Graduation Season: Storage Solutions for Students Moving Back Home
Graduation season marks an exciting transition for students and families. Whether a student is graduating high school and going to college or a university student is preparing to return home for the summer, one challenge remains the same: storage solutions. Like many college dorms, they offer limited space, so efficient packing and storage planning are important. Students and families can use our guide to navigate their storage needs before and after graduation.
Dorm Life Packing Tips
Packing for dorm life is a balancing act. Dorm rooms are small, and overpacking can quickly lead to clutter. Here are some tips for efficient packing.
Sort Belongings
College packing is easier when you divide your items into three groups, including “bringing,” “leaving,” and “storing.” “Bringing” is for the essentials, like clothes, school supplies, and bedding. As for “leaving,” these are the things you won’t need every day and can keep at home, like unused holiday decorations or fragile items. And for the “storing” group, these are for big items, like winter clothes or sports gear, you can put in a personal storage unit!
Prioritize College Dorm Room Essentials
Dorm rooms are small, so only pack what you really need, such as:
- Toiletries
- A few dishes
- Laundry essentials
- Cleaning supplies
- Personal items
- Snack and pantry staples
Consider Dorm Room Clothes Storage Options
Keeping clothes organized in a small dorm can be tricky, but space-saving solutions help. Hanging shelves make more room in tiny closets. Over-the-door organizers hold shoes and accessories. And for clothes you don’t need right away, vacuum-sealed bags shrink bulky items like coats, hoodies, and jackets to save space.
The Cons of Going to College
College is exciting, especially for an incoming student, but many dorm rooms are super small with little storage space, even more so with a roommate. There’s often not enough room for all your stuff, so you’ll need to get creative. Knowing how to maximize dorm space helps, but some things may need student self storage for additional space.
Maximizing Dorm Space
Here are some smart dorm storage solutions to make the most of dorm space.
Under-Bed Storage Containers
One of the great things about dorms is their variety of student beds, such as standard, bunks, or lofted. Whichever one you end up with, under-bed storage containers are useful to have. Whether it be plastic bins or fabric cubes, you can use them to store away personal items you want to keep on hand but not necessarily out and about.
Stackable Bins
If you’re running out of floor space, look up and go vertical. Stackable bins are your best friend when it comes to dorm organization. Clear, durable, and sturdy plastic bins are ideal for easily seeing and finding what you need.
Multifunctional Furniture
Dorm rooms are truly multitasking spaces, as they are where you sleep, study, and eat all in one place. That’s why it’s important to have multifunctional furniture to save space. Ottomans with hidden storage are a perfect example, as while they can be used as seating when you have guests over, they can also hold chargers, hair styling tools, and other odds and ends you want to be hidden away for a neat space.
College Student Storage Solutions for Additional Belongings
Renting off-campus self storage units near you is a great solution for belongings that don’t fit in a dorm. These units provide convenient access while also helping to keep your dorm organized. You can store the following items.
Seasonal Clothing
There’s no point in having fur coats and puffer jackets in your closet during the warmer season. Instead of leaving them untouched in your closet, give them a new home inside a storage unit. You can store all sorts of seasonal clothing, whether for winter or summer break. Be it boots or swim shorts, a student storage unit will have the space for them.
Sports Equipment
If you like the convenience of working out in your dorm when your campus gym is busy and full, it’s nice to have gear like a set of dumbbells with you. But when it’s time to put them away, it can contribute to clutter or even become a hazard if not put away properly. To avoid that, store them in a storage unit with other gear you may have, such as a bike, a set of skis, and other hobby gear.
Bulky Furniture
Whether living in a dorm on campus or an apartment nearby, having your own furniture gives your living space a nice personal touch. But with bulky furniture, it can be quite a challenge. If you have furnishings you want to hold onto until you’re back at home or have the amount of living space you’ve always dreamed of, a storage unit can hold it for you until the time comes.
Make Moving Home Easy With The Storage Manager
Are you moving back home after university or needing summer storage for college students? Don’t let clutter take over! Student self storage is a great way to keep excess stuff out of the way, may it be a traditional or temperature-controlled storage unit.
Contact The Storage Manager online to find a student storage unit today and make your move simple.