When I’d moved into my Dorm room, I was missing about half the things I needed. I had to walk back from the common bathroom to my Dorm room in my gym shoes. Wet Gym Shoes.
Let me just tell you that it was not a good experience at all. I had to borrow all the stuff I didn’t bring from my roommates and that was totally awkward. And I don’t want anyone else experiencing that.
So here I am, making a huge list of all the dorm essentials. Being a college senior, I know what exactly you’ll be using and what you don’t really need.
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I have listed all the products below that are absolute essentials for CollegeDorm survival.
I. Mattress Topper
The mattresses that you get in the dorm rooms aren’t very comfortable and can give you back pain.
But buying a whole new mattress would be a bad idea because they are either too heavy or just too big to be carried around. And keep in mind that the things you buy should last you for a couple of years.
So I suggest you buy a mattress topper instead
This is the mattress topper that I have been using for a very long time. It’s just ideal. Did I mention the fact that it is super-soft like a baby’s bottom? I know it’s creepy but I used to spend a very long time caressing my mattress topper.
2. Duvet Covers
Duvet covers will make or break your dorm room look. Since the bed is going to be the biggest piece of furniture, it’s going to attract the most attention. If you have a specific theme in mind, I would suggest you go for plain patterned duvet sheets with a hint of color so that the duvet cover would blend in nicely with the rest of your room.
I honestly prefer the white duvet cover since you can bleach it, LIKE A LOT, and get rid of all the marks.
The best part about all these duvet covers is that they come in a ton of colors, So if you happen to fall in love with the pattern and not the color. Don’t fret! They are all available in different colors and that is just a win-win for me. And all of them come in different sizes. I’d suggest you get the Twin XL size. And almost all the duvet covers except for the blue-colored one(the bottom one in the middle) are below $50.
But If you don’t have any theme in mind and you just want a nice looking fancy duvet cover, these will suffice, I have surfed through amazon for a whole lot of time and found these. Also, they have the best reviews.
And like I said before, make sure that you absolutely love your duvet covers before you purchase them, because you are going to spend a very long time with them.
3. Waterproof Mattress Protector
For anyone out there who thinks it’s unnecessary to buy this, I am just going to stop you there. Let me give you an image. Your dorm mattress is past its prime age and has had many things happen on top of it.
We don’t know what fluids have spilled on it and seeped through. I am leaving the rest to your imagination. We don’t want our mattress toppers and duvet covers to come in contact with our dorm mattress.
This is where the mattress protector comes into the picture.
Put this in between your mattress and mattress topper. Another plus point of this product is that it prevents any liquids from seeping into your mattress.
4. Pillows and sheets
This one comes with a removable washable cover. And nothing amplifies your sleep satisfaction like a memory foam pillow.
5. But if you hate shopping and prefer black
This set is perfect for a college student, it comes with a comforter, 2-bed sheets, and two pillow covers in a combination of black and grey.
Black is a powerful color and it’s a magnetic color and attracts all the attention. So if it matches your personality, I would say go for it. Although I staunchly support white bedding, the lure of black can’t be denied. Okay, I will shut up now!
Now that we are done with the bedding, let’s move on to another section
6. Shower caddy
If you are a 1 Bath product person, you probably don’t need a shower caddy but if you are like me and prefer having about 7 different bath products, then a shower caddy is an absolute must.
Honestly, you won’t have many options when buying a shower caddy. And I did use both plastic and fabric. I liked the fabric one much better because it hangs more easily.
Regardless of what product you get, just make sure that your shower caddy has a lot of compartments, open ends, and enough space. It needs to store your body wash, shampoo, conditioner, face wash, the occasional face mask/scrub, shaving cream, razors, and a loofah. As I said, I am a 7-bath-products person.
7. Hair wraps, Towel wraps, and Bathrobes
Towel wraps are not an absolute must but they make your life much easier. They don’t tug on your hair like the usual body towels do and dry your hair much faster. They are your friends when you need to get a face mask on.
Now unlike hair wraps, Towel wraps are an absolute must. You would most probably have to walk at least a minute or two from your bathroom to your dorm room and you’d probably face a lot of people in your towel.
You’d want to do that without being scared of your towel coming off. So go ahead and buy these towel wraps. Or the better option is to buy a cozy bathrobe.
8. Shower Shoes and flip-flops
If you’ve read my introduction to the blog post, You’ve already read about my wet gym shoes horror story. So I will not repeat the importance of shower shoes. Get Them.
This is the one area where I can’t choose between the products and declare a clear winner. The shower shoes offer you more grip and help you from slipping down the water. But the flip flops are anti-bacterial and that is something that I cannot just ignore. Make the choice yourself!
9. Toothbrush Covers
It’s a small addition to your shopping list but it is super useful. It comforts me to know that my toothbrush is not soaked in any dirt and has better protection from the outside world. Again, this is not an absolute must but having this makes me feel secure.
10. Poop Pourri
We need to talk. You are going to share your bathroom with someone else. And you don’t want your new roommate to go into the bathroom and smell something funky.
