Give coeds (and anyone living in a small space) a break with these dorm room ideas to help with sharing and organizing cramped spaces. Dorm Room Space Savers - Tips to make the most out of your small space

Paring down a lifetime of belongings to just the bare necessities is tough, especially if you go far enough away that going back to your parent’s house to trade out seasonal items several times a year isn’t an option. But since nothing makes space like a Ziploc^® Space Bag^®, we love the idea of using one to tuck away not-yet-needed winter bedding at the beginning of the school year. Bagging between seasons

Simply gather and fold your bulky winter items into an Extra Large Ziploc^® Space Bag^®, then put the hose of a vacuum on the valve and let ‘er rip! The vacuum suctions all the air out, leaving you with your bulky items compacted. Slide the Space Bag^® into any narrow place to keep it out of sight, yet within arms reach for winter.

Arguably the most challenging part of living with roommates? Food swipers. You know the type. Thankfully, the different colored tabs on Ziploc bags make it easy to keep track of what belongs to whom, and encourages preparing food and eating at home! (Which may mean fewer calls home asking for money?) Just designate a different colored Ziploc^® bag tab for each roommate. Moving forward, each member of the household can’t pretend they forgot what’s theirs to eat (or throw out!), and what’s off limits. Color coded refrigeration

Sure, dorm rooms don’t come with spacious backyards, but that doesn't mean you can’t make space for some greenery. House plants are known for purifying indoor air and sharpening mental focus—which is extra helpful during those late-night study sessions. No fancy pots are needed—creating a Ziploc^® container planter is a breeze.

Since the number one rule of indoor planting is to allow the soil to drain completely between waterings, simply flip over the container, and use a sharp knife or scissors to puncture several holes through the plastic. Then loosely fill the bottom of the container with potting soil, and carefully insert your plant. Top off with more potting soil, then set the Ziploc^® container on top of its matching lid to act as a water catcher.

Breathe in some brightness with plants

It’s true that a lot of mail doesn’t come via regular old “snail mail” anymore—but some still does (Hi check from grandma!), and so does important mail that looks like junk mail (and vice versa). So prevent any mix-ups—or missed payments—with this handy DIY mail organizer that helps your college kid and his roomies streamline incoming and outgoing mail. Just say no to mail mix-ups and messes

First, use permanent ink to write the name of each dorm-mate on the tabs of Ziploc^® brand bags. Then cut heavy weight cardstock to fit neatly inside each one, so the bags will stand upright. File the bags into a basket or container, set it all by the front door, and let the organizer work its magic helping your kids sort tuition bills from birthday cards. Put envelopes, stamps and pens inside, so they’ll have everything they need to keep their mail under control.