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College Dorm Room Survival Guide: Tips on Everything from Roommates to Compact Refrigerators

Posted On Friday, 17 February 2023 17:48
College Dorm Room Survival Guide: Tips on Everything from Roommates to Compact Refrigerators

The college dorm room-- what an experience! If sharing a tiny room in a noisy hallway with a total stranger seems stressful, well, who can blame you? At its best, residence hall life can be a blast, but sometimes you may find yourself wondering how you'll ever make it through a year in this situation.

Here are some tips to help you get the most out of life in a college dormitory!

Should You Live in a Dorm?

Before you move into a dorm, you should seriously consider whether this is the right option for you. Perhaps living at home with your parents and commuting is a better choice, or perhaps you're ready for your first apartment. Especially, if you decide to work while studying. It can be an essay editor position or even any community job. Some of these considerations will be financial, as living in a dorm may or may not be an inexpensive option. 

Choosing a Dorm

As an incoming student, you may or may not be able to select your dormitory of preference. Some schools offer residence halls that serve special interests. For example, students who are studying a language might enjoy living on a language floor where they can get experience speaking daily. Other students may choose to live in a dorm that's located close to most of their classes. Many students will have the option of choosing between a single-sex dorm or a dorm that houses both male and female students. 

College Roommates and Neighbors

The roommate experience is one that many students dread! Problems are almost inevitable when you're sharing a small room with another student, so you'll need to learn how to manage conflict and create a friendly atmosphere for both of you. 

Along with a roommate, dorm life comes with other people in proximity. 

Dorm Room Necessities

What should you bring to your dorm room? Do you need a compact refrigerator? When you're sharing a small space, you're going to need to be selective about what to bring and what to leave behind. On the other hand, there are some necessities you won't want to forget. 

Dorm Room Decorations

Chances are that your new digs aren't the nicest in towns! Dorms tend to have that institutional feel, complete with bad lighting and mass-produced curtains that scream 1973. No, you don't have the money for an interior decorator, but with a little imagination, you can create a cozy atmosphere on a small budget. 

Increase Space in a Dorm Room

While the size of dorm rooms may vary from college to college, most students will agree they can always use more space to store items, or even just a larger free area to walk around.

Under the Bed Storage Space

If both roommates are agreeable, they can bunk their beds to save space. Some schools may allow students to loft their beds. They can then place desks, drawers, and other pieces of furniture beneath their beds, and once again, gain more room.

If students are afraid of heights or do not want their beds lofted, they can purchase bed risers or elevators. These will lift their beds just a few inches off the ground and allow them to store bigger boxes and more items under the bed.

The Door Coat Hangers or Shoe Racks

A door is another part of the dorm room which should not be overlooked as a space-saving mechanism. Purchase over-the-door coat hangers or shoe racks to hang on the inside of the dorm room door. This will give students more area in their closets for clothes, towels, and other articles.

Collapsible Chairs and TV Trays

While most colleges usually provide a desk chair as part of a furnished dorm room, if students have friends over, they might want additional places to sit. Or sometimes, they might just like to have another chair for studying or watching television. Instead of buying an extra seat that will constantly take up precious space, consider collapsible chairs that can be folded and stored under the bed or in the closet when they are not being used. Collapsible chairs come in various styles and colors, and camping chairs made with soft but strong material can be quite comfortable.

From time to time, college students may want to skip meals in the cafeteria and eat in their room. However, instead of purchasing a small table that must stay up for the length of the school year, use TV trays for the occasional snack. Then, once again, after use, fold up the TV tray and store it in a closet or underneath the bed until the next time it can be of service.

Store Up, Not Out

Finally, purchase tall and narrow cabinets or drawers to hold extra belongings instead of short and wide pieces of furniture. This will allow students to store more items while taking up fewer square feet in the dorm room.

While there is no magic wand one can wave to make a dorm room grow in size, by following these few simple tips, college students can make efficient use of the space they do have.

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