I just moved out of my college dorm about a week ago and as I was packing up all of my things, I noticed that some of the stuff in my dorm had not been touched. Like never used. Ever. All of those unnecessary things made the move out process WAY harder than it needed to be. I seriously don't understand how I even fit all of that stuff in my tiny dorm in the first place.
This article pretty much sums up all of my thoughts while moving out. And in an attempt to help y'all pack effectively for college, I made a list of yay's and nay's of what will and won't help you survive the cramped living spaced that is a college dorm room.
Yay's
1. Large storage containers
Storage containers are a MUST in terms of college packing; they consolidate all of your things into one place. I had two Scout Junque Trunks in my dorm with all of my t-shirts in one and all of my shoes in the other.
2. Bedside storage
My bed in the dorm was lofted about five feet off the ground, so I had a bedside caddy to hold my phone charger, glasses, and other nighttime necessities. I would recommend having a bedside caddy if you're lazy like me and don't want to have to get out of bed to get what you need.
3. Multifunctional desk lamp
Anything that's multifunctional in college is a plus! This desk lamp that I had charges your laptop or phone AND it helps organize your desk materials.
4. Drop down hangers
These hangers are seriously a life saver. Your dorm's closet will most likely not be as spacious as you would like. Drop down hangers allow you to hang up to five shirts, but they only take up one hanger's worth of space.
5. Clip lamp
Sometimes your roommate is going to go to sleep earlier than you and cut the overhead light off. If you still need to read or do work in bed, get a clip lamp and clip it to your bed; it lets you see what you're working on without waking up your roommate with the overhead light on.
Nay's
1. Your whole closet
This nay is a lesson that I learned the hard way. Even though I only live 45 minutes away from my college, I felt the need to bring practically all of my clothes and shoes when I first moved in. Reality check: you don't need winter clothes when you move into your dorm in the heat of August. Unless you want an overflowing closet and cluttered room, I would recommend bringing only the clothes you truly believe you will wear.
2. Lots of snacks & kitchen items
When I moved into the dorm, I pictured myself eating in my room a lot of the time and using cute, cactus-print bowls and plates. To be honest, when the chaos of the school year kicks in, I usually just ate somewhere on campus rather than in my dorm.
3. Knick-knacks
As hard as it may be for you, leave the knick-knacks at home. Again, your dorm isn't big enough to have random knick-knacks everywhere.
4. Tons of throw pillows
Odds are, you are going to have a twin-sized bed in your dorm room. Therefore, you probably don't want your entire bed covered with throw pillows when you will barely be able to fit on it.
5. TV
When my roommate and I decided to not bring a TV to school, I thought I might miss having one a little bit. Turns out, not having a TV in the dorm was a blessing in disguise. I would have spent SO much more time procrastinating if I would've had a TV in the dorm. Also, one of your friends at school will most likely have a TV if you really want to watch something.
Remember y'all, your dorm room is most likely much smaller than your room at home. Not to mention, you'll be sharing it with another person. By only bringing the "necessities" with you to college, you'll be saving you and your roommate from a packed, crowded room!
