<p>I did what minnymom and Barnard mom suggest w son1 3 yrs ago & doing the same now. I bought two under the bed plastic boxes w drawers at the container store. One is packed w the sheets/blanket, the other w the towels. He’ll keep them just as they are under his bed. No unpacking once there except for the set of sheets he’ll use first. All other bedding…the mattress covers, the primaloft bed topper and duvet are in one plastic clear bag that came w the duvet. Two large under bed boxes w regular tops have all his other room stuff in them: desk lamp, floor lamp, the plastic square totes (one for medicine/ first aid, the other his daiy bath supplies already arranged), all desk supplies in their desk boxes, pens/pencils already in the pencil box, alarm clock, trash can, printer paper, etc. </p>
<p>Older son empties these and then he places his off season clothes in them and then obviously changes stuff out when it gets cold. Younger son will do same. All cleaning supplies are in his laundry basket and will go up into room first so I can clean inside the dresser and desk as DH and S bring stuff up from car. Sons prefer traditional laundry basket bc they use it as a hamper at the foot of their bed. When it’s full, time to do the laundry. (Also purchased them a laundry backpack duffle bag, which S1 used to take his laundry home after finals. He hops the train soon after his last final w no time to do laundry at school, so it’s useful.)</p>
<p>Clothes are in two duffles…larger one for winter, the other summer clothes. Clothes on hangers go in plastic garbage as minnymom stated. </p>
<p>I open all the boxes of new supplies here first before putting into totes bc it saves time. I also assemble the fan, desk lamp, vacuum here to save time, although space wise, they are more compact in the box unassembed. but I learned w S1 that it’s so much faster to set up a room when this stuff is assembled and it didn’t get unassembed after freshman year and still manages to fit in my car. </p>
<p>I purchased a flat weave rug from west elm on sale (nearly $500 marked down to $112) that I’m able to fold into fours or tightly roll. Flat weaves are light weight but very durable if made of wool. Fits into a garbage bag.</p>
<p>Also, a friend just suggested to me to send son w paper dishes and bowls bc her son just dumped them in the bathroom garbage rather than having to wash. Said all his friends wished their moms had thought of that. I bought cheap bowl & dish at ikea but went to stop & shop yesterday to buy paper. S1 would take the time to wash bc he’s neat but S2 isn’t. </p>
<p>After years of being an interior designer, I’m pretty good at room organization.</p>
<p>Also, be sure to put up command hooks for winter coat, sweatshirt, towel, umbrella & small one for keys. If it’s organized, they’re more apt to find stuff easily. Put up command hooks as soon as your kid has arranged the furniture in the room bc they take about an hour to “set.” </p>