If you’re heading to college this fall, the time to move into a dorm is rapidly approaching.
Moving to college can be as stressful as writing the perfect essay or even picking the right school, especially if you ignore parents’ pleas to get packing.
If you take a few minutes to get organized and plan, then moving into the dorms will go smoothly.
After all, you don’t want to be discombobulated when school starts.
Making a shopping list for the first college living experience is exciting, but be careful about how much stuff you buy, experts say.
Dorm rooms often seem smaller than the floor plans indicate. Common areas can be cramped and crowded. Don’t expect much closet space.
The best things to bring are smart storage holders that maximize space and look good.
Unless you’re able to repurpose suitcases as tables, consider using collapsible storable bags instead. Samsonite’s sturdy nylon Tote-a-Ton bag has 6,452 cubic inches of space. Dormco.com has the Clothes & Go system, which lets you take hanging clothes right out of the closet into foldable bags with a shoulder strap. REI sells several options.
If you’re driving to school, consider using laundry baskets and even heavy-duty garbage bags to store clothes, towels and bedding.
Bed, Bath & Beyond sells a ventilated, clear vinyl six-shelf sweater rack that hangs on a rod. It’s easy to see what’s in it. Some online shoppers have raved about the retailer’s Dorm Space Saver, which assembles with no tools and, being the same width as the bed, serves as an extra headboard or footboard with shelves.
Dorm gear is often grouped by classic gender colors and patterns: pinks, purples, baroque and animal prints for girls, and surfer, sports, blues and browns for guys. It’s better to choose neutral bedding that you won’t tire of, and put the pattern and color punch in posters and memorabilia collected during the school year.
Ikea’s Dokument series of functional mesh metal desk accessories might appeal to girls or guys. Their Kassett boxes are cheap and sturdy storage options for papers; choose from an array of colors including white, black and orange.
The Olesby lamp is a good-looking task light. And Ikea’s giant plastic shopping bags make great dirty clothes totes, for the laundromat or for the bus ride home to free cleaning. Shop online or visit Ikea’s Renton store.
Dormco’s Bunk Pocket is a convenient neoprene catchall for electronics that slips over a bedpost.
Umbra is a company that offers really fun options for hooks and wall decorations. Find their products online or at Storables.
Both Bed, Bath & Beyond and Walmart offer services that let you shop online and pick up the items in or near the college town. That’s a great space-saver if you’re driving or flying to school.
So plan ahead and get ready for a great school year.
Planning tips
Getting ready involves much more than going out to buy a shower caddy. Here are a few simple steps to help you prepare:
1. Visualize the room and make a checklist. Think about what you’ll need before you head to the store. Sketch the floor plan on a piece of paper. There isn’t going to be much storage space in the room, so consider adding to your “must buy” list the tools that will keep clutter from overrunning the room. Remember: Less is more.
2. Plan the move. Unless you are going to college in your hometown, you will need to take a bus, car or maybe even a plane to get there. Figure out the best way to get you and your belongings to school. Does your school have an organized dorm move-in? Are your parents or siblings coming along to help? Do you need a hotel reservation? Think of this move-in adventure like a trip and plan accordingly.
3. Get your systems set. One of the most overlooked aspects of planning for school is how you’re going to set yourself up for success. Take time to think about organizing yourself to make the most of college. If necessary, seek help from a tutor or mentor. Look for classes and study guides, and pick your favorite spot in the library.
4. Set up a budget. If you aren’t careful, you could end up in a heap of consumer debt — in addition to any school loans — by the time you graduate. Don’t put yourself in that kind of financial hole. It’s bad for your credit and may even hurt your chances of getting a job. Sit down with your parents or a financial-assistance adviser and devise a reasonable budget that allows you to stay on track and still have some fun. Be sure to brainstorm ways to say no to those credit-card pushers that seem to pop up all over campus.
Prices
• www.dormco.com: Bunk Pocket, $6.94; Clothes & Go bag, $19.99.
• www.ikea.com: Olesby work lamp, $9.99; Dokument files, waste bin and letter tray, two for $1.99 to $7.99; Kassett boxes, $5.99.
• www.bedbathandbeyond.com: Dorm Space Saver, $59.99; Samsonite Tote-a-Ton bag, $29.99; clear vinyl sweater rack, $19.99.
Resources
• Check out Walmart or Bed, Bath & Beyond stores in Snohomish County.
• Storables is a good bet, as is REI, which has a nice selection of luggage. Both stores are at Alderwood.
• The Seattle Premium Outlets at Tulalip are great places to shop for college. The 110 stores there are having a Labor Day sale from Sept. 2 to Sept. 5.
The Associated Press and getbuttonedup.com contributed to this report.
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