Whether you’re renting a dorm or living with your aunt for the term, you’re likely to need storage space for those stacks of books and clothes. After all, you won’t be heading home any time soon and dorm rooms are only enough to store the essentials – a bed and desk.
The key to maximising space is to keep your surroundings as stress-free as possible to help you focus on what’s more important – acing your college year!
Follow our top storage ideas to help you tackle student storage like a pro and keep your student life as clutter-free as possible. From looking up (to your walls) and down (under your bed) for potential storage spaces, we’ve covered it all!
- Get multipurpose furniture
The furniture in your dorm room is already taking lots of space, so why not double it up as storage space?
Foldable furniture is a lifesaver when it comes to student storage. It is easy to use and can fit into the smallest of spaces. Open it up when you need to study and fold it down when you have friends over to make your room look more spacious.
Ottomans are another popular option when it comes to self storage London. They are great at multi-functioning and handy for storing anything from unused books to extra blankets.
Ottoman couches and benches provide seating and storage in addition to giving the room a refined and stylish touch. With so many pros, this is definitely one of the best student storage tips out there!
- Utilize the space under and around the bed
Student storage ideas are all about making space even when you think there is no space! Since the bed takes up most of the space in your dorm, get it to do double-duty.
Buy some clear baskets, tuck in all your out-of-season clothes and extra books, and slide them under the bed. Alternatively, you can even use storage bags to keep your stuff neatly organised.
The unkept and dusty space under the bed can be a helpful storage spot. All your occasionally used items will be tucked away and out of sight till when you need them.
Don’t let go of any nook when looking for the best places for student storage! Utilise the space around the bed by getting some headboard shelving so your phone or laptop will be just an arm length away while you take a quick nap.
There is lots of untapped storage potential around your bed! A very handy student storage idea, this will enable you to get rid of all your side tables, providing lots of extra space.
- Use drawer dividers
You probably don’t want to waste time hunting for ballpoints from the messy drawer in the morning. So, make your life easier by getting some organisers and dividers. They work like magic – it’s like providing more drawers for yourself!
Dividers help you organise everything from makeup and stationery to kitchen utensils. They keep everything separate and categorised so you can make the most out of your space.
They come in all shapes and sizes, you can choose any that fits your needs. Before buying them, consider everything that you’ll want to store in them. Although dividers are especially useful for desk drawers, they can also be used for organising clothes and other accessories.
An extremely simple, practical, and cheap storage idea, dividers are one of the most purchased items when it comes to storage.
- Utilise the vertical space
You probably have more wall space than floor space. So be smart and take advantage of it! Look over the doors, chairs, and even the bare walls – there’s so much storage potential all around you.
Get some storage racks or just hoard up on shelves. Use storage boxes and bins on the shelves to hold anything from heavy textbooks to photos from home.
Shelves are the ultimate solution to all your student storage problems! If you want, you can even invest in some floor-to-ceiling furniture to make the most of your space in a chic way. Or you can also hang hooks here and there to keep your blankets off the floor.
Vertical space is often the most underused space in a room and you can utilize it in so many ways. So the next time you think you’re out of storage space, just look up!
- Get over-the-desk shelves
The desk is probably the most important spot of the room and the place where you spend the majority of your day. So, multiply your space with some chic over-the-desk shelving or self risers like one above.
Use these to neatly organise all your textbooks and homework and keep them from falling into chaos and getting mixed up.
You should never compromise on your studies and this is a highly useful hack for when you’re out of desk space near exam season. It will keep everything neat and tidy, so you won’t have to stress out looking for your history notes at the last moment!
- Build a charging station
There’s nothing more frustrating than having to detangle wires when your laptop is running out of battery and you need to submit that assignment.
As a student, you’re probably going crazy finding sockets for the dozens of devices you own. And like the cherry on top, cables and cords seem to always be in the way. The key here is to keep the wires organised at all times.
Choose a spot of your room and build a multi-outlet charging station. Run the ends of the chargers through binder clips and clip them behind the drawer or at the edge of the desk.
All your devices will remain easily accessible and you won’t have to deal with tangled wires again! Moreover, this tip will get your chargers off the floor so you can reduce the chances of your roommate tripping over it every night.
Extra tip: if you’re into DIY projects, you can use a shoebox as a charging station for a quick and cheap fix.
- Maximise space behind the door
Don’t know where to put those boots or bulky sweaters? The one thing that burdens students the most is finding space to store clothes. When you’re short on closet space, simply hang it on the door!
Invest in some good-quality door organisers or even something as simple as hanging hooks will work out.
You can hang virtually anything from keys to even an umbrella. However, we would advise you to keep this space for your on-the-go items so you won’t have to spend half an hour rummaging through the closet for your jacket again!
- Hire a student storage unit
Have you gone through all of our clever student storage ideas but are still short on space? No matter how many tricks you try, sometimes you just have too much stuff to handle.
Look into hiring a secure and affordable student storage unit to store all those excess books, winter clothes, and even the camping gear that is crowding up your room. Keep your items in storage for as long as you need to save yourself from the clutter.
Make your life hassle-free and let Self Storage London take care of all your student storage dilemmas so you can finally head out and explore that university life!