Community College Dorms vs Living at Home in College

Although the majority of community college students won't have to worry about dorm living for at least a couple more years (until they transfer to a 4-year college or university), that doesn't mean that they won't face any storage issues in their current living situation.

And in case you're wondering - do any community colleges have dorms? 

The answer is yes. There are a number of community colleges with housing that offer community college dorms for college dorm living.

But is it really worth it?

Unless you're living in community colleges with housing, most student will make the smart decision to live at home while in college, certainly during their 2 year college experience, and continue to enjoy the spacious homes their parents have afforded them.

But others will gather a collective of friends that are looking to leave the confining limitations of living with mom and dad to rent a house or apartment near campus.

(Personally, I don't agree with this if you're serious about becoming a top student and transferring to top universities)

Either way, storage may be just as much of a problem as it is for the average dorm dweller, thanks to the impact of having to share a small space with family or several other students.

So here are just a few storage options that could help to reduce clutter and keep even a small apartment neat and tidy.

Storage Options For Community College Students

Bins. You might not be able to afford high-end cabinets, bureaus, and shelving units to keep your stuff in order, but nearly every college student can set up a system of bins to help them organize their clothing, books, and media collection. You can often find open or lidded plastic bins on the cheap at discount warehouse stores like Target and Walmart. But you may also be able to pick some up for even less at yard sales if you're willing to take the time to look. Ordering online may also be a way to save on these handy organizational storage tools. And don't forget that aside from stacking bins in closets you can also slide them under beds, bureaus, and other furniture with adequate clearance.

Shelving. You may not realize it, but you'll find all kinds of useable space overhead. When the floor space has been stuffed to the gills by cabinets and other furnishings, implement vertical storage solutions. By adding shelves or cabinets you can vastly increase your storage space for all kinds of stuff; not just books, CDs, and DVDs, but also bins containing everything from your school papers to your tax returns. You can even get some pretty baskets to house your t-shirts, jeans, and unmentionables if you've run out of closet space.

Vacuum seal bags. This clever technology provides for a space-saving miracle, especially for people who tend to collect linens and other plush items. Whether you're looking to store your winter or summer clothes in the off season, you have lots of extra quilts and pillows, or you're carting around an enormous collection of stuffed animals that you're just not ready to part with, vacuum seal bags can shrink them down to a fraction of the size for easy and compact storage with no dusting required.

Outdoor storage. You don't have to read storage shed reviews to know that these easy-to-erect structures are a great way to store rarely used items. If you have a yard or patio space it's simple enough to install a shed to house items that you don't necessarily want in your living space, such as tools, machinery, and automotive fluids (for example). The best part is that most storage sheds are also easy to dismantle and take to your next place of residence.

Storage unit. This is a last resort for most students due to the cost, but if you have an item like a non-op car that you don't want to park on the street or nice furniture that won't fit into your current cubby of an apartment, this might be a good way to keep them tucked away for the next couple of years.