Dorm rooms are notorious for being small with very little storage space. With two people living in one room, it can be a struggle to find enough room for all the necessities that come with living on your own.

Here are eight ways to open up some much-needed space:

1. Plastic drawers

This may seem like a no-brainer, but many people just don’t realize those plastic drawers you can buy at Wal-Mart really open up space in any dorm room. The nice thing about the plastic drawers is they can fit almost anywhere.

If you have extra closet space, you can find a set of plastic drawers to fit in there. Lofted your bed? Plastic drawers are great to stick under the bedframe for clothing, school supplies or spare blankets.

They are available in a variety of sizes to fit all your storage needs.

2. Over-the-door shoe racks

The over-the-door rack was a great invention. While the original idea was for shoes, the small fabric pouches are suitable for almost anything. They are the perfect size for shampoo bottles, curling irons and any extra pens and pencils lying around.

On the back of a closet door, dorm room or bathroom door, these racks save a lot of space for everyday living.

3. File holders

File holders can be placed on desks, dressers or any flat space available. While they can be used for notebooks, folders and school books too, they are also great for standing up curling irons, hair straighteners and snacks. Multiple file holders can stand next to each other in a small space.

4. Storage tubs

Storage tubs are used a lot during the moving process. They’re easy to pack, load and unload. Think about keeping a storage tub or two after the moving process for all the extras you don’t need on a daily basis.

These are good for extra blankets, extra sheets, out of season clothing and even old or new school supplies that are not being used during the current semester.

5. Shower totes

When sharing bathrooms with large groups of people, it’s always nice to be efficient. Shower totes are a great way to move shampoo, conditioner, body wash, razors, toothbrushes and any other bathroom necessity without all the hassle. They come in a variety of colors and different styles to suit individual needs.

6. Command hooks

Command hooks are helpful when hanging pictures and pin boards, but they are also useful for jewelry, toothbrushes, towels and more.

Cheap and easy to use, command hooks are a great option for dorm rooms because they don’t damage walls. If you have a lot of jewelry, command hooks are a great way to hang necklaces and bracelets without having to devote space to a jewelry box.

7. Shower curtain rings

This may seem a little unorthodox, but shower curtain rings are helpful in hanging clothing as well as shower curtains. Just clip rings to a hanger and you have a new storage option. Hang scarves, tank tops and baseball hats this way as a way to save space.

8. Closet organizers

There are several different types of organizers that can be hung in a closet. Some are cloth, some are plastic, but they are all helpful when trying to save space. These can be used for extra clothing; however, they’re also great for notebooks, books, movies and other miscellaneous items that don’t have a place anywhere else. Some even fit small storage bins in them, allowing for smaller items to be stored safely.

All of these are great options to open up and utilize space in a dorm room without breaking the bank.