In addition to moving away from home and taking more challenging classes, one of the biggest adjustments students face when they move to university is limited living space. Whether you rent a student flat, live in res or share digs with several roommates elsewhere, it’s crucial to make the most of the room you have.
Not sure where to begin with maximising your small space? We have plenty of space-saving storage ideas and tips to help your new student home feel cosy without being cramped.
1. Get Creative with Wardrobe Space
One of the most important spots to maximise space is your wardrobe. Res wardrobes are notoriously small, leaving students with two apparent choices: Get rid of clothes, or cram them wherever they’ll fit. Thankfully, there’s a third option—vertical storage.
There are several types of vertical storage you can use in wardrobes, including:
- Hanging shelves
- Shoe organisers
- Hanging-rail extenders
- Rolling storage chests
2. Use Under-the-Bed Storage
The space under your bed is valuable real estate, especially if you still need additional places to keep clothing and other belongings. There’s a wide selection of under-the-bed storage options, from flexible fabric bags to rolling storage boxes and drawers. Additionally, many res bed frames are adjustable, allowing you to create more vertical room.
3. Create a Kitchen Space Beneath Your Lofted Bed
If you’re lucky enough to have the ability to loft your res bed, you have the option to create a “room within a room.” Many residences let students bring their own bar fridge; by plugging in your tiny fridge under your lofted bed and setting up shelves, you can accommodate your own kitchen and eating area.
Living in a flat or digs? You can buy a lofted bed frame and create a reading nook or hangout space under your bed with a futon or chair. Alternatively, you can save even more space by hooking a hammock up on your lofted bed frame itself!
4. Make the Most of Wall Space
No matter where you live while studying, adhesive wall hooks will be your best friend. Both wall-friendly and easy to apply, adhesive wall hooks are perfect for a variety of storage functions—from hanging up jewellery and accessories to keeping bulky coats and jackets out of your wardrobe. Plus, you can use extra-strong adhesive strips to put up extra shelving without damaging your walls with nails.
5. Organise Your Desk
Your desk is key to keeping your cool during the busy academic year. Without a way to organise assignments, study guides, or notes, your chances of losing important papers in the shuffle of a cluttered study space will only go up.
There are several ways to organise your desk; use mugs as pencil holders, separate documents into manageable folders, or keep your stationery in one spot with a desk drawer organiser. Don’t have a lot of desk space? Create more real estate with a stand for your laptop, or keep books, accessories, and more off the desk with shelves or wall organisers.
6. Declutter Your Kitchen
The more roommates you have in your flat or digs, the bigger the struggle will be to find space for your pots or pans in the kitchen cabinets. Before the kitchen dissolves into a cluttered catastrophe, there are several ways you can keep your cooking and eating space organised, such as:
- Throwing out or giving away duplicate items (spatulas, whisks, can openers, etc.)
- Hanging larger pots and pans on the wall
- Installing additional shelving units
- Buying an over-the-door spice rack or general organising shelf
Dealing with an especially small kitchen or dining area? Consider a counter-height kitchen table or kitchen island. In addition to taking up less space than a traditional dining room table, these alternatives have shelving for cooking utensils, food storage, and more.
7. Fashion Your Space with Multifunctional Furniture
Speaking of furniture alternatives, you can even save room with the furniture you choose for your student flat or digs. Keep blankets from cluttering your couch or floor by putting them in ottomans with hidden storage, or give your books and magazines a home underneath a coffee table with shelving.
Need to find some storage options that don’t involve buying a new fleet of furniture pieces? No problem! Convert under-the-bed organisers into under-the-couch storage. If there’s not a lot of space under your couch, grab some risers from the store to lift it and create the clearance your storage containers need.
8. Invest in a Self Storage Unit
All of these tips and ideas are great for your living space during the academic year, but you may be wondering what to do with all your belongings over the long summer holidays. Though you can attempt to cart all your things back home and deal with a cramped and cluttered holiday, there’s another solution: a self storage unit.
By keeping your student furniture, clothes, and more in a storage unit, you can keep your items nearby without worrying about packing and moving them at the end of every academic year. Plus, if you have seasonal clothing taking up wardrobe space, you can rent a smaller unit for an additional “wardrobe away from home.”
All the student belongings you accumulate can be stored safely, properly, and securely with the various options of units from R59 Self-Storage. You will never have to worry about cramming your stuff inside a unit that is too small or using a storage location that is way too big.
Studying in Vanderbijlpark? See our student storage in Vanderbijlpark — small units, month-to-month over the holidays. Or phone us today and find out how self storage can help your home (and your sanity).
At 016-366-3200 or info@r59storage.co.za
Our newly built storage units are clean, modern and of high standard. With very affordable prices this is one of the best self storage facilities you will find in the Vaal Triangle! We are located just off the R59 off-ramp, close to Meyerton, Vereeniging, Vanderbijlpark, Alberton and Johannesburg.
