I Sent a Pro Organizer Photos of My Cramped Dorm Food Area — Here’s What She Said to Change

When the dining hall is lacking or I don’t want to trudge across campus for a late-night snack, I rely heavily on my mini fridge and trusty three-tier cart, where I stash everything from snacks to meal essentials. But the limited storage space in my dorm means my makeshift food area is often messy and unmanageable, and even makes me late for class as I look for something to grab and go.  

After returning to campus from my last winter break, I knew it was time to tackle the chaos head-on. I reached out to professional organizer Jean Prominski for tips on how to transform my cramped food storage situation into something efficient and functional. Here’s how her practical advice helped me rethink my dorm organization game.

Those who live in a dorm know that three-tier carts are multipurpose superheroes for small-space living. They can organize everything from skincare and notebooks to groceries and cleaning supplies. I have two in my dorm: a yellow cart where I keep all my snacks and shelf-stable groceries, which I had beside my bed; and a turquoise one that’s cluttered with various inedible items, which was snuggled up against my mini fridge. 

Prominiski recommended swapping the positions of those two carts, so that all my food would be contained in one zone and grabbing something to munch on would be a breeze. It was such a simple tweak, but it’s made a big difference in the flow of my room. 

Dorm rooms often lack shelving, leaving little room for storage. Prominski’s idea to add a freestanding dorm refrigerator shelf would take better advantage of vertical space without taking up extra floor space or having to stick any nails in the walls — which is perfect, since I’m not allowed to install shelves in my dorm. 

I haven’t made the move to invest in one yet, but I can already see how this clever addition would free up the tops of my carts, creating a beautifully tidy and visually appealing setup while providing ample room for snacks and kitchen essentials.

Prominski suggested organizing my snacks by category — one shelf for sweets and another for savory treats. This small but mighty change is already saving me time when I’m in a hurry, allowing me to find my favorite chips or chocolate right when I need them, instead of having to rummage through a haphazard pile.

Instead of letting my bags of chips or snacks lay flat, Prominski advised me to stand them up vertically. This frees up more space in my fridge and on my shelves, plus it makes it easier to see what I have, lowering the odds of losing food in the back and accidentally letting it go bad. 

Similarly, for my freezer, Prominski suggested flipping labels outward and storing flat items, like frozen meals, upright, as if they were books on a shelf. This tactic not only declutters the freezer but also makes it much easier to find what I’m after without having to pull everything out in my cramped dorm.

I always have string cheese on hand to snack on, and Prominski had a fantastic idea for storing it: She recommended taking it out of its main packaging and storing the wrapped sticks upright in an acrylic square container. In fact, she says you can do this with all kinds of packaged foods, like protein bars or individual bags of chips, that are taking up too much space or making a mess in their original packaging. Using organizers keeps them tidy, makes them findable and easy to grab, and creates extra space in your fridge or dorm refrigerator shelf.

One of Prominski’s key tips is to set aside a little time each week — just 10 to 20 minutes — to sort through food, toss out anything expired, and reorganize as needed. I already did this somewhat regularly, but starting the new semester out with this rule top of mind has helped me double down on this simple habit that prevents my fridge from becoming a dumping ground and keeps the mess under control.

When you’re sharing a dorm kitchen, whether with your suitemates or your entire floor, organization and respect are crucial. Prominski suggests making a designated portable kitchen kit (think: a shower caddy but for the kitchen) with things like dish soap, sponges, and dish towels, so you can clean as you go without leaving your cleaning essentials in the shared space. 

Plus, she recommends using painter’s tape to mark food containers with your name and date before putting them in a shared fridge to avoid “whose leftovers are those?” mix-ups and spoilage.

I tend to have cardboard boxes lingering around my room, whether from a 12-pack of soda or a package I ordered, and they often end up clustering around my mini fridge. Prominski encouraged me to declutter my food area by getting rid of items I no longer needed and consolidating wherever possible. Specifically, she suggested breaking down boxes as I empty them, giving me a clearer view of what I have while saving precious space. Recycling those boxes has instantly made my food area feel less cluttered and, even better, made my tiny living space feel notably larger.

Thanks to Prominski’s expert help, I have a roadmap for making my previously chaotic dorm “kitchen” area into a functional and organized space. Whether you’re dealing with an overflowing mini fridge or cluttered rolling carts, remember: A little organization goes a long way in making dorm life more manageable.