<p>My first and only child will be going to college in NYC next month. She will be living in a two room dorm suite (two bedrooms, two girls in each, kitchen, bathroom and living area) and while I have seen many lists of what to bring to outfit a dorm room, I’m looking for some practical hints as to what really is needed. The stores show different things for storage and to make your closet more useful, but what really works? The room comes with a desk, a four drawer chest, bed and closet with some shelves. What are some good hints for storage in and around the desk, bed and closet? What do kids usually do to personalize their space?</p>
<p>We probably will be limited in shopping because we won’t be buying stuff until we get to Manhattan since we are flying, not driving, and are limited as to what we can bring, so please, when giving suggestions, keep in mind that there are no Targets, Wal-Marts or those type of stores around (we will be using public transportation or taxis when we get there) so we will probably be limited to Bed Bath and Beyond, Duane Reed, Staples, or whatever other stores are in Manhattan. Thanks!</p>
<p>If your child can put stuff under their dorm bed…the best “extra” storage is those under the bed boxes. If you can…find the ones with wheels. They are much easier to move in and out. There really isn’t room in a dorm for extra furniture. In our experiences (two kids…four dorms) there is barely enough room for the furniture the college furnishes.</p>
<p>Re: other types of “organizers”…once my daughter KNEW that she had a regular door (not a bifold or curtain) on her closet, she got an over the door shoe holder. Other than that…she had hangers (bring your own!!) and that was it for organizers.</p>
<p>The BEST “organizer” is to reduce the amount of “stuff” your daughter is taking to the school. Then there will be less need to organize it all!!</p>
<p>I was debating the under the bed storage, but then thought, she’s going up with several suitcases, couldn’t that be the under the bed storage? Where do they keep their suitcases if not under the bed?</p>
<p>I agree with Thumper about lack of space and the need to edit possessions. Will the bed come with a pillow? Can the bed be lofted? That would give your D more room for underbed storage of luggage and bedding ( some of which can be stored in the empty luggage).</p>
<p>For the common spaces, your D’s best bet is to coordinate with her roommates. Since there is a kitchen, they will want to equip it, but they should not each bring a set of pots and pans, a blender, etc… My S brought an inflatable mattress for guests and that got used and borrowed quite a bit.</p>
<p>Another idea is to check out the room and see what, if any, storage options are NEEDED (note…not wanted…needed). Then look online for someone who can ship directly to your daughter.</p>
<p>We have a kid who goes to college 3000 miles from home. One thing we strongly considered when taking her to school and “outfitting” her dorm room was the storage issue. Anything she owned had to be stored during the summer…we were NOT shipping it home. So we kept our consumption to the bare minimum…and she has survived.</p>
<p>Great idea, marite! I was not even going to touch the whole equipping the kitchen thing, I’m hoping one of her 3 suite mates lives close enough to bring blender, toaster, microwave, etc., since that is totally not going to be shipped from here. One of my friends told me to have her bring just enough plates, bowls, glasses, etc., for herself, so she can be responsible for making sure she has clean stuff to use as opposed to having shared stuff and then arguing over whose turn it is to do the dishes. Comments anyone?</p>
<p>You can get CHEAP dishes in NY. Is she equiping a kitchen for cooking all meals or just for snacks? If she has a meal plan, don’t get too much “kitchen stuff”. When my son was a freshman, we sent him to college with a mug, cereal size bowl, water cup (plastic), spoon, fork, knife. He had a fridge and microwave in his room so we figured he would need these things. They NEVER were used. So we didn’t bother with DD. In the end, she did get a mug (as she liked to make tea) but that was it. </p>
<p>Also, remember you can order online from Target.</p>
<p>My daughter and her roommate shared the smallest room in their sorority last year. Her roommate also very into decorating their room. They ended up having the nicest room for not spending much money, and it was the room the sorority showcased for new recruits. We just recently outfitted our daughter’s dorm in Australia (couldn’t carry much over). We bought everything at their local Target and Kmart stores and did the whole thing for under 150. I believe there is BB&B in NYC, where you could get most of your dorm stuff.</p>
<p>The first year when D1 had a single, we bought her an inexpensive wooden shelf, which we filled with baskets in multiple colors. They were very good for storage (underwear, hair stuff, shampoo, various personal things)</p>
<p>Dorm rooms are white and our D1 loves decorated rooms, especially where she sleeps. For her abroad dorm, we asked our daughter to pick out a color scheme - she chose green and brown. We bought a green blanket, one panel sheer brown curtain(cheaper than getting two and it just adds color), two green cloth baskets to put on her book shelf(they add color and good to hide little stuff), two Japanese table lamps. We also got a few nice picture frames (same theme, not mixed) to put her favorite pictures. To add more colors to her room, she hung her scarves on the wall. </p>
