I swore by these 9 dorm room organizing essentials when I was a student – they got me through my entire course

You will find them on every dorm room organizing and packing list on the internet, but for good reason. Vacuum storage bags are a lifesaver when you are trying to bring your entire closet with you to campus. I used vacuum bags like these both when packing to move and to store bedding and clothing I wasn't using while I was living away from home. I still have the same bags that I use around my home today, two years after graduating.

I was guilty of trying to bring every item in my closet with me to college, which meant I had to find some smart closet storage tricks to fit everything in. One of my favorites was using these multi-hangers to keep several of the same items together in one place.

Drying laundry at college can be expensive and takes a lot of time, especially if all the dryers are full. Given there are several benefits to air drying laundry, I like to keep a folding drying rack in my room to dry clothes more quickly without the risk of items going missing.

In small, often cramped dorm rooms, under-bed storage is a must. Under-bed storage bags are the easiest way to do this, helping to keep everything from reading supplies to bed linens tucked away and free from debris and pests.

One of the best small dorm room storage tricks is to use the space on your walls. Not only does it make more storage space, but it helps to brighten the space up and make it feel more like home. Command strips are my favorite for this, helping to hold and stow items without leaving any damage behind.

Doing laundry is one of the least exciting parts of moving away from home, but it is essential nonetheless. I liked to make it easier by using a pre-separated laundry hamper with removable laundry bags. This way I didn't have to think about how to separate laundry when the time came, and I could easily transport the whole bag in one go without dropping socks on the hallway floors.

You can't organize a space without the best storage baskets, especially if you want aesthetic organizing tricks to make your dorm room look nice. Nesting baskets are a great choice as you can easily stow them away when they are not in use. I loved to use them for everything from paper clutter to underwear to keep my college room neat.

The desk in your dorm room has to serve several purposes. Not only is it a place to work, but it is a place to get ready in the morning, and even eat when you are in deadline season. For that reason, you need to be smart with your desk organizers. This option from Amazon gives you open space to store your stationery essentials while also giving closed-door storage for your skincare, fragrances, or even secret study snacks.

The drawers in dorms are all a standard size, but that doesn't mean they are a one-size-fits-all solution. Investing in some sturdy drawer organizers will help you to make the most out of the limited storage provided, helping you to split up your stationery and chargers from your clothes and socks. I use a smart tip to measure for drawer organizers before buying to make sure everything fits and nothing is wasted.