How To Organize Your College Dorm Room
Photo Source: Pixabay.com
I was first exposed to minimalism from my mother. She has retired from the air force but when she left, she maintained some of the practices she acquired while in service. When I was younger she would constantly say, “A cluttered space is a cluttered mind". I honestly didn’t understand it. I thought she was being extra strict, but I guess you can call it good ole classic teenage angst if you will. Now, as I have gotten older I can see why she did certain things, and it all makes sense.
In the mornings, she always emphasized that I made my bed. Being in the air force, it was a simple task but a very important one. If you can’t even make up your bed in the morning, how else do you expect yourself to start your day off right? Let alone be a good soldier. In the air force, clothing was also kept to a minimum and what clothes you did have had to be well kept. So my mother was a minimalist before it became mainstream and I still use some of her techniques.
Keeping a clean and organized space is what I have always been exposed to, so for me it is a necessity in spaces of my own. And thanks to my mother I have a few tips for you on how to organize your dorm room.
1| Designate a space for everything.
My mother would always tell me everything should have a space. And if I couldn’t find a space for it, I probably did not need it. I used to think this was a bit extreme but now it makes perfect sense. When everything has it’s own place you get to see clearly what’s in your space and can better maintain it.
2| Say no to free stuff.
You know. The free t-shirts, free key chains, free hats, free posters – you name it! College students are always bombarded with this stuff, and we love anything with the word FREE attached to it. But those shirts and hats will accumulate, and fast. You might not even wear one of those shirts during your whole entire time in college. So just say, "No". You will save yourself space. Especially, if you are living in a dorm where space is definitely a scarcity.
3| Donate and swap your clothes with friends.
In college everything is about being frugal. Even when your budget is tight sometimes you still want to change up your wardrobe without sacrificing your space, money or time. A quick and easy solution is to swap clothes with friends. Swapping clothes gives you the opportunity to dive into a style different from your own free of charge.
4| Decorate your space with intention.
You should choose a décor that is easily interchangeable. Use pieces that are functionable and purposeful to your life and space. For example: When I lived in the dorms I had my comics posted on the wall to save space, and whenever I wanted to read one I took it out from its sleeve. Whatever is in your vicinity needs to either add value to you. And if it has outgrown the space, don’t be afraid to donate it or throw it away.
5| Clean your space once a week.
My mother and I would clean every Sunday morning. Floors mopped, bathroom scrubbed - the works. This way we were ready to start our week afresh. The same thing applies even in college. It does not have to be a whole scrub down but you should definitely tidy up. It is a good habit to keep up to prevent your room from becoming completely dirty.
These steps are just suggestions on what has worked for me throughout the school year. The road to minimalism can manifest and take shape in your life in different ways. Take your time and slowly make positive changes best fits your life.
Photo Source: Instagram.com/indie_minimalist
