College freshmen are usually excited to be away from home, but not so excited about their new living quarters. Living in the residence halls with a new roommate can be a little intimidating for first year students, but the process can be made much simpler with a little bit of organization.
Living in the residence halls can be a challenge because of the lack of personal space. There are simple solutions to maximizing space that help each roommate have his or her own areas, without having to draw a line in the middle of the floor.
Students living in the residence halls with stackable furniture should take full advantage of it. Lofting the beds give the rooms a lot of extra space, which can offer a bigger variety of ways to arrange the room. Students that live in the halls that don't have stackable furniture, but are allowed to get lofts, should. They offer enough space that students can add a futon or other seating arrangements. Students can rent lofts for the school year or even for just a semester. They're fairly simple to assemble and offer a great relief in the long run.
For those who choose to remain on the ground though, bed risers are a wise choice. Some beds on campus, like the ones in the LaFollette complex, sit lower than most beds and risers can make it easier for students to store boxes or crates under their beds. They are pretty cheap, but they go a long way.
Bed risers can also enable people to have a bedside caddy, which can be a big help. They just slide under the mattress and then hang next to the bed. There are different sizes available and can store anything from books to snacks.
Stackable crates or cubes are a lot of students' best friends. They offer an easy and simple way to store books, binders and other items. They can go just about anywhere in the room and each person can stack as many or as little crates as they want.
A lot of people don't have extra money to buy storage items right now, though. Those students need to find ways to maximize their storage space without breaking the bank.
Getting wire or friction hangers enables people to store more clothes in their closet, which means there's the possibility of fewer clothes in their dresser drawers. An empty dresser drawer can be used to store books, DVDs, school supplies, food or anything else that needs to be stored, without having to pay extra money for crates.
Shoe racks are also a plus because they take up less floor space in closets. They are often inexpensive and they enable students to put a laundry bag or hamper in the unused area. It's also helpful to keep a small container nearby in a drawer or on a desk to keep quarters in so it's easy to grab change when it's time to do laundry or put money in the parking meters.
Everyone wants extra seating for his or her room; that way not everyone has to sit on a bed constantly. Big bulky chairs can get in the way so it's best to have chairs that can easily be folded up and put in a closet or corner when it's not being used. Ottomans are also a great idea, especially if they have storage space in them or the lid flips over and can act as a little table.
Many students don't think there is enough light in the dorms. While a floor lamp doesn't take up too much space, one alternative is putting Christmas lights around the room. They are inexpensive, offer some extra lighting, don't take up space and are decorative.
Every person is different and has a different organizational style. The hardest part is the adjustment period in the beginning, but after a couple of weeks, each student will get a better idea of what works for them and their roommate.
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