Round Up: 4 Best Dorm Room Organization Tips

1. Maximize Storage

All dorm rooms the world over have one thing in common: limited space. You probably have many books, clothes, and accessories but not enough storage. This post on organizing your dorm room will help you to make the most of storage so you can enjoy your room all the more.

Image credit: Dormify

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2. Create Space for Desks

If there’s one thing you’ll be doing a lot of, it’s reading. And to read comfortably, you need a chair and a desk. Most dorm rooms have chairs and desks but they take up precious space. This post gives you tips on how to create space for desks so you can have more room. You can rearrange furniture to create the optimal space for reading!

3. Get Rid of the Mess

You’ll be amazed at how decluttering can transform your room. Create space for useful items and put away those you don’t use often. Remember that the bed is the largest piece of furniture so it must be clutter-free at all times. Use the tips found in this post – How to Organize your Room for Less to create a dorm room that is the envy of your friends.

4. Customize the Space

There are many things you can do to make your dorm room truly yours. You can add small touches to personalize the space. Don’t forget that it’s usually the smaller items that have a big impact on the overall look. This post shows you how to make your dorm room a home away from home.

If thinking of your ugly dorm room makes you dread going back to school, fret not. Use these tips to transform the place into one you love. For many people, college means leaving a comfy room at home and moving into one that’s similar to a shoebox. Turn your room into a comfort zone with these dorm room organization tips.

Need more inspiration to organize your dorm room, take a look at these posts on Stagetecture.

Easy Meals You Can Cook in Your Dorm Room Microwave

Image via: Buzz Feed

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Baked potatoes

A baked potato is a yummy addition to any meal. Plus it’s super easy too. Grab a potato and wash it. Pork a few holes in it with a fork. Wrap it in a paper towel and microwave it for few minutes. You will know it’s done when you can easily jab the fork through its center. Dress it up with butter and sour cream.

Oatmeal

Image via: Mr Breakfast

For a quick, healthy breakfast, throw a packet of oatmeal in a bowl, put water, and heat. Add nuts, dried fruit, or brown sugar for some extra punch. This is a nutritious way to begin your day, and is full of fiber.

Quesadillas

How about some Mexican today? Lay a tortilla flat and sprinkle some shredded cheese on it. Microwave until cheese is melted. Add pepper, tomato, or chicken to spice things up. Top it up with salsa and sour cream if you are feeling extra fancy.

Pasta and sauce

Image via: Food Network

You don’t need a stove to boil water. In a microwave safe bowl, put water and heat. Add pasta. Put the bowl in the microwave until pasta is done the way you like it. Add pasta sauce and you are done. Note- even though pasta sauce can be micro waved, the heat from the pasta works just fine.

Stir fry

For a super healthy, Asian inspired dish, steam brown rice in a bowl of water. Next, cook frozen veggies according to package instructions. Add peanut or any other stir fry sauce as per your liking. Whether you are looking for a hearty breakfast to kick start your day or some tasty munchies for those late night dorm room get-togethers, you can really cook much more than you think with your limited dorm room equipment. Just make sure to keep a few ingredients handy on the shelf in your room.

Today we continue Stagetecture’s feature ‘Olioboard Inspiration‘. Last time you enjoyed – ‘Summer Backyard Wedding Inspiration ‘ from Natalie Hawkes and this week we start getting ready for college back to school! Madeline Jones is a member of the Facebook Olioboard Fan Room and I asked her to help you and your college students get ready for dorm room life. Her board and ideas give easy dorm room organization ideas for a great school year.

If you’re interested in being featured see details here: How to be featured on Stagetecture’s Olioboard Inspiration‘ series.

Graduation is a time for celebration, remembering the old and bringing in the new. Getting ready for freshman year in college is the next step.  Transitioning to a new life includes planning for staying in unusually small quarters. Living in a 10 by 10 foot dorm room with a stranger can be a challenge. Necessities like textbooks, a book bag and a planner are the obvious things that are required. However, since space is at a premium, consideration must be given to consolidating while still having character and charm. A dorm room needs to be a study hall and still be a place in which to relax and enjoy.

Select a color palette you love:

First, select a color palette. These colors can be found in the bedding, towels, lamps and a small area rug.  If possible, contact the potential roommate in advance to share in the purchasing of shared items such as poufs, a telephone, area rug, and refrigerator.  This will save money and prevent doubling up on items.

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Choosing smart storage solutions

By using smart storage ideas like a trunk for keeping clothes, or under the bed bins for storing bath towels, and hanging shelves for shoes, space can be maximized. Folding chairs and poufs allow for moveable seating for when friends visit. Foldable ironing boards and refrigerators that tuck away under the desk or in the closet preserve valuable real estate. Containers and hanging shelving provide ample and tidy storage.  A shower caddy is convenient, and laundry bags instead of baskets save space. Also, consider comfort by creating a space that reduces stress and looks cool at the same time. Who doesn’t want a cool dorm room?

