Moving Into Your Dorm Room: Tips + Hacks • #CollegePrep

Do you know where can I sign up for that luxury dorm room move-in experience Wayfair and Target suggest incoming freshmen are blessed with?

You know what I’m talking about, right? Those adorable commercials where a family seamlessly moves their son or daughter into a room the size of my house with decor imported from HGTV’s secret Fixer Upper warehouse.

It’s implied that they JUST moved the new student in, panning across a fully furnished room with not one red face, drop of sweat, or accidentally broken item in sight. That, my friends, is an actual fantasy.

Today, we are diving into another installation of the #CollegePrep series with tips and hacks for your dorm room move-in day! Make sure to join the #collegeprep community for post-updates and random freebies! 

So, in all honesty, this “special move-in” day may not be as angelic as it looks in commercials. For one, not everyone will have the “all hands on deck” experience like others do.

Although I had my mother’s help during my freshman year and my grandmother’s help my sophomore year, every other living space was moved into (and out of) by me, myself, and I.

There’s a clear game-plan that I developed for myself after realizing that my two hands were all I had most moves. With the majority of my focus on the pre-move, rather than actively moving, I hope that this exact game-plan can help you out this month and the months to come!

stage I: pre-move

This stage is, by far, the most important. Just like any creative would suggest about the “pre-production” stage of creating or filming content, it’s imperative that you set yourself up for success before actively trying to ‘succeed.’

leave the nonsense

I know you want to take everything you think you’ll need with you. As a recovering hoarder, I understand the struggle of looking at your Pineapple-shaped lamp and envisioning all of the Tumblr vibes you would get having it in your room.

What about that jean collection you swear you’re going to use? Those extra pairs of heels you are SURE will come in handy (even though you never go out—no shade). Ohh, don’t get me started on your purses, clutches, and wallets that you can’t wait to rock every other day (or so we say).

Leave the nonsense, my friends. I’m confident that only 50% of what you THINK is an essential will actually be used. Even when I became a so-called “minimalist,” I still found things I never knew I had at the back of some drawer I never opened.

recent post: Trendy and Functional Tech for College Dorm Rooms

pack intentionally

I tend to use the word "intentional" when I’m referring to doing something with purpose, on purpose. So, to me, “packing intentionally” means packing like you actually want to make your life easier and more efficient.

For me, packing intentionally meant separating my tech from my decor and my school supplies from my accessories. Clothing was sorted from summer/fall items to winter/spring items, and my shoes were organized from sneakers to sandals and boots.

Quick Tip: Don’t forget to ask your roommates what each person plans on bringing that could be used by everyone in the room. Depending on your comfort level, always suggest that each person chooses a theme, like bathroom items or cooking utensils/appliances, to split up the responsibility.

If you make it a point to purchase decor items that have extra storage, like decor bins (for a closet or under the desk) and small ottomans with lids, this will lessen your physical effort by condensing the number of large items.

know your dorm hall’s game-plan

Most schools have an active move-in day plan that they make sure everyone is familiar with before arriving. Whether it’s special parking lots for parents or roads to park and unpack your things, make it a point to familiarize yourself with the schedule.

For example, don’t be like me and decide that you want to ‘miss the crowds’ by moving yourself in towards the end of the day. Most dorm halls have RA’s (residential assistants) and upperclassmen that volunteer to help everyone haul their things inside.

Long story short, take whatever help you can get.

Quick Tip: Do your own research to figure out if you can “beat the system” in any way. Some helpful things I always look up include:

— Check out the nearby streets where another car could park so both cars can be accessed and emptied without hogging the main lane everyone else is using.
— See if other halls around you have similar schedules (more often than not they give out that information freely in a mass-email sent to incoming students), and plan your time perfectly to miss other crowds that may be hogging parking spots.
— Check with your roommates to see if they are bringing items that you may want to leave at home or in the car.

stage II: move

I can’t begin to explain the emotions that come when you wake up on move-in day. Not only are you about to move out of your home, but you’re starting a new chapter that begins the second your family or friends leave from helping you settle in.

My biggest advice to you? Remain calm the ENTIRE day.

It may be a beautiful moment, but the stress WILL grow after you start feeling the brunt of the day. Not only are you moving and hustling to bring bins into your room during your time slot, but you’re working alongside family and many other anxious incoming students.

So, to condense what could be a long list of rambling and unnecessary tips, here are 3 top things to keep in mind when you move:

1. Always ask for a trolley or large moving bin. Most dorm halls provide some type of assistance for movers and will make sure they have enough so everyone can get the help they need.
2. Move your large items and bins in first, then leave someone (if you have multiple people helping) inside the room to start unpacking. You would be surprised how much quicker things come together if two people (or more) are moving and one or two are organizing. (Maybe those Wayfair and Target commercials are possible after all?)
3. If you have a large time slot, TAKE A BREAK. If you’re stuck within two hours to move, make sure to hustle your way through so you can finish as soon as possible. If your slot is 4+ hours, like mine usually were, Go eat or relax. This process will be stressful but one you deserve to remember in a positive light.

stage III: post-move

The largest, and often times most painful, part of the post-move process is organizing. In my last post, 5 Things to do One Week Before Classes, I mentioned how important it is to start organizing as soon as you can.

As you can imagine, the best time to get your life together is BEFORE the real “fun” begins and classes hit full force.

Organizing, decorating, and getting your things in order doesn’t have to be as annoying and time-consuming as you think. If you focus on organizing certain items in their respected area the day of or day after your move, you’ll be in good shape.

related post: College Organization Tips

A few items I've seen and fallen in love with can be found at the usual Home Goods, Target, or Wal-Mart. Although Target always showcases their gorgeous office decor year-round, the best dorm room pieces are reasonably priced during the back-to-school season (July-September).

That means you need to buy up the store NOW. (Just kidding, my fellow shopaholics. Now is the time to start budgeting if you haven't already).

Just because I love seeing what people shop for during times like these, here's a slider with my go-to college purchases!