 

Many dorm beds have several settings as to how high you can put the mattress - kind of a built-in riser effect.  

 

I've seen lots and lots of dorm beds with big Rubbermaid tubs underneath.  (None with rabbits though!)

 

Sometimes you can find a small footprint where you can put a tall bookshelf.  This can help a lot, especially if it's a fairly deep shelf.

 

An extra blanket can be hung over the end of the bed.

 

A sturdy bed dust ruffle can be fitted out with pockets for all kinds of things.

 

You can get a hook that goes over a closet or wardrobe door to hang a towel, coat, or bathrobe.  (Make sure there is a good place for a towel to dry!)

 

Ultimately, the less stuff you bring, the easier it is to fit it all in and care for it.

 

You can also purchase shelves that hook onto the bed frame where you could put a lightweight book or glasses. BB&B carried them last year.

[momofkhm]

Both daughters have frames that can be normal, raised, bunked  or lofted.  The one at State, you can do it yourself, grab a couple of guys out in the hallway, or wait for maintenance.  She tends to have her bed high enough that the desk will fit under and she can barely stand up.  Not quite, but almost lofted.

 

The one at small, rural school, you have to fill out a form and have maintenance do it.  That dd already filled out the form.  She wants her raised high enough for storage but not bunked or lofted.  Not even high enough for the desk.  Just enough that she will have to jump to get in bed.  But her room is a lot bigger.

 

 

[Teachin'Mine]

Shoe bags can provide lots of pockets for pens, markers, hair supplies, toiletries, whatever and can be hung over the inside or outside of a door, or even off Contact hooks on a wall.  If the bed is lofted, this could even be hung over the footboard and if too long, cut and those pockets hug over the bed rails for easy access.  Ones with clear plastic pockets make it easier to find things.  If they provide bookshelves, that could also go under the lofted bed or maybe on the desk to save floor space.  It's hard to know ahead of time what will work best as roommates often come up with some creative ideas.  

[FaithManor]

I have seriously wondered if I could get rich making dorm quilts that have pockets along the sides or "saddlebags" lol. I could easily see my boy sleeping in a blanket that also held all of his underwear,socks, and washcloths!

[Junie]

Here is a great idea for saving closet space.  These would be great for sweaters, jeans, t-shirts -- anything that can be folded.

 

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/1/1/351190-closetware-6-shelf-open-front-sweater-organizer-aqua.html

 

When I was in college, my dear roommate (with too many clothes) used plastic milk crates stacked to the moon.  She put them sideways and stored her sweaters in them.  The milk crates would probably work great for notebooks, binders, etc.

 

 

 

 

 

**When I say too many clothes:  I remember it was near the end of spring semester.  She pulled out an outfit, and then remarked, "Oh, I already wore this this year."  And she put it back.  :huh:

[justasque]

Here is a great idea for saving closet space.  These would be great for sweaters, jeans, t-shirts -- anything that can be folded.

 

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/1/1/351190-closetware-6-shelf-open-front-sweater-organizer-aqua.html

 

When I was in college, my dear roommate (with too many clothes) used plastic milk crates stacked to the moon.  She put them sideways and stored her sweaters in them.  The milk crates would probably work great for notebooks, binders, etc.

 

 

 

 

 

**When I say too many clothes:  I remember it was near the end of spring semester.  She pulled out an outfit, and then remarked, "Oh, I already wore this this year."  And she put it back.  :huh:

 

I know a couple of people who never seem to repeat an outfit.  To be fair, they often wear second-hand clothes and/or hand-me-downs from friends who know they love clothes, so they are not spending as much as it would seem.  

 

An interesting study that looks at this just came out in Britain.  It found that "One in 10 women wear a piece of clothing just three times before it is left gathering dust in the back of the wardrobe."

[Nan in Mass]

My school had risers. We would put our beds on them, and then use Rubbermaid underbed storage tubs for a lot of items.

 

Well, until my roommate and I decided we needed a rabbit. We purchased a dwarf rex, named him Thumper, and put him in a cage under my bed with my extra long quilt hanging over the side so if the RA entered the room, she would not be able to see his cage.

 

We housebroke him to a small, aluminum pan of kitty litter and most of the time he ran loose in the room since he learned to run and hide when the door opened. We changed his litter every other night at midnight because security had done it's rounds at that point and would not see us sneaking garbage out to the dumpster.

 

We kept him for two years then when she headed to Japan for study abroad, and I to an intensive summer music program where I would not be able to keep him, re-homed him to a set of new freshman girls in our dorm. He lived in the dorms for about seven years before making his way to a permanent home off campus, LOL!

 

So there you have it! You can get a lot of versatile space out of a set of bed risers! :D

This sounds very very familiar. : )

[FaithManor]

I know a couple of people who never seem to repeat an outfit.  To be fair, they often wear second-hand clothes and/or hand-me-downs from friends who know they love clothes, so they are not spending as much as it would seem.  

 

An interesting study that looks at this just came out in Britain.  It found that "One in 10 women wear a piece of clothing just three times before it is left gathering dust in the back of the wardrobe."

No WAY! Seriously, I just don't spend that much money on clothing. If I only wore something three times before abandoning it, I'd have to be naked four days per week! :lol:

[Hoggirl]

I really like the shoe bag idea.

 

I think storage can be tougher for girls than boys as they do tend to have more clothing, shoes, etc. There is also the issue of many smaller items - jewelry and hair accessories.

 

When ds went to sleep-away camp the first year and we purchased his trunk, a friend said we *had* to get the one with the wooden tray that sat at the top. He took it one year and then we discarded it. We came to the realization that that wooden tray was necessary for girls but not for boys. The girls just had more small, loose items to contend with.

 

You are wise to plan ahead, but I do think it's hard to know what you want/need until you are actually in the room. But, I vote to think about "girl stuff" in your planning.

[J-rap]

That sounds like my daughter's room last year, and it was pretty much all she needed.  The one extra thing we got that she ended up using a lot was one of these rolling carts from IKEA:

 

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30216536/