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Your College-Bound Kid - Dorm Storage Options
By Harriet Hodgson
It happens in early June. Stores put up signs saying they are "college central" and set up bedding and storage displays. Many storage options are available to incoming freshmen. You and your child will have to decide how much you want to invest in storage.
Under-the-bed storage is one of the first things college kids consider. These boxes hold lots of stuff and some come with wheels. If your child has a chance to stay in a dorm room he or she should measure the height of the bed. Buying under-the-bed storage and not being able to use it would be disappointing.
Hanging bags are also convenient. Stores carry bags for shoes, accessories, and larger items. The store should display a sample of the item. Check to see how the hanger or hook is fastened. A flimsy hook or hanger will pull away from a loaded bag.
Bedside organizers, another form of hanging bag, are also convenient. Naomi Rockler-Gladen, author of "College Dorm Room Storage" published on the Student Housing 101 website, thinks these organizers are ideal for bath items, accessories, and small supplies.
"50 Smart, Space-Saving Tricks for Dorm Dwellers," posted on the Online Degree Programs website, recommends storage ottomans. These ottomans serve two purposes, storage and extra seating. They come in a variety of colors and materials and stack when not in use.
Special hangers are essential for dorm rooms. Fuzzy nonslip hangers hold garments in place and take up less closet space. Your college-bound kid may wish to buy a belt ring or purse holder, which may also be used for mittens and scarves.
If you have been in a discount or big box store lately, you know they carry plastic bins in all shapes, sizes and colors. Milk crates are the most common type of bin, but your child should consider other types as well. Some stack, some interlock, and some are like baskets. Colorful bins will perk up any dorm room.
Foldable cloth bins may be the hottest storage trend today. Whether they are plain or patterned, these handy bins can be folded flat again when not in use. A foldable laundry bin is one of the handiest items a college student can have and, like other bins, they come in different colors and patterns.
Door storage is a necessity if the closet is small. This type of storage includes shoe bags, triangular braces for hangers, and robe hooks. Your child should make sure there is room inside the closet for these items.
The Dormatory website recommends locked storage for college and university students. As the website explains, "The privacy you are accustomed to at home will not exist at school." If your child buys a sturdy trunk it can also serve as furniture. So-called steamer trunks come in many metals and finishes and some even have wheels.
Finally, your college-bound kid should consider rolling storage, such as a printer table with wheels. Rolling storage is convenient and easy to move. With your help, your college student will choose storage items that will last four years and even through gradate school.
Copyright 2010 by Harriet Hodgson
Harriet Hodgson has been an independent journalist for 30+ years. She is a member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors, Association of Health Care Journalists, and Association for Death Education and Counseling. Her 24th book, "Smiling Through Your Tears: Anticipating Grief," written with Lois Krahn, MD is available from Amazon.
Centering Corporation has published her 26th book, "Writing to Recover: The Journey from Loss and Grief to a New Life" and a companion journal with 100 writing jump-starts. Hodgson is a monthly columnist for the new "Caregiving in America" magazine, which resumes publication in August. She is also a contributing writer for the Open to Hope Foundation website. Please visit Harriet's website and learn more about this busy author and grandmother.
