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Are you planning on attending a college in California and living in a dorm room?
Please accept our congratulations on your upcoming education. Your living situation… for that, please
accept our sympathy. California colleges and universities offer fantastic educational value, but most of
their dormitories are old, small and expensive. There is, however, some good news: A little extra investment and
effort can greatly increase the useable space in your dorm room.
Before moving into your dorm room, you should receive several offers from your university for optional
furnishings in your room. Usually, these will be items such as a small refrigerator, microwave, et cetera.
Rather than renting from these offerings, we recommend you check into your college’s rules around items such
as these, and do your own shopping. Why rent a large, old, used refrigerator when the new models are likely
smaller, more efficient and only cost a little more than renting the old one? Microwaves are useful, but
often times the dorm building has a kitchen with microwaves. Forgoing one in your room will save you money,
save you space, and best of all, keep your room from stinking like your left over burritos. Definitely make
contact with your new room-mate before making these decisions on your own. Why bring two fridges when one
is all that is needed? Many dorm rooms have two closets, two beds, two desks, and a couple of side tables.
You can greatly increase the useable room by moving this furniture up. Local hardware stores will likely
sell bunk-bed kits. These are a must have for many dorm residents. You can stack the room’s two beds,
like a traditional bunk bed. Other models called lifts are custom designed to place the bed on top,
and allow a desk or small seating area below. Some use these types of kits to create an additional
closet below their bed.
It is pretty difficult to live without a TV these days. Flats screens are great space savers.
Unfortunately a dormitory likely won’t allow the space saving mounts. Don’t throw in the towel or use valuable
desk space for your TV. Mount that TV on your bunk bed frame, or build an entertainment wall. A simple 2x4 frame
can be used to mount your TV, your DVD player and your speakers for either computing or music.
We have one last tip for you: Use a door organizer. Storage of shoes, books, toiletries, and more can be
stored on the back side of your dorm doors with a simple and inexpensive door organizer. These organizers
can be used on the front door, as well as the closet doors for certain style closets.
Have other tips? We would like to hear from you. Please send them, along with any other comments to
use here at management@conversion-media.com
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