Avoid Writing a Roommate Horror Story — Organize the Neatnix Way

You’ve heard the horror stories and are hoping your college story won’t become a tale of roommate terror. With Labor Day quickly approaching, you’ll find out soon enough whether you’re in for happiness or horror with your new dorm roommate. Ideally it would be happiness, as many colleges work hard to match your habits with your future roommate’s.

Remember that housing questionnaire and those questions about your sleeping habits and your study habits, your social preferences and your cleanliness preferences? Your answers are supposed to magically match you with your perfect roommate.

But sometimes magic fizzles. You scrub the baseboards with a toothbrush, but your roomie uses the floor as a laundry hamper. She blasts Beyoncé when you’re trying to study. And while you’re busy majoring in a serious career path, she’s majoring in frat boys. You wonder if the matchmaking computer paired you up on Opposite Day.

Even if you and your roommate are polar opposites, don’t worry—college is full of differences. Part of growing up is learning to tolerate those differences and to accept and even appreciate them. Who knows, this might be an opportunity to expand your horizons and develop some beautiful friendships!

To get there, you’ll need to reach inside yourself and find compromise and communication skills you didn’t know you had. The right attitude and a preplanned strategy will make that process much easier with your roommate.

• Reach out in advance. Many colleges provide your roommate’s contact information well before move-in day, so take this opportunity to call your future roomie and get to know her. Find out about her interests and personality, and let her know about yours. This will make your first in-person meeting much less awkward—you might even look forward to it!

• Decide what to bring. You don’t need two mini-fridges or two TVs, so during those first phone calls, divvy up who will bring shared items. The college should supply each of you with a desk, so it’s safe to bring your own computer and school supplies. Of course, you’ll each bring your own personal items. A good organization strategy can help keep those items safe from the “borrow without asking” roommate. From cosmetics organizers to jewelry organizers to school-supply organizers, Neatnix has the solutions to keep your personal items organized and away from prying eyes.

• Communicate. Even if she brought six suitcases, your roommate left her crystal ball at home, so don’t expect her to read your mind. Politely let her know if something is bothering you. If you don’t like her borrowing your clothes, tell her you’d appreciate if she would ask next time. This will help avoid building resentment that could explode in a nasty argument.

• Agree on the rules. Establishing a set of house rules will help avoid misunderstandings down the line. This doesn’t have to be a big ordeal; choose the issues that matter most and decide on boundaries. Cleanliness, overnight guests, and late-night phone calls are all hot topics. Remember to be considerate of each other’s needs and differences, and that compromise is key.

• Accept you don’t have to be besties. Though your roommate will be the first person you meet at college, she may not be your closest friend—and that’s OK. The goal is to live the next nine months in harmony, not pick out wedding dresses together, so don’t feel pressure to start a lifelong friendship. If friendship blossoms, fantastic, and you’ll have a ready-made roommate for next year!

Back to School Checklist: First Apartment ‘Must-Haves’

Lately, we’ve been focusing on dorm life in our back-to-school blog series, but we know many of you are taking that equally important step to move into your first apartment!  That can be an exciting but daunting task, because you’ll need a lot more self-reliance and a lot more “stuff” than ever before, even in the dorms.  For tips on self-reliance, our blog on “Tips for a Trouble-Free Transition” might help.  When you’re set with that, let’s talk “stuff”!

In your first apartment, you’ll have more space than in the dorms, but not much.  Personal space will still be tight, especially if you have multiple roommates.  So that’s one important thing to remember: carefully organize your personal items to make the most of your space (and to keep your private things private).  As for shared space, you’ll have a lot more of that, including a kitchen and bathroom, which need to be stocked with supplies.  And don’t forget—you’re responsible for cleaning up your own common areas, now.  So where to begin with that shopping list?

You’ll remember to buy daily essentials, such as dishes, flatware, bath towels, and bed sheets.  But you may be surprised how many items you’ll overlook until you hit that, “Oh no!  We don’t have that!” moment.  Unfortunately, that moment usually strikes at the worst time, such as cooking dinner and realizing you don’t have a can opener.  To help avoid unpleasant surprises, follow our checklist of commonly forgotten first-apartment must-haves.

