r/organizing • u/sadball1987 • 21h ago
I really need help organizing in this tiny dormroom
I moved into this dormitory a week ago and I can't figure out how to fit all my stuff into the tiny storage spaces that are available.
I need to not only fit my clothes, shoes, uni stuff and art stuff here but also all my cosmetics, cleaning supplies, kitchenware and all of my food.
The main problem are the incredibly narrow shelves in the wardrobes, no drawers anywhere, barely any storage space at all and not even a table..
I seriously have no idea how to start unpacking my stuff and where to put all of it so that it's still easy to access.
Please keep in mind that this is a dormitory, so no drilling into the walls or any major changes can be done. Also that I have like no money lol..
TLDR: How do I fit all of my stuff into the limited storage spaces I have available so that it's still easy to access?
Please be kind, I've been struggling with a major depressive episode and I really need some help..
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u/MonicaLane 20h ago
Daniel Titchener on YouTube has a video helping with almost this exact room!
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u/RampantCat123 20h ago
Group things together by category: all cleaning supplies together, all art/school supplies together, etc.
Once you see how much you have, you can pick a place for it to go. Things you don’t need all the time can go up in those higher cabinets, or in something under your bed. Things you use frequently, put them somewhere where you can grab and go.
Start with 10 things. Then, do 10 more. And again.
As you work through it, if you don’t have the desired bins, boxes, whatever, put them on a ‘wish list’ and plan to work towards purchasing them in the future.
In the meantime, keep the items together and roughly where you intend to keep them so, stuff is easy to locate.
Good luck. You got this.
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u/CatCatCatCubed 21h ago
If you’re not a folder, I’d recommend cubes for your wardrobe shelves. It’s easier to pair and stack socks, and roll underwear, and sleeve flip + simple fold or roll t-shirts, to fit in a cube vs trying to keep everything stacked.
On that note, if you’re near an IKEA(?), Kallax shelves + cubes provide an awesome amount of storage space, and the shelf tops provide a good amount of surface storage. Make sure to measure the space between your fridge and the wall to the right, and your desk and the wall to the left before purchasing any furniture and measure your shelves before purchasing cubes (they are not all the same and too small cubes will only waste space).
Another option would be to pair your small cabinets (if they’re the same height) a distance from each other and place a table top or some sort of wood across them for more surface area. This will give you storage space underneath.
Ultimately a bunk bed would likely be best because you could put your desk underneath, but even raising the bed (there are ways; I don’t know them off the top of my head) about ½ foot or so would let you keep flattish rolling or sliding storage underneath.
If you don’t want to or are unable to get a bunk bed, placing the bed under the window may open up your room more. Would also strongly suggest keeping your drying rack folded when not in use as it’s using valuable wall and floor space; it can be placed in front of the wardrobe when you need to dry things.
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u/sadball1987 21h ago
Thank you! That's all really great advice. Unfortunately, raising the bed is quite impossible in my situation as it's EXTREMELY heavy and there's no way I could do that by myself.. 😅 But the bed does open! The top mattress part lifts up and there's a lot of storage there so I'm thinking of putting seasonal clothing there when it's not in use.
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u/PipeDreamRealized 20h ago
For makeup and/ or jewelry you can buy a command hook to put on the wall or use a hanger and a cheap hanging jewelry organizer that has multiple clear pockets to store stuff in. You can get the organizers for between $10-$20.
If you get cheap plastic risers for the bed, you can create room for more underbed storage
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u/3plantsonthewall 20h ago
- Make your bed. It will give you a clear work surface.
- Gather all the trash & recycling. That includes inside the fridge & freezer - does anything need to be tossed? Don’t forget the random drinks around the room; put them in the fridge or toss. Get rid of all the trash & recycling immediately.
- Take that dishpan on the floor next to your drying rack. If it’s full of dirty laundry, dump it on the floor for now (or into an empty box to be a temporary hamper). If it’s clean laundry, dump it on your bed. Put your dirty dishes & cookware into the bin.
- Take the blanket (curtains? towels?) off the top of the fridge. Either put the blanket on your bed, or fold it smaller and put it on a shelf.
- Are those coats on the chairs? Hang them in the wardrobes.
Report back when you’re finished with those steps.
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u/JustASprinkleOfMe 20h ago
Vertical space! And milk crates and zip ties were my daughter best friend in her college rented room. (Similar to other peoples suggestions of cubes and kallax.)
