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Dorm organization hacks

top 5 dorm room organization products for small spaces

By Chloe Davis

Published: 06 May 2025

My Dorm Room Disaster (and How I Fixed It)

Okay, so picture this: Freshman year, I'm bursting with excitement – new friends, new classes, new… chaotic dorm room. My tiny space was an absolute disaster. Clothes everywhere, textbooks piled high, and I swear I saw a rogue granola bar hiding under my bed. It was less a dorm room and more a storage unit for slightly-used items. Sound familiar? Then this post is for you. I'm spilling the tea on my top 5 dorm room organization products for small spaces that totally transformed my living situation. Trust me, finding space in a small dorm is totally possible, and I'm about to prove it!

messy college dorm room | Image: Supplied

1. Under-Bed Storage Bins: My New Best Friend

These aren't your grandma's plastic bins. Seriously. I found some cute, fabric-covered ones at Target – they were surprisingly sturdy and perfectly matched my dorm aesthetic. I stuffed everything I could into them: extra blankets, off-season clothes, even my emergency stash of ramen. The best part? They roll easily, so I could access stuff without having to move everything around. Pro tip: Label them so you actually know what's inside!

under bed storage dorm room | Image: Supplied

2. Over-the-Door Organizer: A Vertical Space Savior

Vertical space is your friend in a small dorm. This isn't something I realized until my friend showed me. I found an over-the-door organizer at Walmart that fits perfectly on my closet door. Shoes, makeup, toiletries – it holds everything, and it kept my stuff from piling up on my already cramped desk. No more morning scramble to find my eyeliner!

over the door organizer dorm room | Image: Supplied

3. Hanging Closet Organizers: Clothing Chaos, Be Gone!

I'll admit, I was a bit skeptical about these at first. But they're total game changers. These fabric organizers hang in my closet and create separate shelves for folding clothes and storing accessories. They maximize the vertical space so I can actually see what I'm wearing, instead of rummaging through a pile of clothes everyday. They also kept things organized and clean

hanging closet organizer dorm room | Image: Supplied

4. Stackable Drawers: Desk Space Miracle Worker

My desk was tiny, like ridiculously small. But these stackable drawers from Amazon were a life-saver. I used the top drawer for stationery, the middle for textbooks, and the bottom for extra chargers and random stuff that collects on my desk. They're super easy to move around, which is key when you're sharing a small room. Plus, they actually look nice. Who says organization can't be stylish?

stackable drawers dorm room desk | Image: Supplied

5. Foldable Laundry Hamper: Because, Laundry

Let's be real, college life involves a lot of laundry. And my dorm didn't exactly come equipped with a fancy laundry hamper situation. This is where a small foldable hamper came to the rescue! When not in use, it folds to a minimal size so it doesn't take up unnecessary space. Plus, it looked pretty cute in the corner of my room!

foldable laundry hamper dorm room | Image: Supplied

Bonus Tip: The Power of Purging!

Before I even started shopping for organizers, I did a serious purge. I got rid of clothes I didn't wear, textbooks I didn't need, and anything else that was just taking up space. This made a HUGE difference. Trust me, decluttering is half the battle! Now, what about you? What are your must-have dorm organization products? Let me know in the comments!