I had mountains of ideas about what I wanted to do with my dorm room, and after I moved off-campus, my house space:
A new chair for the desk that was stacked with packing boxes of desk supplies and books.
A captivating mural for the wall that was hidden behind shoe boxes.
An Anthropologie quilt for the bed that was covered with bags of winter sweaters, stuffed toys and linens.
See the trend?
I devised a few easy, DIY storage ideas that are easy on the eyes and equally easy on the wallet.
Bagging it
The first step to creating a place for your things is deciding what deserves a home and what does not.
Most college students have done the “big chop” by downsizing to only the “necessities.” But if too much is left over, another chop might be in order.
Cutting down was difficult, especially when it came to clothing. But storing my off-season items cleared a lot of space in my closet.
Here’s a tip to decide what goes and what stays: Look at it and if you cannot make a decision to keep within five seconds, it just might end up on a shelf all season.
Here is my quick and easy way to store off-season clothing and other items. Vacuum-seal bags can get pricey, and this is a less expensive way to go.
You’ll need a few large garbage bags (Walmart, $7.48); a vacuum with a detachable hose (Walmart $14.84); and a plastic storage container (Lowe’s, $4.98).
Package folded clothes and extra items in a garbage bag. Insert the vacuum hose into the opening of the bag and hold the bag tightly around the hose. Vacuum the air from the bag until it is flat and air is gone from the bag. Still holding tightly around the bag opening, twist it and knot it.
Store vacuumed bags in containers in a cool, dry place.
I sent some of my tubs back to my parents’ house and will retrieve them when needed, and I keep some tubs under the bed.
In sight
Growing up, if I could not see the mess, it wasn’t there. So for me, open spaces make for neater rooms.
Instead of buying a five-drawer dresser, I opted for a cube storage system. The openness of the cubes made me conscious of my clothing and other items, so I was neater with more room to spare.
This furniture style is trending now, with its sleek and modern style.
I took what originally was meant to be a bookcase and repurposed it with a few cloth baskets. That way, I was able to organize my clothing without it taking up too much space.
I built my storage system myself using the Sauder Beginnings Collection Organizer Bookcase (Walmart, $29.88).
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