Kitchen

• Shelf liners (trust us, your pantry shelves may have permanently caked-on food and other nasties)
• Food storage containers
• Utensil set, including spatula, ladle, slotted spoon, and veggie peeler
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Bottle and can opener

Bedroom

• Drawer organization solutions, including sock organizers, bra organizers and underwear organizers
• Decorative storage boxes and bins
• Extra blanket or throw
• Reading lamp

Bathroom

• Cosmetics organizer, like Cosmetic Stax, also great for organizing other small bathroom products
• Bathtub mat
• Shower curtain (if your shower has a rod instead of doors)
• Toilet brush

Cleaning and Utility

• Stuff Stax stackable organization trays, perfect for storing hard-to-place utility items, such as batteries, zip ties, and nails and screws
• Vacuum
• Step stool
• Extension cord
• Laundry bin

For all your storage solutions—and you’ll need many in your first apartment—check out the tools Neatnix has to offer.  From bathroom to bedroom, we have a solution for every room of the house, and now through the end of August, you can save 20 percent on everything in the store with promo code BACK2SCHOOL.  Hurry—school is just around the corner!

Dorm Space Getting You Down? Go Up!

If you’ve been following our back-to-school blog series, you know that college dorm rooms are not the most spacious living arrangements.  You’ll have to get by on a lot less space than what you’re used to.  But don’t let limited dorm space get you down!  Instead, build up, making use of those bare dorm room walls with creative decoration and storage solutions.

Some dorms have strict rules about wall improvements, such as many dorms don’t allow paint on the walls.  So what if you can’t paint?  You don’t have to suffer drab concrete or plain white walls!  Think outside the paint can with these fun decorating ideas:

• Got concrete?  Use chalk to make fun sayings and drawings on the walls.  It’s colorful and easy to erase with baby wipes, a wet washcloth, or a dry eraser.
• Frames are your friend!  Gather up your favorite family photos, movie posters, postcards, calendar pages, magazine pictures—you name it.  They can all look great on the walls alone or in decorative frames.  For an artsy look, try arranging an eclectic collection of empty frames.
• You’d be amazed what you can peel and stick these days.  To avoid putting holes in the walls, add some personality with peel-and-stick mirrors in fun shapes, such as butterflies, flowers—even skulls.  Removable decals can also add color, whether it’s in one inch or across the whole wall.  And how about a peel-and-stick whiteboard or chalkboard?
• Why stop at the walls when you can go all the way to the ceiling?  For a little pizzazz, string up holiday lights or stick up glow-in-the-dark stars and planets.

Now you have some decoration ideas, how about using the walls to create more storage space?

• Hook racks and grid systems are perfect for storing your treasures on dorm walls.  To keep the walls pristine, mount storage racks with removable, reusable wall hooks.  Wall hooks are also great alone for hanging coats, umbrellas, and backpacks.
• Papers, papers, everywhere?  A hanging wall file can organize papers in a flash and keep them off of desks and out of drawers.
• Certain baskets and stackable bins can be hung on the walls with removable wall hooks.  These are great for organizing school supplies, jewelry, hair accessories, toiletries, and other items.  Try hanging a basket by the door so you’ll always have your “on the go” items at your fingertips, such as your keys, wallet, ID card, and flash drive.
• There’s no more neglected wall space than the corners.  Put this space to work with the Neatnix Corner Shelf Organizer!  This three-tiered shelf features a reversible design to fit any corner of the room, and has plenty of space for books, school supplies, and decorative accents.  The corner shelf is also available in a black or brown finish to complement your unique décor.

What’s better, the Neatnix Corner Shelf Organizer is available at a special price as part of our August back-to-school promotion!  The corner shelf is offered with other popular back-to-school organization items in our savings bundles.  Each bundle is specially designed to offer smart solutions to life’s little dorm room problems.  And what could be better than saving money while you organize?  Check out our Facebook page for details!