Living in a tiny dorm with a roommate (often with no kitchen, air conditioning, private bathroom, or other amenities) can be hard to navigate and prepare for. It’s difficult to know what’s important and what’s not, especially when you can’t afford to overpack or underpack and leave something out.
Many existing college dorm checklists are helpful, but sometimes include unnecessary items or lack things that are incredibly useful for dorm-style living. Let’s talk about what you really need, and what you definitely don’t…
What You Do NEed
Here are 20 things you absolutely need — some of which you may have not even thought of before! Of course, there are smaller or personal items you may also need in your dorm. But these 20 items will certainly maximize your dorm-style living and be of great use to you.
1. Shower Caddy, Shower Shoes, and a robe
Frankly, communal bathrooms suck. But, there are some items you can get to make your bathroom experience at college easier! First, a shower caddy. Shower caddies are extremely useful for carrying all of your toiletries to the bathroom when you need to shower. You’ll also need a pair of shower shoes to avoid the shared shower floor. Last but not least, I recommend a cozy robe. Bringing a robe can help you avoid wearing just a towel down the hall, wet and cold after your shower. Plus, it doubles as something to keep you warm in your dorm!
Check out this shower caddy, these shower slides, and this comfy robe from Amazon.
2. A Quality Vacuum and Other Cleaning Supplies
In my opinion, a good vacuum is one of the few items you need to splurge on for dorm-style living. Trust me when I say dorm rooms collect dust FAST. Every time you walk into your room, you’re tracking in dirt on your shoes from all over campus. A good vacuum is necessary to really pick up all this dirt, especially if you’re someone with allergies. This Shark vacuum is a great investment and will be perfect for your dorm as well as the apartments or houses you live in afterward.
You’ll also need some cleaning supplies such as Clorox Wipes, a Swiffer WetJet, and a Swiffer Duster. These are great for keeping your small space spotless.
3. Plastic Drawers, Rolling Carts, and Other Storage
The provided dressers and closets most dorms have simply do not hold enough. Some great additional storage units include these plastic drawers and 3-tiered rolling carts from Target, as well as this storage ottoman from Amazon. I use the tiered cart for my snacks and the drawers for some extra clothes. Plus, these can double as nightstands to keep next to your bed or other surfaces to put things on top of.
4. A ComFy Place to Sit
The provided desk chairs are incredibly uncomfortable, and I personally don’t like doing homework in bed. So, my roommate and I got a Yogibo bean bag for our room, but there are many smaller and cheaper alternatives. For example, this plush foldable saucer chair from Walmart. This is a great way to sit down, relax, and study for long periods of time in a comfortable space in your room.
5. BEdding Suitable for All Temperatures & BedSheet Suspenders
Depending on where you live, the summer can be really hot, and the winter can be really cold in dorms. I suggest having layers of bedding so you can adjust to the temperature, and sleep comfortably at night. Have a thicker comforter for the winter and a thin, cool, blanket for the summer. I also recommend bedsheet suspenders from Amazon. These will help keep your sheets on over your Twin XL mattress!
6. Makeup/Product ORganizers
The surface of your desk is small and most dorm rooms do not come with built-in shelves. So, you’ll need a makeup and product organizer to keep it all in one neat place! I use this stackable organizer from Amazon to hold all my makeup, skincare, nail polish, and much more.
7. Minimal (But Cute) Decor
Four plain white walls and a tile floor are not very homey. So, you can definitely dress up your space a little with some decor that doesn’t take up too much room. For example, this colorful rug from Amazon and some printed posters or pictures of your friends and family!
8. So… Much… Medicine…
Sickness spreads extremely easily on college campuses, so it’s important to have medicine in your dorm. For example, cold/flu medicine, cough suppressant, pain relievers, and more.
9. One Professional Outfit
From interviews for jobs and internships to career fairs, you’ll need a business casual or professional outfit at some point. For example, a pair of dress pants and a blazer from TJ Maxx.
10. Warmer, Dimmer Lighting
Dorm lights tend to be bright, white, and harsh. Some additional warm and dim lighting can help cozy up your room. For example, this desk lamp with color and brightness options from Walmart or these fairy lights from Amazon.
11. A Really Strong Fan
As I mentioned, many dorm buildings do not have air conditioning. During that incredibly hot first month of the fall semester, it is absolutely crucial to have a strong fan. This WOOZOO fan has amazing reviews, and I can attest to its strength.
12. Outlet Power Strips & Long Chargers
Most college dorms only have a few outlets, so you really have to make do. Power strips with multiple outlets (surge protected!) and long chargers, like these ones from Amazon, can help you plug in more of your electronics and allow you to charge your phone from anywhere in the room.
13. Full-Length Mirror
My dorm room came with an oddly shaped mirror placed halfway up the wall, where I can only see my torso and above. Many of my friends didn’t get a mirror at all. So, it’s a good idea to have a full-length mirror for all your fit checks. Check out this affordable full-length mirror from Target, perfect for a dorm room.