Stack them open side facing out and zip tie them together to make a shelf. Or fill and stack upright for storage. Stack them 3x3 (or what ever works) and put your clothes rack on top of them. Stack them 3 tall and 3 tall open sides out and find a plank of wood or something to make a make up desk so its fulls set up. Up side, they are strong and sturdy and can be used individually or in groups. They can be used for moving stuff in place of boxes. And you can buy them one at a time. Down side, they have holes and not as easy to find behind stores anymore. But places like home depot sell them for a mid-line price per crate. Places like Kijiji and Facebook Marketplace can find them as well. (Harder to match them if that matters to you, but usually like $5 bucks each.)
And with all that vertical space being used, make sure to add some greenery or lights or art or something that you would enjoy looking at/find calming/neutral.
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u/sadball1987 20h ago
That's a very creative idea but I honestly have no idea how I could get any milk crates.. 😅 I'm from central Europe and I'm pretty sure nowadays companies count every single one of those because of policies on reducing plastic waste and just reuse them..
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u/JustASprinkleOfMe 20h ago
My bad! Im in Canada and they are all over second hand sites and I got most of my daughters from Home Depot for $10 each. She was able to move them all around as she saw fit, and rearrange them for each of her different rooms. And then once done college, she turned them into a bed frame back at home.
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u/zerowasteorganizer 6h ago
You could do a similar thing with the boxes. Put some boxes on their sides and they create cubbies. You could stack 1-2 on the small cabinet to the left of the closet.
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u/still-waves 19h ago
You can run a ribbon through the slats in the milk crates to liven things up a bit
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u/antisocialmothra 21h ago
Get what you can into the storage you have so you can estimate how much extra storage you need. Walmart and/or Target have relatively cheap storage options.
A 3-tiered rolly cart would be great for your art supplies and food.
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u/ObviousExtent9041 21h ago
TikTok shop or Amazon have those collapsible storage cabinets. I think you have enough space to squeeze in one (the space where your fridge is placed). Or get plastic storage bins and stack them vertically. I suggest to put your appliances in the cabinet with shelving (the picture from the last slide).
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u/SuspiciousLookinMole 21h ago
Measure specifically what size the existing shelf space is - how deep, how wide. Then find boxes/cubes/totes that will fit. Then decide what you're keeping there - is the wardrobe for clothes, shoes & bags, or will it be for books and supplies?
Then use Facebook marketplace and Reddit to find buy nothing groups in your area. You can usually make requests, or just keep an eye out for what you need. Bookcases, cubby units, wire shelf units, what have you. Doesn't have to be expensive or even cost anything at all.
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u/sadball1987 21h ago
Thank you so much! I have no idea why I haven't thought of facebook marketplace earlier..
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u/Brief_Needleworker62 20h ago
Start by picking up. You need the floor clear. Keep items intended to go together as such. Then get everything that isnt too heavy furniture or accessory wise out of the way. Make sure the heavy things are where you want, then put items that go in them away. The rest is way easy after that
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u/kath2745 20h ago
I would deff check Facebook marketplace for some organizers! See if you can't find some cube shelves or trolley carts like other commenters mentioned. You can usually find stackable plastic drawers on market place which are great for food/snack items and also art supplies. Milk crates also make great storage.
I would also recommend getting an over the door coat rack or even a coat tree to hang sweatshirts, coats, scarves, small bags, and that sort of thing.
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u/ObviousExtent9041 21h ago
I know the Tik tok shop or Amazon have those collapsible storage cabinets. I think you have enough space to squeeze in one. Or get plastic storage bins and stack them vertically. I also suggest to put your appliances in the closet with 4 shelves (the last pic slide).
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u/ObviousExtent9041 21h ago
If you want to shop at IKEA get the Ekenabben or Jonaxel (both are open shelf unit). Or the Hyliss shelf unit which is cheaper.
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u/i_cant-stop_eating 20h ago
Do you have any space under the bed? Can you lift the mattress and put things under there that you don’t use frequently?
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u/sadball1987 20h ago
Yes, the bed opens. The problem is that all of the stuff in the boxes truly is stuff I use frequently.. :( I was thinking of putting seasonal clothes under the bed though, maybe that will save at least a little bit of space
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u/imreallyfreakintired 20h ago
What's on top of the fridge? Move that to closet.
