Hi everyone! As school is quickly approaching, I wanted to tell you my 15 Dorm Essentials! I hope this is helpful for anyone who is going away to college for the first time. I lived in the dorms for 3 years as both a freshman and RA. After setting up my own room and doing countless room inspections, I’ve picked up on what makes a great dorm room. All of these items in my collage are pink which isn’t usually my style, but I still thought were cute (my freshman dorm was teal and black and white, but that’s because my mom picked out most of my stuff because I was not excited for college when I was 18). Below I listed and linked what I think you will absolutely need for college (and you won’t want to forget it):
- Cart: I got a teal cart just like this from IKEA my sophomore year when I lived in a single dorm and I’m so glad I did. I have used it as both a nightstand (2 years ago) and a bathroom cart (last year). The fact that it rolls makes for easy transport and I find it can actually hold a lot. While it does take some tools and time to assemble, it is super cheap and comes in a bunch of colors. You can find a similar cart here.
- Jewelry Container: When you’re packing for college, I can’t stress enough to pack a solid jewelry container for storage. I like this one because you can still see everything in there, but right now I’m using an anchor jewelry holder like this.
- Tapestry: Hanging one of these up in your room can really show off your personality and make your bland walls look more colorful. I think the cactus tapestry is really cute but I would also buy any one of these (all for under $100!): 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6
- Monogramed Pillow: I want this pillow so bad! Pottery Barn has adorable monogramed pillows and I know you can find some great ones on Etsy too! This is a great addition to any bedspread if you’re trying to customize your bed and class it up.
- Cozy Blanket: Repeat after me: there is nothing more valuable in college than a nap when you need it most. So it is just as valuable to have a fuzzy blanket on hand for when you need it most. Here are some of my top picks: 1 // 2 // 3
- String Lights: I am a firm believer that hanging string lights in your room will be the best thing you do for your room in college. I hate fluorescent lights so I always hang string lights on the walls of my bedroom and turn them on every night. They are subtle and dim which helps my eyes adjust to darkness right before bed. I’m a huge fan of the contrast between string lights and darkness anyway, so of course I hang them in my room. I usually buy mine from Walmart.
- Mugs: If you have a Keurig or like making tea, mugs are pretty essential but also great for decoration. I can’t start my day without coffee and I’m trying to become more of a tea person at night, so picking out mugs is super fun for me. I love Anthropologie mugs so much, so I totally recommend getting at least one when you go off to college. Here are some of my favorites: 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5
- Shower Caddy: Odds are you will be sharing a bathroom with at least one other person, so you will probably want to conserve the space in the bathroom and keep all of your stuff together. You may not even be able to leave your stuff in the bathroom if you live in a communal or cluster style dorm. Using a shower caddy like this will really make sharing a bathroom easier.
- Hamper: This may seem like commons sense, but a hamper like this is perfect for transporting your dirty laundry to and from the washers. It is compact enough that it can fit inside your closet or in a discreet corner of your room.
- Body Pillow: Usually dorm rooms are organized to make the most space out of a tiny room so your bed will be pushed up against the wall. Use a body pillow to lay against the length of your bed so you and guests can lean against it. I got mine from Target.
- Rug: My freshman year roommate had a white rug and we were always so worried about getting it dirty. Rugs do collect a lot of dust and dirt but can really pull a room together and make you feel more comfortable if you have tile floors. Here are some of my top picks: 1 // 2 // 3
- Picture Frames: If you’re going away from home for the first time, you’re going to miss your friends and family. I was not excited to go away to college my freshman year, so I hardly brought any decorations or pictures. Once I fell in love with my school, I started hanging more pictures everywhere to make my room feel more like my own, and more permanent.
- Canvases: Painting your own canvases can really get you excited for school and your room. Personally, I am very crafty so I like painting and finding cute designs on Pinterest. Feel free to buy a canvas if you want but you can get all of the supplies for painting your own canvases at Michael’s.
- Plastic Drawers: They may not look the best, but I promise that you will need them. Whether its for your closet, school supplies or snacks, they really come in handy. You can find them at Target or Walmart.
- Ottoman: At my school, the beds are usually lifted pretty high to fit a dresser underneath. So jumping up on your bed can be a challenge: hence the ottoman. My friends and I would always use them as a step up to climb on our beds, but they also make for additional seating and storage. 10/10 would recommend packing one for college. 1 // 2 // 3
Here are the Polyvore links to the exact objects featured in the main picture:
kohls.com
target.com
nordstrom.com
anthropologie.com
amazon.com
nordstrom.com
pbteen.com
c21stores.com
oliverbonas.com
$32 – very.co.uk
$4.70 – newchic.com
amazon.com
bedbathandbeyond.com
Hope you found this helpful! Comment below if you think I forgot anything or mentioned one of your favorite dorm essentials!
Thanks for reading!