Seven simple ways to declutter your dorm room

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Use these tricks and tips to declutter your room and maximize the available space.

It’s almost been two months since you’ve started school, so it’s understandable that your dorm room is not the same as it used to be. No judgement here, we’ve all been through it. Use these simple tips to declutter your room and maximize the available space. All it takes is a little creativity and imagination.

1. Use organizers in your desk. IKEA’s Skubb boxes are quite handy and can help organize your desk or drawers very effectively. It’s safe to say you will not have to hunt for a pen or pencil ever again.

2. Use under the bed storage space. An excellent dorm storage hack is to utilize storage space under your bed. You can also loft the bed to keep a desk, dresser, or futon below. If your dorm room bed doesn’t adjust, consider purchasing bed risers. If you’re worried about the space under your bed looking cluttered, add a bed skirt to hide your storage.

3. Choose vertical storage options. One handy dorm room organization hack is utilizing vertical storage. Items like over-the-door shoe racks, over-the-door towel racks, or hanging baskets are perfect for storing everything from accessories to cleaning supplies. Hanging wire shower caddies with command hooks is also an inexpensive way to store pens, notebooks, stationary, and other items next to your desk.

4. Get multi-use furniture. Most dorm rooms are furnished with beds, dressers, and desks. But if you need to add extra furniture, maximize your space by choosing multipurpose pieces. For example, instead of adding chairs to your dorm room, opt for storage ottomans or a trunk to provide seating that doubles as hidden storage.

5. Use a rolling cart as a side table. Bulky nightstands usually take up a lot of space in an already small room. A rolling cart is a smarter and efficient option that can hold multiple items at the same time, such as your books, alarm clock, medicines etc.

6. Roll clothing to save dresser space. Save space in your dresser drawers by rolling your clothing. This unique folding technique allows you to store twice as many shirts and pants in a single drawer, and it can even prevent awkward wrinkles. You know what that means? No ironing.

7. Donate items you do not need. Take a long hard look at your room and identify the things you need and the things that you do not really see any use for. Anyway, the season of giving is soon upon us so you might as well get started early and donate away items you do not need.

By following these easy steps, you can declutter your room and clean up the mess. Let’s call it a mid-term clean up, shall we? A clean room will also make it easier to focus on school projects and tests rather than stress about the mess in the room.