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Make The Most of Your Space: Dorm Room Storage Ideas

Dorm room storage ideas and space saving organizing tips

It might seem like a hard task to add storage space to a dorm room. Since you are limited by what you can do, it terms of hanging things up and changing out the furniture.

But there are quite a few creative ways you can carve out some storage space, you just need to look at your room closely and get a little inventive. This post of dorm room storage ideas tries to list out all the different ways you can go about organizing and storing things in your room.

Just make sure that you find out what you can and can’t do to your dorm room. As each college will have different rules.

Creating Storage Space

  • Add a Ladder: A ladder doesn’t take up much floor space (which is quite valuable in a dorm room). But what it does do is help add vertical storage space to a room. You can use one to hang up clothes, magazines, or blankets. And you can always add hooks to the sides of the ladder (or even on one of the steps) so you can start hanging things up, whether that be clothes, jewelry, or other items.
  • 2 Ladders? If you have space then 2 ladders (the kind that open up) can be used along with planks of wood to create make shift storage – seen in picture (1). It can even act as a desk, table, or TV cabinet.
  • The Inside of Doors: There is a bit of extra storage space that can be created inside of closet and cabinet doors. Maybe you can fit screws and railings to the inside of your closet door, or at least use stick on hooks. The same can be done on the inside of cabinet doors.
  • Door Organizers: Another way to create storage on the inside of your doors (or the outside) is to get one of these over the door organizers. Fit it so that it faces the inside of your closet for a cleaner and more clutter free dorm room look.
  • Hanging Organizers: If you have a railing somewhere in your room (maybe your headboard), or if you have extra space on your railing in your closet, you can get a hanging organizer to store clothes, bathroom items, or stationary.
  • The Magic of Pegboards: See where you can add a pegboard in your dorm room. Maybe it can lean against the wall like a mirror, it can sit on your desk, be fitted to the inside of your closet or cabinet door, or maybe you can hang one up with stick on hooks. The normal thing to do would be to hang things up on pegs, or use little hook and storage bins. But you could also use longer pegs to create a shelf. (The Pegboard House: Inventive Ideas on Using Pegboards Around the House)


  • Bedside Storage Solutions: There are fabric caddies that can be bought (get one here) that tuck away into your mattress, seen in picture (5). These can be used to store your phone or other items. You can also get a bed shelf that does the same thing. Check out picture (2) showing one of these caddies being used on top of a fridge.
  • Under the Bed: Most likely you’ll have storage space under the bed. IKEA has storage units that can be rolled under the bed. And another option is to use good looking storage containers (suck as wicker baskets) to store things in, as you’ll probably be able to see these containers when you are in the room.
  • DIY Storage Solutions: Check out the cubby holes in picture (6). PVC pipes can be cut and hot glued together to create these cubbies. You can even use different sized PVC pipes to get different sized cubbies.
  • Rolling Cart: A small rolling and multi level cart could be a good way to add storage space for your dorm room. Maybe there are some items you don’t need out all of the time (stationary, bathroom items, etc.). These can be rolled away (into the closet, under or behind the bed) when not in use.
  • Go Vertical: See if you can add a hutch / small bookcase to your desk – just like the hutch in picture (8). It does take up some of your desk space, but you get a lot of vertical space in return – which can be hard to add in a dorm room.
  • Better Dorm Room Organization: A lot of times you can get more storage space just by organizing areas better. Draws would be a good place to focus when it comes to organization. Since they are just one big box, it is easy for things in draws to get messy. The best way to organize draws is to divide them up. You can get simple draw divider inserts (get yours here), or you can make your own out of PVC pipes (4). The same goes for shelves – look for ways to create dividers (just like the document holder in picture (7)).
  • Good Looking Storage: It would be nice if everything could be stored out of sight, leaving you with a clutter free and tidy looking dorm room. But sometimes there is not enough space and items need to be stored out in the open (either on countertops, the floor, or on open shelves).

So if you do need to store things out in the open, then try and get good looking containers to store them in. That way the storage pieces also act as decor items for the room. Some ideas for good looking storage pieces include wicker baskets (get yours here), wooden crates, matching glass jars, wire baskets, or a wicker hamper or trunk.

Another storage tip is to try and get rid of ugly plastic bottles. For example you might have bathroom items that come in the brand’s plastic containers, or there are food items around (like cereal). Replace the brand’s packaging with good looking storage items. Instead of having plastic water bottles, use glass jars. If you have any lotions or liquids on your dresser, pour these into glass jars (how about some vintage glass jars from Etsy). Try and get rid of the generic plastic containers, and use good looking storage pieces. This way your storage pieces also act as decor.

Here are some other dorm room posts to get more ideas from:

image credits 1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8

May 31, 2016 in Dorm Room, Storage

Helpful Laundry Room Storage Ideas and Solutions

Laundry Room Storage Ideas and Organization Solutions

The toughest item to store in a laundry room is the ironing board. Luckily there are a number of ways to store it out of the way. You can even eliminate having to wrestle with it every time you need to use it. This post goes over a list of laundry room storage ideas, from using your draws as drying racks, to how good looking storage containers can help style your space.

Ironing Boards

You kind of need to wrestle ironing boards to get them open and to close them up again. A good way to get rid of this problem is to either fit a fold out ironing board in a draw, or have an ironing board that folds down from a wall. For pictures and more ideas on how to store your ironing board, have a look at my post here: Wrestling With Your Ironing Board: Ideas on How To Store It and Hide It.

