If you are planning on attending college, you may be looking forward to living in the dorms with a roommate. While college life can be exciting and memorable, it is not without its challenges. Sharing a room in a college dorm can mean finding creative solutions for maximizing the space in a small dorm room. Use these tips to help conserve space and make both you and your roommate happy.

Consider a Loft Bed
Dorm rooms typically are small, and the largest item to take up space is usually a bed. Add a roommate into the mix, and now you have two beds that take up most of the valuable floor space. To remedy this solution, consider buying or making a loft bed. These beds are similar to bunk beds, but only have the top bunk. They can be secured from the ceiling of the room, or with supports underneath. Add a ladder, and you suddenly have extra space where the bed previously was, to add a comfy couch or desk.

Use a Rug
To add personality and warmth to your dorm room, add a modern floor rug. Dorm rooms typically have drab carpet or tile flooring, and a rug can go a long way to making the room feel more like home. Visit a local furniture store like The Dump to find something that goes great with your room decor, and your room will be the envy of everyone who visits you at college.

Find Storage

To help cut down on your junk, find a good system for storage. Put your summer clothes in a tote during the winter and use it as a footrest or table. Use small bins and files for homework and store them neatly in your desk drawers. Store shoes you don’t use as often up on a high closet shelf.

Don’t Forget Vertical Spaces
In a small dorm room, you have to maximize every inch of space. Use your vertical spaces to get every inch you can. Hanging closet organizers, corner units, even standard bookshelves can really help you fit all your belongings into one place.

Personalize
Make your room extra personal with pictures and wall quotes. Enlarge your favorite pictures of friends and family and create a wall collage or even put them on the ceiling above your loft bed!

While decorating a small dorm room can be a challenging task, there are some great ways to help maximize the space in your dorm room so it doesn’t feel cramped.

We welcome your feedback to our work.

Email:  General Information   |   Dr. Daniel de Roulet   |   Prof. David C. Pecoraro

Thank you!

Daniel & David

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Cozy or Cramped: Tricks and Tips for Setting up a Small Dorm Room