<p>In her room last year, the girls bought a cheap Japanese paper screen as a divider between two beds. D1 said it was amazing how much privacy that little screen gave them (one could go to bed and the other could still be doing stuff in bed). Those two girls also invested in a few decorative stuff for their room - a tall skinny vase with fake plum/cherry flowers in it. They bought an inexpensive small refridge to share. They got an Apple AirPort, which made their room wireless. The girls were able to use their laptops in bed (to watch movies or surf FB) when the other person is asleep.</p>
<p>LOL! Being blessed with two sons, I did not have to worry too much about their room decoration. I believe there were some posters, but that was about it. Anyway, the mess of clothes and papers would have negated any aesthetic value added.</p>
<p>I strongly suggest using one rolling suitcase and a couple of unstructured duffles that can be put inside it for storage. (We just took the suitcases home and left one with our S, but we live 3 hours away. When he came home, I sent H with a box or large garbage bags as “luggage.” )</p>
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<p>Heck, I’m a mom and this prospect makes me want to run screaming. :D</p>
<p>LOL. Container store is well worth checking out. The only thing I can add to this discussion is that when I was in college we used my steamer trunk as a coffee table. :)</p>
<p>Two things that were helpful for my daughter. A desktop “shelf” that we bought from Ikea - it fit on top of her desk and had a shelf on top and three shelves on the side. She was able to put a small, cheap printer on it along with some desk stuff, picture frames,etc. Doubled the storage of the desk.</p>
<p>2nd. - one of the hanging closet extenders that made a second “row” in part of the closet so she had more room for hanging.</p>
<p>have your luggage be soft side rolling duffle style…easy to slide other suitcases in it and then roll it under the bed…and back for awkward things that you don’t need often…big coats, blankets, sports shoes…many colleges have no place to store excess luggage anymore…so check with your own college before sending hard sided luggage for her room…my son loved the Mother Lode Junior…I think it is at Ebags…check out the reviews. Mother Lode stands up without flopping over when you are in line for plane check in etc.</p>
<p>The two items my daughters used repeatedly for storage: a collapsible wooden bookcase (available in many sizes) and one of those cheap plastic 3-drawer sets (about 2.5 feet high and 1.5 feet wide) that come with wheels. Both are inexpensive enough that they could be donated to Goodwill each year and replaced the following semester, if necessary. Though we didn’t have to do that because we always drove to pick our kids up, and each item could fit in the car.</p>
<p>I agree with those who’ve suggested duffles instead of hard suitcases. My ds each kept one smallish rolling suitcase in their rooms for travel during the semester. Everything else was packed in duffles or vacuum-compressed storage bags (you can fit a lot of clothing in those storage bags).</p>
<p>Although there is no Target in Manhattan…if you want some of your “near and dear” stores that you’re familiar with — there’s a couple of Kmarts and Home Depots, and a new JC Penney. The NYC Ikea is in Brooklyn</p>
<p>Container store is great for dorm storage stuff, especially if money is no object. </p>
<p>Bed Bath and Beyond and Home Depot offer delivery service…so you’re not really limited by what you can carry.</p>
<p>Keep in mind advice given on this thread about how much you “invest” and summer storage. If the school does not offer much storage, getting to a rented storage locker (which would be in an outer borough) is very difficult from most places in Manhattan. Just parking to load whatever you’re taking is difficult!</p>
<p>For transport, the best solution, in my opinion, is one suitcase (for trips home during the year) plus multiple soft duffle bags (which get stored inside the suitcase during the term). </p>
<p>For storage, you may not need anything; the closet, dresser, and desk space in the room may be adequate. Or not. My daughter’s freshman room had ample storage space (and yes, we shoved her suitcase under the bed). But her sophomore room had grossly inadequate storage space, so we bought under-the-bed storage containers and other containers from the Container Store to act as extra dresser drawers. But these things are quite awkward to use for transport. It worked out OK because we were going by car, but I wouldn’t suggest it to anyone who’s flying. Even if you order them online to be shipped to the dorm, there’s the problem of what to do with them during the summer.</p>
<p>As far as equipping the kitchen, if they are going to be cooking there (not on a meal plan) I think the girls need to coordinate somehow, or pool their resources when they get to school to buy shared dishes, pots and pans etc. Sorry, but I don’t think that bringing enough plates for herself and hoping someone else brings a microwave, toaster and blender is the way to go.</p>
<p>There are Target stores in Brooklyn, New Jersey and Queens that are fairly accessible by public transportation, too.</p>
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