6 DIY Hacks for Back-to-School Dorm Living
Back to school is here, which means college students will soon start shopping for dorm supplies and decorating their newfound small spaces with their own personal flair. Whether you’re a college student yourself, or are the parent of one about to embark on dorm living, we’ve found a few DIY dorms hacks that make the most of living in tight spaces.
1. DIY Shoebox Projector
Photo by Tasmanian Geographic via Flickr
Don’t have room for or can’t afford a TV? No problem! Make your own projection screen for less than $1 using a shoebox, magnifying class, tape and paper clips. Photojojo’s tutorial shows just how easy it is and even offers tips for getting the perfect picture.
2. Red Solo Cup Speakers
Photo by jcodudeortiz via Flickr
Call us crazy, but college students always seem to have a few red Solo cups lying around. Whether you’re looking to turn up the tunes while cleaning your room or hanging with friends, playing music through your phone’s external speaker and dropping it into a red Solo cup will amplify the sound.
3. Soda Can Tabs as Closet Hangers
Photo by madamchino via Flickr
Dorm closets are notoriously small—especially if you have to share one with a roommate. Save space (and recycle!) by utilizing soda can tabs to hang multiple items in one hanger space.
4. Crate Bookshelves
Photo by Kristi J via Flickr
In college, it’s a given you’ll have a million books between all your classes. Organize them to give you a little sanity. Bookshelves can be bulky and don’t always fit the dimensions of your tiny space comfortably. A flexible, inexpensive alternative is to use crates as bookshelves. Whether you use wooden or plastic, stack ‘em or mount ‘em, you’ll always know where that math textbook is when you’re scrambling out the door to your 8 a.m. class.
5. Binder Clips are your Best Friends
Photo by muteboy via Flickr
Photo by drbakker via Flickr
Binder clips do so much more than organize your term papers. They can save space in the refrigerator and keep your cables from getting tangled.
6. Customize with Washi Tape.
Photo by Roslyn R via Flickr
Finally, washi tape can be your best friend when it comes to personalizing your stuff without causing damage. Use it to add flair to your notebook, change up an old iPhone case or class up the walls with a fun design.
Dorm living doesn’t have to be boring or cramped. By employing a few of these organization and design hacks, you’ll be one of the smartest (and coolest) students in the residence halls.