14. Mattress Topper
The provided mattresses in college dorms are typically uncomfortable. Mattress toppers, like this one from Amazon, are a great solution. Mine made my bed at college even cozier than my bed at home!
15. Air Purifier & Home FRAGRANCE Products
Dorm rooms can get muggy and smelly. After my roommate and I started using an air purifier, we noticed a huge difference in the air quality in our room. Check out this air purifier on Amazon. To ease the smell, we use Febreze spray and an oil diffuser, also from Amazon.
16. Command Hooks & STrips
Command hooks and strips are an absolute lifesaver. The hooks can be used to hold hats, belts, bags, coats, and so much more. Try the heavy-duty versions for heavier items. The more storage on the wall in a small space, the better. Command hooks and strips can be found at Target.
17. Microwave & Fridge
A small fridge is perfect to keep any refrigerated snacks or drinks in your dorm. You can use a small microwave for lots of dorm snacks including popcorn, ramen, or any reheated food in general. Check out this fridge and microwave from Target.
18. Keurig
If you like coffee and tea like me, a mini Keurig like this one from Target is great for making hot drinks in your dorm. I recommend these mocha latte K-Cup sets, also from Target.
19. Laundry Basket & Laundry Supplies
Laundry in college is a different experience, too. You’ll need a laundry bag you can carry to the laundry room, such as this rolling hamper from Amazon. I recommend getting traditional liquid laundry detergent, dryer sheets, and a scent booster (Target) rather than Tide Pods. Sometimes the washing machines at college are old and cannot break the Tide Pods down properly.
20. BRita
Last but not least: a water pitcher with a filter such as this Brita from Target. Not all dorms have a filtered drinking water station, and these filtered pitchers will do the job for you! Now you can refill your water bottle, your Keurig, or whatever else within the comfort of your own dorm.
What You Don’t Need
Here are 10 things you might think you need, but you probably don’t! If you’re careful, you can avoid overpacking and having a crammed room by passing on some of these items.
1. An Insane Amount of Clothes
I promise you need less clothing than you think you do. At college, you’re mostly just going to class, the library, or out to the bar or frat parties on the weekends. Your best bet is to stick to the basics and opt for layering in your outfits. Plus, when you go home for breaks, you can swap out clothes for the seasons accordingly. Too much clothing just causes a mess in your dorm room.
2. A Printer
A lot of people will tell you that you need a printer in your dorm room, but, needing to print is rare enough as it is. If you do need to print, campus libraries tend to offer printing services at a very low cost. A printer will just take up space you don’t have, and be a waste of money in an already expensive process.
3. Throw Pillows
Trust me, I know throw pillows are cute and cozy. But you will just end up throwing them on the floor or shoving them in a corner. Your Twin XL bed is too small for anything other than your one sleeping pillow and one sham pillow to match your bedding.
4. An Iron and Ironing Board
I have never used or needed an iron or ironing board. Again, these items will just take up space you don’t have. Instead, try a wrinkle-release spray like this one from Target.
5. Luggage
There is no room for suitcases or other luggage which cannot be condensed. When you need to transport a bunch of clothes, try these collapsable IKEA bags. These are amazing for move-in and move-out, or for taking home clothes on winter break. They hold way more than you think, and they’ll take up much less space than a suitcase would.
6. BUlk Supplies or snacks
You don’t need to buy and store supplies and snacks to last you from September till May. Buy a little at a time, and restock over break or at the grocery store near your school.
7. Too Many Sheets or Towels
You truly only need one set of sheets and one towel. When you wash and dry them, just put them back on your bed. Communal laundry makes it so you can’t leave things sitting in the laundry room overnight, anyway. Save room and avoid duplicates.
8. Miscellaneous School Supplies
Most of my notes and my work is done on my laptop. Besides, most professors exclusively assign work online these days. One notebook and one folder have lasted me the year for anything I needed to do on paper. Skip the binders and excessive notebooks! Opt for online versions of textbooks and use the website notion instead of a physical planner to save even more space.
9. Nothing too pricy, and nothing too poor in quality
Shopping to move into a dorm can be very expensive, so avoid websites that overcharge. For instance, Dormify has cute items, but many of them cost significantly more than they would on Amazon, Ikea, or Target. Plus, many stores like Target offer student discounts during the summer that will make your expenses more affordable.
With that being said, make sure your items are good enough in quality to last the years you’ll be living in dorms to avoid paying for things twice. Always check the reviews.
10. Any Duplicates of Shareable Items
Communicate with your roommate! You can significantly reduce the cost of dorm living if you plan accordingly and share items. For instance, one roommate can buy the rug while the other buys the vacuum. One can buy the fridge while the other buys the microwave. Besides, having duplicates of items just takes up space that can be replaced by useful items.
Conclusion
The stress of shopping for college move-in is stressful, but keeping these “‘Do’s” and “Don’ts” in mind can be incredibly useful! You’ll quickly learn what’s best for you while you’re at school, and you can always order anything you don’t have. Planning ahead and making a unique packing list based on your own needs and what your specific dorm assignment does and doesn’t have is a really smart way to reduce the stress of this process.