Simple and Inventive Storage Ideas

  • Draws: Fitting storage pieces into draws makes everything so much more convenient. Doing this also helps create a clean look in your laundry space, since it can all be hidden away when not in use. Above I mentioned how you can fit a fold out ironing board into a draw. Picture (5) shows a dryer rack that pulls out, picture (6) shows laundry hampers that can be stored away into cabinets, and picture (7) shows a handy pull out shelf that helps with sorting clothes out before they go in the washer.
  • Railing: See if you can fit a railing to hang clothes on. This railing can be fitted in between cabinets, hung on the wall, or have it hanging down from the ceiling. You could go with a standard steel piece for your railing. Or more decorative options include a copper pipe, or how about a long branch for a more DIY rustic look.
  • A Line: Have a look at the laundry room in picture (2) and you can see that a simple laundry line has been put up. Use it with pegs to hang up delicates.
  • On the Inside: The inside of closet and cabinet doors can be modified for extra storage space. The doors can be fitted with hooks, railings, and baskets to store items.
  • Hooks: Simple hooks can be fitted to the walls to hang up towels, jackets, etc.
  • Wall Cabinets: Built in cabinets would be the best way of creating storage in a laundry room – since they make the best use of your space and are designed to blend in with your room. But hanging up a simple wall unit is another way to create wall storage and hide supplies away just like in picture (4).
  • Going Portable: The rolling cart in picture (5) is a good storage solution if you have a small laundry room. This can be rolled out when it is needed, and stored away (say under a counter) out of sight when not in use.

Good Looking Pieces

If you need to store things out in the open, then look to get good looking storage pieces. This way they will also act as decor pieces for the room. Have a look at the wire basket in picture (1).

Other good looking laundry room storage solutions include: wicker baskets, wooden crates, glass jars, a set of matching containers, enamel pieces, and copper/galvanized buckets.

Replace the packaging of your store bought laundry supplies. Supplies such as detergent can be poured out into a good looking container (say a glass jar), and can then be stored out in the open – adding to the style of the space.

Here are some other laundry room posts to get more ideas from:

image credits 1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8

May 31, 2016 in Laundry Room, Storage

10 Bathroom Toilet Paper Storage Ideas and Styles

Bathroom toilet paper storage ideas (DIY, and for small spaces)

Who knew there would be so many different ways to store your toilet paper. The option to go for will depend on what style bathroom you are trying to create, and how much storage space you have. Have a look at this collection of toilet paper storage ideas and find one that fits your bathroom.

  1. Down From The Ceiling: Free up valuable floor and counter top space by hanging baskets down from the ceiling (a simple hook can be used) to storage the toilet rolls – just like in picture (1). For a more bohemian look, go with hanging macrame hangers.

Wicker basket toilet paper storage unit

  1. Decorative Storage: Fitting a wicker basket to the wall or to a cabinet (seen in picture (2)) not only gives you storage space for your toilet paper, but also adds a decor piece to the bathroom
  1. A Modern Look: Picture (3) shows a recessed toilet paper holder and shelf. You can find the link below from the image sources section, which will show you the DIY steps taken to create this built in storage unit.
  1. DIY Design: If you can get your hands on a thick log of wood, and want to try your hand at a bit of woodworking, then picture (4) shows off some very decorative and designer like toilet paper storage towers.
  1. Hidden Storage: A clever way to hide away your toilet paper is to fit a rack (5) or railing to the inside of your cabinet door.
  1. Hanging Tower: If you have a railing in your bathroom (towel rail) or a nearby closet, then a hanging organizer can work as a space saving storage solution for your toilet paper (6)
  1. Vintage Buckets: A bucket is a simple and easy way of storing your toilet paper. Look for different style buckets, as this bucket will also help style the bathroom (7). Some ideas include: a copper bucket, a galvanized one, or how about a enamel bucket for a more vintage look.

Wire basket toilet paper storage idea

  1. Decorative Shelf Storage: Maybe you have more space on a shelf. If you are going to store things out in the open then you’ll want to get decorative storage continers. Such as a wire basket, a wicker basket, a wooden crate, or a large glass container.
  1. Free Standing Towers: There a number of different tower designs out there. You’ve got the more traditional wooden cubbies, just like the one in picture (8). Or how about a copper one (9).
  1. Designer Wall Unit: The Cloud, seen in picture (10) is a designer concrete wall storage piece that cradles toilet paper perfectly. This would be an advance DIY project to pull off, but not too hard – The Mill.

Here are some other bathroom storage posts for more ideas:

image credits 1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9/10

Metal Basket

May 31, 2016 in Bathroom, Storage

Keeping It Classy: Toilet Paper Holder Ideas, From DIY Ideas to Modern Designs

Toilet Paper Holder Ideas: From DIY Ideas to Modern Designs

Here is a gallery of different toilet paper holder ideas. You have everything from designer pieces that adds a luxurious finishing touch to a bathroom, to more rustic and inventive DIY ideas (such as using a branch).

Modern Double Toilet Paper Holder

Modern Double Toilet Paper Holder

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Metal Toilet Paper Holder Ideas

Brass vintage toilet paper holder

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Gold toilet paper holder

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Modern toilet paper holder

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Vintage brass toilet paper holder

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Copper vintage toilet paper holder

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DIY Toilet Paper Holder Ideas

Skateboard toilet paper holder

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Wicker basket toiler paper holder

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DIY toilet paper shelf

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Hanging modern toilet paper holder

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Hanging brass toilet paper holder

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DIY toilet paper holder branch

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Pipe and Wooden toilet paper holder

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Funny toilet paper holder

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DIY Recessed Toilet Paper Holder

DIY recessed toilet paper holder

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And here a well designed toilet paper holder from Japan:

Here are some other bathroom storage posts to get more ideas from:

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May 31, 2016 in Bathroom, Storage