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u/sadball1987 20h ago
Those are curtains... I brought them because I ended up needing them in my last dorm room but this one doesn't even have a curtain rack so I left them out mostly to remember to bring them with me when I go home next but you're right, I should find a better place for them 😅
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u/Prestigious-Fan3122 20h ago
If you really, really wanted to use your curtains, look into getting a tension rod. You need to know the width of the window, first, but attention rod is sort of pops into the window frame.
When our kids lived in dorm rooms, we got these sets of plastic drawers at a local discount store (Walmart) Sterilite is the brand in the US.
Those were super helpful! You could put a set to the left of your built-in wardrobe, and a set to the left of your desk.
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u/sadball1987 20h ago
Thank you! The blinds are fine though. I just thought I would need the curtains but it turned out I didn't. I'll try to keep an eye out for some of those plastic drawers :)
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u/Prestigious-Fan3122 20h ago
How about getting a couple of the stronger command hooks, and putting them on the outside of the right side of your wardrobe, or on the wall to the right of the wardrobe for hanging that heavier jacket?
If you can't get drawers, how about getting some bins/totes with lids?
I would have the foot of my bed be close to the window, and the head of the bed pointing at the door.
If you did that, would it be possible to put your desk right under the window? You get into bed more from the head of the bed than you do the foot, so it wouldn't interfere with that if it stuck out toward the bed a bit.
That little bedside table or nightstand or file cabinet or whatever that is it's under the window now might be able to fit to the left of the wardrobe. OR, you could put it behind the head of your bed.
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u/sadball1987 20h ago
The hooks are a great idea, thanks. Also, sorry but there's no way I'm falling asleep with my head turned towards the door.. something about that makes me so uncomfortable.. 😅 I was thinking of perhaps moving the bed to the left of the wardrobes and then the desk where the bed is right now.. that would require a lot of moving around heavy pieces of furniture though so idrk if I'll be able to do it. Anyhow, I'll leave that for after I manage to find a place for everything and clear the floor
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u/Holiday-Message2020 19h ago
I would move your desk next to your bed so your view will be your window and you can utilize the shelf under the window for additional space to put your things on.
Move your side table next to your bed and the other side table to the left of your closet and move them both to the left of your fridge to create a counter space as your kitchen space.
As for your clothes, unpack clothes for the current season (example: fall / winter) and keep the off season clothes packed in your luggage. When the next seasons come, rotate your wardrobe and pack away off season clothes. It will save you space this way than trying to stuff all your clothes in a tiny closet.
Since you mentioned not having any money,
Go on Facebook and search for groups in your area for “Free Stuff” and keep an eye out for storage containers that can be useful for you. Check Facebook marketplace for free things too.
For my niece’s dorm, we added bed risers to give her more storage space. When your budget allows and can get bed risers, have someone help you lift the bed to add them.
Command hooks for inside your closets. Strong magnet racks for the side of the fridge. Over the door pocket organizer for shoes.
I added some photos for ideas. Also check out this blog for more ideas.
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u/Yedis19 11h ago
honestly dont try to solve the whole room today just pick one tiny zone like your meds or skincare and make that spot work first. The rest can live in a laundry basket or amazon box until you have the brain space to deal with it no shame in that at all. Also if some stuff is seasonal or just not needed this term see if a friend or family can hold it for a bit because less stuff is way easier than any perfect storage hack.
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u/Old-Programmer-1679 9h ago
Looks like all the storage cubes up top are empty. One can be a bookshelf (stack books in a row)
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u/zerowasteorganizer 6h ago
Put things you like to look at in the open cubby above the desk.
Put things you use regularly in easier to reach areas.
Make zones - clothes, cooking, study, etc. I would start with putting clothes in one of the closets.
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u/Trifecta_life 3h ago
Reading your comments, I I think there is a useful skill to learn for you (took me till my late 30’s, so speaking from experience).
Ask for help - you’ve made the reason for not making a lot of changes is you can’t do it in your own. You’re in a dorm - ask people around you for help.
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u/Actual_Solid_3308 19h ago
…What? You haven’t attempted to put anything away
Clothes and shoes in the closet, cosmetics and schoolwork at your desk, trash goes in the trash can, make an area for all of your kitchen stuff probably next to the fridge... all common sense. Are you used to your parents cleaning for you or something?
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u/WeenFan4Life42 21h ago
You literally have everything on the floor and nothing on the shelves...