A school supplies list is pretty standard for students at the start of a new school year. But for kids leaving the nest for the first time, or returning to college, that list of “back to campus” supplies looks a little different. And fitting all of it into a dorm room or apartment can be a bit tricky.
BACK TO CAMPUS
Lowe’s partnered with influencer Carlynn Green, to give recent grads (and their parents) some tips on how to make their new home away from home comfortable, functional and organized. Green is a former resident assistant (RA) so when it comes to heading back to campus, she’s an expert at small-space living. Check out her four top tips:
1. Consider using bed lifts. These can maximize the space underneath your bed, giving you extra room to store things like trunks, luggage, etc.
2. Invest in bathroom storage. If your room has a sink outside of the bathroom, a storage cabinet or storage bins that fit underneath are a great storage hack for all of your toiletries. (*BONUS TIP* Adding a mini rug under/in front of the sink can give your space a little personality and keep your bedroom floor from getting wet.)
3. Stock up on extension cords. Positioning your furniture near wall outlets can limit your choices. Grab a few long extension cords instead, especially ones that are surge-protected.
4. Make the most of your desk. Think “vertical”. If you can select a few desk organizers that are made to stack, you can organize more without sacrificing surface area.
AT-HOME DROP ZONE
Maybe you’re not sending your kiddos off to college just yet, but still need to set up (and organize) a school “drop zone” in your home. Lowe’s also leaned on advice from the professional organizers and influencer partners, Horderly. The pair specializes in maximizing space in areas that seem overcrowded and impossible to declutter. For school supplies, Horderly says cube systems are a game-changer. But before you make any purchases, they recommend doing a little planning first:
1. Before choosing which furniture to buy, it’s important to declutter and edit through your belongings to make sure your home is only filled with the items you use and love. Pull all items out, separate into files by category and then work pile by pile to go over every single item. Then, decide what to keep, toss or donate. Once you know what you’re keeping, you can start strategizing your furniture needs based on which items need to live in a certain place.
2. As you’re shopping, try to find a happy medium between pieces that fit your aesthetic and being functional. Cubby systems are organizational, plus you can add decorative bins. Or consider storage benches that add functionality to your furniture.
