Stressed over how to keep your belongings in an orderly fashion? Storing everything is easier than you think, explains Claire Muffett-Reece
“Clothes in the way? Invest in a coat stand for the corner of your room, and buy space saving hangers to fit more in your wardrobe than normal”
“Under your bed is a great place to put away seasonal clothes you don’t need for a few months, using an empty suitcase or vacuum-seal bags”
“A coffee table with undershelf storage is also ideal for keeping your TV remotes, gaming controllers and other devices, choosing one with drawers if you want to create a more simplified space”
Facts/stats
One in four students feel overwhelmed by the logistics of dealing with their belongings
(London Newsdesk)
90% of students say their living environment negatively affects their mental health
(Landlord Today)
Study bedrooms vary in size between 12–14m2
(RICS: BCIS featured analysis – student accommodation)
Whether you’re living at home, renting with mates, or in your own room in halls, you’ll find it hard to store everything you need to make it through the next few years. Sure, an abundance of heavy textbooks to store have reduced, using digital methods instead, but you’ll still need a laptop, notebooks, backpacks and more. Then there’s everything else needed, from food, clothing, your actual workspace – you get the picture. And although it may seem that you’ve no other choice but to live with clutter, there are ways to keep your space as organised as can be, as the following points and suggestions show.
Study space
First to consider when it comes to storing items is the area you’ll spend the most time in – no, not sleeping in or hitting the student union; we’re talking about the space in which you need to study. You might think you’ve done all you can, but in fact there’s an abundance of budget-friendly solutions just waiting to be utilised. Let’s start with your desk, checking on recycling sites or people selling locally to grab a bargain when it comes to desk tidies – slim, vertical ones are much better for space – or other organisers no longer wanted. Upcycling is another area to consider, keeping your desk clutter-free by using clean jam jars, old water bottles or even egg boxes to hold paperclips, pins, and pens. Laptop taking up a lot of your desk? An affordable monitor riser with underneath storage again works wonders, as do under-desk baskets. It’s also worth remembering that as a rule, you’ll have more wall space than floor space. Take advantage of this, using removable, damage-free strips to hang lighter weight items such as a small noticeboard or even somewhere to hang your keys! And don’t forget to invest in a bin for your old drink and food cartons or other material you no longer need. Just remember to empty it every now and then!
Bedroom space
There are also plenty of ways for affordable – and free – storage when it comes to your bedroom. Instead of having your phone, watch and earbuds clogging up your bedside table, opt for a three-in-one charging station. Clothes in the way? Invest in a coat stand for the corner of your room, and buy space saving hangers to fit more in your wardrobe than normal. Stacking items such as underwear and t-shirts on top of the other in your drawers? Fold into tight, flat rectangles and stand upright side-by-side – this saves space plus you can see what you want to wear. Remember all those empty areas that can also be taken advantage of – under your bed is a great place to put away seasonal clothes you don’t need for a few months, using an empty suitcase or vacuum-seal bags. Speaking of your bed – have you considered bed risers? Just a few inches higher provides more space for storing. As for other areas, the top of your wardrobe – and doors – should also be used: a mirror on the inside rather than your wall means you can add shelving you wouldn’t have been able to otherwise. And don’t forget about your lotions and potions, be it make-up, hair products, skincare, perfume and aftershave. Here a small spinning turntable works wonders – as and when needed just rotate to access exactly what you need.
Bathroom space
Next, comes the bathroom – here storage again is your friend, and is easier and much cheaper that you think. Leaving your toothbrush, razor and other items on the sink is hardly going to please your flatmates, so pick up a quick-drying mesh caddy so you can take it back to your room after use, or club together and buy a slim, vertical shelving unit so everyone has a dedicated area for their belongings. Towel hooks are a great way to separate yours from others and again gives everyone more storage, while you can use suction cup or adhesive hooks to store more wash things. If your landlord allows it a mirrored cabinet is another way for extra storage – and look around the bathroom to see where any empty spaces may be. You can add shelves above the toilet wall (again if you’ve approval), while narrow plastic carts or other slimline vertical units can usually slide into the tiny gap between the toilet and the wall. Then there’s the space under your sink: if you’ve no built-in cupboard hunt for something cheap but similar, or other baskets designed specifically to hug the bottom of a pedestal sink.
Kitchen space
Unless you’ve the luxury of your own kitchen you’re going to think about how best to store pretty much anything needed when it comes to making meals. Start by looking in your fridge and think of the different ways you can make space. Does everything you’ve put in there need to be refrigerated? We’re all used to putting items like potatoes and carrots straight on the shelves, whereas in fact most vegetables can be kept ambient and popped in a multi-tiered storage rack or trolly. Your freezer is another area for storage, removing excess packaging not needed and placing in the same size tubs, to ensure anyone else living with you has their own compartment to store their own food. Tupperware is also your friend in cupboards: staples such as rice and pasta will no longer take up kitchen counter space with a multitude of jars. Then there are other ways you can free up kitchen counters: under shelf baskets, cabinet shelf risers, and indoor racks lets you store items from spices and fruit to utensils, cleaning products and more. Again, look for empty spaces such as on the top of your cupboards to store items you don’t use on a daily basis, as well as wall hooks for measuring cups and spoons. And don’t forget about hanging mug holders, and even something as simple as tea towel holders, all of which give you additional storage without you even realising.
Lounge space
Last on the list when it comes to storage is your lounge. Seating with hidden storage is one, swapping standard footstools for budget-friendly fabric or faux-leather storage ottomans, which again you can usually find for a steal on a selling site. Not only do they provide extra seating, but they can also store items you don’t need on a daily basis: think blankets, text books, board games – even items such as a winter duvet in summer. A coffee table with undershelf storage is also ideal for keeping your TV remotes, gaming controllers and other devices, choosing one with drawers if you want to create a more simplified space. Speaking about space, we’re talking those empty areas that yet again you could use for storage. Not quite enough space to fit items under your sofa? Risers, just as in the bedroom, are a great way to keep flat items like linen you don’t currently need, again using vacuum bags to maximise space, as well as preventing them from getting dirty. If possible, pull the sofa a few inches away from the wall to store flat items, and utilise empty corners by adding a freestanding vertical tier shelf. Because it really is easy to find storage solutions with just a little clever thinking.
5 storage apps
Declutterfy (Android, free)
Overwhelmed by mess but don’t know where to start? This uses advanced AI to guide you step-by-step, turning the daunting task of decluttering into a rewarding experience.
Vinted (Android, iOS, free)
Sell your pre-loved stuff to other members who’ll love it again. They get a great find, you get more space at home. It’s look-good, do-good, feel-good, for everyone. You can also buy what you need here, too.
Adobe Scan (Android, iOS, free)
Get cleaner documents without rescanning – this turns your mobile device into a powerful document scanner and PDF maker, that helps you save and organise your paper documents as digital files.
StuffKeeper (Android, iOS, free)
This app makes storing and finding things easy – things you don’t use often, but that can come in handy at any moment. Find yourself misplacing things because you don’t remember where you put them? This is also the app for you.
Happy Student (Android, iOS, free)
University or college is supposed to be the best time of your life, but the logistics can be a challenge. Whether you’re starting for the first time or prepping for graduation, Happy Student is your ultimate survival guide.
