How to Set Up Your Dorm Room So It Stays Organized for the Whole School Year

Whether you’re embarking on your first year of college or gearing up to graduate next spring, there’s one thing every student has in common: not a lot of space to work with. It’s no secret that dorms and smaller apartments tend to get a little messy, especially when you throw in the studying, working a part-time job, and socializing. 

Amanda Titchenal, founder of full-service organizing firm Well Organized, has told us how to arrange things in our pantry, garage, and more—but she’s also well-versed in the art of organizing a dorm room. 

“Having a sanctuary and your own little space that’s clean, organized, and efficient will make you more successful with studying and have better time management,” Titchenal says. “Keeping your space clearer and clean gives your mind so much more clarity.”

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We caught up with Titchenal in the middle of prepping a dorm room with everything (down to tubes of toothpaste!). Before tackling this type of project, her team breaks down their dorm essentials checklist into the following categories:

• Organization. Titchenal often recommends getting lots of Command hooks and strips, a rolling cart, stacking drawers, and more to fully organize your dorm room. 
• Eating. A Brita water pitcher, coffee maker, paper towels, and Ziploc bags are just a few of the food-related items to remember for your in-room snacking and sipping needs.
• Sleeping. Bedding, an alarm clock, a bedside table, and more are all required for a restful snooze.
• Studying. We’re talking school supplies like a backpack and calendar, as well as other optional things like a printer or whiteboard.
• Cleaning/laundry. Having cleaning wipes, detergent, and other cleaning items around will come in handy for your scheduled cleaning and laundry day (more on that below!). 
• Personal care. This category covers everything from your toothbrush and toothpaste to skincare and makeup products.
• Bathroom. Drawer organizers and countertop accessories are helpful if you have your own bathroom, but this category can also cover things you’ll need when you share one with other people on your floor (i.e. a shower caddy).
• Clothing/accessories. In other words, don’t forget your clothes and shoes! Plus, make sure you have a wardrobe that can accommodate various types of weather, if necessary.
• Miscellaneous. This covers pretty much anything else that’s considered a nice-to-have in your dorm. For instance, you might want to have some batteries, an umbrella, and a mini tool kit in your dorm—just in case.

Now that we have a better understanding of what to bring for move-in day, here are Titchenal’s organizing tips to follow as you prep your space for the school year ahead:

Thomas J. Story

Keep It Simple

Titchenal’s checklist covers it all, but you don’t have to overcomplicate things. She says it’s important to focus on maximizing the space around you.

“If there’s space under your bed or vertical space in your closet, try to use every inch of your dorm to keep things tucked away and up off the floor, so you can have room to work and think.”

Courtesy of Pottery Barn Teen

Stock Up on Space-Savers

You only have a few square feet to work with here, and there are plenty of products Titchenal recommends to take advantage of your small but mighty sanctuary. These include stackable items like stacking drawers and shelves, as well as storage totes, baskets, and bins.

Courtesy of The Container Store

“Stacking drawers are great because you can go as high as you need to, and they’re easily accessible so you can store anything in them,” she says. “We also use storage totes under beds for extra linens, cleaning supplies, or snacks.” 

Titchenal and her team also take shoe racks and use them for more shelving in closets, and they use “tons” of Command hooks to hang virtually anything (think robes, belts, and hats). She’s also a big fan of rolling carts, which can double as a bedside table or a place to store school supplies, bathroom essentials, laundry detergent and dryer sheets, makeup, and more.

Courtesy of The Container Store

You can organize while having fun with your space, too. Titchenal loves these colorful stacking drawers and three-tiered rolling carts from the Container Store.

Courtesy of The Container Store

Establish a Routine Early On

Titchenal’s biggest tip for all her clients, in or out of college? A little goes a long way. “If you just do a little bit every day, you’re not going to have this overwhelming mound of work,” she says.

Courtesy of Pottery Barn Teen

Figuring out your schedule will set you up for success later on, and Titchenal says that extends to mapping out when you can eat, sleep, study, and of course, organize. She suggests scheduling one day per week to spend about an hour doing laundry and cleaning your dorm room.

“Review your class schedule and determine when you’re going to do your laundry, do a quick wipe-down of your bedroom, and take out your trash,” she says. “If you just stay on top of that, you won’t have this huge mess all the time.”

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