Personalize your dorm room

If the dorm room is comfy and looks fun it will allow for relaxation and entertaining. There are lamps that act as iPod or cell phone chargers, do double duty and look cool at the same time.  Add some fun touches like interesting posters or clothesline photo frames. Corkboard can be used to hang pictures of family and friends back home and a white board can be mounted on the outside of the dorm door for messages.

Colorful, small speakers can be used to play music but headphones are a must, especially when studying is taking place while others are asleep.  Some companies make removable wallpaper and decals, which are super unique and won’t damage the walls.  A set of twinkle lights or neon telephone and lava lamp offer interesting ambiance and a little light at the same time.  Have fun with the space and make it your own.  After all, it is the new home sweet home, at least for a few years.

Happy first day of August! Depending on when school starts in your part of the world, August usually means back to school time for kids and college students. If you or your kids are headed to college for the first time, or you’re a returning student, you will want to make sure your dorm room looks great, right?

My Guest Blogger today shows you how to take a boring dorm room and add personality with color and charm to your space. After all, your dorm room will be your new home for an entire school year, you better make it great! Get your dorm room ideas here!

From Dorm Drab to College Fab

Making a dorm room look fantastic can be quite the challenge. Students are confronted by cold tile floors and dingy white or light grey walls, none of which is terribly exciting when it comes to design. Given the expense of school, having any money left over for decorating may seem impossible, but fear not. Being innovative – and knowing where to find online deals – will help pump some personality into a small living space. Here are some tips and tricks for making a plain space more palatable.

A hint of color

When it comes to restyling a small space, working with an expanse of white can make the room appear larger. Start with a piece of white furniture – for instance, a small bedside table. You can often find an affordable piece like this at a thrift store. If you find one in a different color, simply paint it white. Add in other white elements where possible – a few throw pillows covered in eyelet fabric, white desk accessories, or a white comforter with a light spray of flowers. By sticking to a monochromatic color scheme, the eye will stop only at points of contrast – that is, pops of color instilled around the room. Consider pairing that minimally-decorated duvet with pillows in a bright and complementary color. On the bedside table, try a small bowl with a wild design that picks up on another color in the room.

The power of reflection

Mirrors can also create depth in a room. If space allows, buy a large mirror (these also can usually be found at a thrift store) that calls upon the aforementioned colorful accents. A wall mirror with a white frame can blend against a white wall and be enhanced with a variety of photographs tucked in the frame. Save the room that thick photo albums would take up and enjoy a daily reminder of past good times.

Control the clutter

Every fall, stores seemingly explode with a wealth of decorations specific to dorm rooms. Keep purchases in line, however — clutter will make a room feel smaller. What starts out as a few innocent items can spiral out of control. Stick to small but decorative items that won’t overwhelm a space, like wall decals and a throw rug. Though it may be tempting, it is not necessary to buy everything in a design collection.

Keeping these tips in mind, designing a small space on a budget is extremely possible. A pop of color, a little illusion, and a few well-chosen accessories will liven up a formerly-dull living space – keep an eye out for good deals and get busy decorating!

For more back to school ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

One year ago today, Stagetecture switched over from it’s old format to the new and improved website layout you see today. It has been a wonderful year, and last May 17, 2010 was the launch of our first giveaway!

This year I’ve decided to give away a gift that everyone can use! The gift of storage, and space to help you get your life organized.

Whether you are moving out of your home, and need a place to store your items, or you have a college student that has returned, and you need extra storage room, portable storage and moving units are the answer. Stagetecture has partnered with United Mayflower Container Services to give you the opportunity to win one month’s free storage for your home!

Their containers are perfect for people who are just looking for some extra storage space to “clean the clutter” out of their homes, for those needing temporary storage of household items while they work on a home remodeling project or for those who want to declutter in order to help get their home sold faster.

Containers are a great option because they allow the customer to keep their items at their location for easy access during a remodel or other type of home project, or while staging their home for resale. The container can be picked up and taken to a storage facility and once their house sells, the container can be brought back so they can finish loading up the rest of their belongings to move, never having to move and repack those original items since the container itself can be used to move locally or long distance.

Even if you don’t win the grand prize – enter “Stagetecture” on the United Mayflower Container Services site and receive $60 off of your first month’s rental of a free portable unit moving and storage container.

What you will win:

• Free portable storage unit will include the delivery, one month onsite storage (meaning at your location) and pickup of the container all completely free.
• Winner must live within one of our serviced areas in order to win the container. Check your zip code here to find serviced areas => Storage Unit Area Search
• Winner must redeem the rental within one year of the giveaway end date – May 26, 2012.

How to Enter:

• Leave a comment below answering this question, ” Why should you be picked to win one month of free storage”. Winner will be chosen from the most creative answers.
• For another entry, tell everyone why you should win & “Like” Stagetecture on Facebook, and tell us why you should win and follow us on “Twitter”, for a third chance!
• Giveaway will run from Tuesday, May 17th until Wednesday, May 25th. Winner will be announced Thursday, May 26th.

Good Luck!

For more home organization ideas on Stagetecture, click here.