When it comes to college living quarters, the use of the word “spacious” is practically nonexistent.

It’s so rare, in fact, that stores have entire lines devoted to dorm room living space, or lack thereof.

With this in mind, here are a few space-saving tricks to help make life a little easier for those struggling with how to fit all their belongings in the 10-by-10 space we call home.

Loft the beds:

Using as much vertical space as possible is key to creating room in a crowded dorm. I mean, what are you going to use that air for anyway? By lofting beds, you open up so much room on the floor for other furniture, like a desk and chair, or a small dresser.

Use ottomans that open up for storage:

Whether you need a spot for socks because your drawers are overloaded, or just a place to put all the extra pencils, computer paper and highlighters, an ottoman is perfect for serving the double purpose of foot rest and junk drawer.

Hang shoe racks on closet doors:

We all know dorm room closets aren’t exactly walk-ins, but there are ways to utilize these tiny compartments and make some lemonade out of, uh, oranges. The shoe rack is the classic, of course. Rather than having shoes spilled all over the floor or the room, save some space by putting them on the door, a space otherwise wasted.

Get over-the-bed shelving:

Although many dorm rooms may not allow you to hammer and nail shelving units in, you can always buy an over-the-bed shelf with legs that reach the floor. This allows you to store anything from books to hats or pictures.

Multipurpose what you already have:

A great way to save space is to get creative by assigning one piece of furniture more than one use. Take the fridge, for example. Why not use it as the base for your TV? This way, you get a two-in-one sort of deal and are applying the vertical space rule.

Use hanging shelves in the closet:

We’ve all seen them, and they work like a charm. Think about all that space underneath hanging clothes that goes to waste. By using hanging shelving, you make full use of every inch between the hanging rack and the floor. Plus, these shelves can store anything from clothes to shoes to books to toiletries.

Limit the amount of clothes:

Do you really need that 10-pound winter coat with you in August? Or that drawer of bikinis in January? One of the simplest ways to make room is pack appropriately and leave certain clothes at home when you know you won’t need them. It may seem small, but it will make a big difference.

Use command hooks:

In many dorms, they won’t allow you to hammer and nail the walls apart. But, you can always buy command hooks, which are made to stick on. These work well in the closet and the room itself for things like coats, book bags and towels. But be warned — make sure to get the appropriate sizes for what you plan to hang. Otherwise they will be dropping like cannons.

Get vertical stacking containers:

These often plastic drawers act like a small portable dresser and work well for storing away anything you can think of. They even come apart so that you can adjust the height, stacking four on top of each other or two and two, your choice.

Well, there you have it — a few easy ways to de-clutter the dorm room and feel like you can breathe a little easier.

Julia is a senior in Media and can be reached at [email protected].