Where Do You Put Everything After the Kids Go Back to College?

The kids are back at college, the house is finally quiet, and you might be looking forward to having a little more space at home. Then you walk into the guest room, garage, or basement and realize something: your college student may have gone back to school, but their stuff is still here.

Between summer clothes, dorm furniture, bicycles, storage bins, kitchen supplies, sports equipment, and the random collection of belongings they’ve accumulated over the years, it can feel like your home has become their second storage unit.

For many families, September is the perfect time to figure out what actually needs to stay at home and what can be stored until it’s needed again.

College Students Accumulate More Than You Think

When a student first leaves for college, it may seem like they’ll only need a few boxes. A couple of semesters later, those few boxes can turn into an entire room.

Dorm décor, extra clothing, furniture, textbooks, appliances, seasonal items, and personal belongings can quickly add up. And because many students don’t have enough room in their dorm or apartment to keep everything year-round, those items often end up back at their parents’ house.

That can make sense temporarily, but over time, it can leave parents with closets, bedrooms, basements, and garages that are no longer usable for their original purpose.

Your Guest Room Doesn’t Have to Become a Storage Room

For many parents, the guest room becomes the easiest place to put everything a student brings home. Boxes get stacked in the corner, furniture gets pushed against the wall, and eventually there’s barely enough room for an overnight guest.

If your student won’t need those belongings for several months, keeping everything in the guest room may not be the most practical use of the space.

A storage unit can give those belongings their own designated space while allowing you to reclaim the room for guests, hobbies, a home office, or simply a little more breathing room.

What About the Garage?

The garage is another common landing spot for college belongings. Bikes, mini refrigerators, storage bins, desks, chairs, seasonal clothing, and other items can quickly take over.

The problem is that your garage probably already has a job.

It may need to house your vehicles, lawn equipment, tools, holiday decorations, and outdoor gear. Adding an entire college student’s belongings can make an already crowded space even harder to use.

Moving less frequently used items into storage can help you reclaim your garage without forcing your student to get rid of belongings they’ll eventually need.

Storage Can Make College Transitions Easier

College life doesn’t always follow a predictable schedule. Students may move between dorms, apartments, internships, study-abroad programs, or summer housing. Their storage needs can change from one semester to the next.

A storage unit can make those transitions easier by giving students and families a place to keep belongings between living arrangements.

Instead of moving everything back home every summer or trying to squeeze an entire apartment into a parent’s garage, students can keep certain belongings stored until they’re ready for them again.

A Better Way to Handle the “What Are We Doing With This?” Pile

There’s always going to be that pile of things nobody knows what to do with.

Maybe it’s furniture your student isn’t ready to sell. Maybe it’s a bike they use during the school year. Maybe it’s clothing they don’t need right now but will want when they graduate. Or maybe it’s something sentimental that neither of you is ready to part with.

You don’t necessarily have to make a permanent decision.

Self storage can give families the flexibility to hold onto belongings while they figure out what comes next. That can be especially useful as students move through different stages of college and eventually transition into their first apartment or career.

Give Your Home Some Breathing Room

Sending a child off to college is already a major transition. Your home is changing, your routines are changing, and eventually the way you use your space may change too.

You shouldn’t have to choose between reclaiming your home and keeping the belongings your student still needs.

MyPlace Self Storage offers convenient storage options for families who need additional space during college transitions and beyond. With a variety of unit sizes and amenities available at participating locations, you can find a storage solution that works for the amount and type of belongings you need to store.

Their College Journey Doesn’t Have to Take Over Your Home

Your student may be away at school, but that doesn’t mean their belongings need to occupy an entire room, fill the garage, or take over your basement.

With the right storage solution, you can keep their belongings safe and accessible while getting your own space back.

Ready to reclaim your space after sending your student back to college? MyPlace Self Storage can help you find a convenient storage solution for everything they left behind. Find a MyPlace location near you and make room for what’s next.