Headed Back to School? These Editor-Approved IKEA Organization Essentials Will Maximize Dorm Room Space

A lot has changed about going to college since I matriculated, but one facet that’s remained stubbornly consistent is dorm room life. “Helping your kid turn four cinderblock walls lined with institutional gray carpeting into some semblance of a real bedroom is perhaps the greatest challenge of move-in,” wrote Julia Demer, our style editor. For a lot of students (and their parents), moving into a dorm room is a big challenge.

I lived in two residence halls during my time as an undergraduate, and both rooms I occupied were “forced triples,” or three students living in a room that was designed for two. Looking back, I can see the life lessons my dorm room provided. It taught me how to organize a space to make it conducive for multiple people when there wasn’t very much space at all.

Like many students, my mom and I went to an IKEA store to ease the transition to dorm life. It has exactly what any student needs to make those four cinderblock walls feel like home.

Solutions on a Student Budget

After tuition, room and board, books, and all the other miscellaneous expenses you’ve already saved for and shelled out to get to this point, you’re probably not keen on spending even more to make your student’s living space actually livable. That’s where IKEA steps in. The brand has decades of experience designing cost-effective furniture for every room, including dorm rooms. And while IKEA furniture is stylish and functional, the brand has never compromised quality or affordability.

Organization Made Easy

Even in a small room, things can get lost if they don't have a designated place. “Make it easy for yourself to stay organized,” professional home organizer Katie Clingman once advised our editors. “The less friction you introduce, the more sustainable your system will be.” When you employ IKEA storage solutions in a dormitory, whether it’s bins that slide under the extra-long twin bed or a freestanding wardrobe for a room without a closet, you’re paving the way for your student to uphold that life-simplifying organization principle wherever they go after college.

The Versatility They Need

Even if your student lives on a vast campus, they'll likely spend a lot of time in their small dorm room. In order to create a space where they can adequately sleep, study, and socialize, everything in the room needs to be pulling double duty. IKEA could create a whole curriculum around this very topic – so many of its offerings that merely look like seating or decor are actually clever storage solutions in disguise. Heading to an IKEA store for versatile pieces is a lesson in smart shopping that your student will carry with them for the rest of their life.