To save you from the embarrassment and her from the horror, we have a miracle product called poop Pourri. Spray it on before you use the washroom and be at peace.
So these are all dorm bathroom essentials that you need to get as soon as possible. Let’s move on to the next section
11. Footlocker Trunk
Footlocker trunks usually end up at the end of your bed. You can use it for storing your belongings securely and using it for extra-seating. This trunk is pretty strong, looks beautiful in a very vintage way, and can last you for decades.
12. Under-bed Storage
The right utilization of space in dorm rooms is everything. You can store things that you occasionally use under the bed since you won’t be taking them out a lot. I store my rain jackets, winter wear, and all my heavy boots under the bed. It’s also a great place to store your previous semester notes or academic-related files that you won’t need every day.
13. Storage Boxes
As I’ve said before, storage boxes are an absolute must when it comes to dorm rooms. You can use them for storing your books, clothes, plastic wear, electronics, blankets and sheets, and basically anything that fits into a box. Just get them and thank me later
As I’ve said before, storage boxes are an absolute must when it comes to dorm rooms. You can use them for storing your books, clothes, plastic wear, electronics, blankets and sheets, and basically anything that fits into a box. Just get them and thank me later!
14. Lingerie organizer
Lingerie is costly. And Precious. But we all go through those moments where we are searching for a very particular piece of lingerie for a special occasion and can’t find it.
This is followed by throwing everything in our closet onto the bed and making a mess of everything. It would probably take you an hour to sort through all of those clothes and find the lingerie piece you were searching for.
Avoid that and buy this lingerie organizer and save yourself some time.
15. Hangers and Hooks
Hooks help you use the often-wasted wall space. In my dorm room, I have adhesive based hooks to hang my keys, coats, and bathrobe. It’s super comfy and keeps my dorm room well-organized. And they don’t damage my walls at all. It’s important to have an assigned place for your everyday use items. Saves you time and keeps you sane.
I have recently become obsessed with these velvet hangers. The hanger tops rotate all the way around and you probably get around 50 of these in a single pack.
I brought these the last year and they are pretty sturdy even now. I am pretty sure I can go for years without buying any more hangers. They don’t crease your clothes and most importantly wide-neck tops don’t slip off these hangers and that means something to me.
And they look super chic. What’s not to love?
16. Alarm Clock
There were many times when I would set my alarm on the phone for the morning and it wouldn’t simply ring because either I didn’t select the proper date or because my phone was in silent mode.
After a lot of ‘rushed mornings’, I finally decided to get an actual alarm clock and it made a huge difference to me. I don’t know how or why, but having an actual clock on my desk makes me feel more responsible for how I spend my time.
This alarm clock below is designed for heavy sleepers(A.K.A college students who sleep like the dead) and comes with the option of a bed shaker. Check this out, it has got a couple of good reviews.
17. Desk Lamps
A desk lamp is for all those times when you need a bit of extra lighting at night to study or complete your assignments. And trust me, you are going to pull a lot of all-nighters in college.
My roommate wasn’t much into late nights and she couldn’t sleep with lights on. So I use my desk lamp to complete my assignments at night.
18. Desk organizer
You need a desk organizer to keep your desk clean and ready to be used. Also being a college student, you would have a lot of stationery, notes, and papers to keep.
This rose gold desk organizer helps you to do exactly that and it looks pretty. Nothing can get better than rose gold. The fact that it looks super chic doesn’t hurt either.
19. Desk Plants
Absolute desk essentials for me: A desk lamp, desk organizer, a clock, and something that makes my desk look pretty and approachable.
You are going to be spending a lot of time at your study desk and sometimes your whole entire night. When you are doing that, you might as well make sure that you are loving your study space.
20. Futon
It’s college. There are going to be a lot of people. If you are ever planning on having people come to your dorm either for studies or partying, a futon is a must.
I brought my futon on a sharing basis with my roommate for about $178 in black.
It’s pretty sleek and functional. Sometimes my friends crash over in this futon when they come over to my room. It’s one of the best purchases I’ve made for my dorm room.
21. Throw Pillows
I use throw pillows for everything. I eat on top of my throw pillows( a bad habit that I can’t quit), to get cozy when am reading my books, and for extra comfort hugging when I sleep.
I have a pastel color theme for my dorm so I usually prefer getting light-colored throw pillows with minimalistic designs. You can get throw pillows on amazon in different patterns.
22. Scarves and Accessories Hanger
I have actually read about them on Bysophialee.com and have been obsessed with these mini hangers for about a month before I actually got them.
These are the prettiest-looking accessories hangers out there on Amazon. And they are always running out of stock. If they are not available, just keep them on your wish list because Amazon keeps restocking them since they are best-sellers.
23. Full-length Wall Mirror
Essential. Essential. Essential.
You will likely be invited to a lot of parties or if you get lucky, to quite a few dates. You need to make sure that you always look your best no matter where you are going.
I used to spend an embarrassing amount of time playing dress-up in my dorm room and checking myself out. Okay. That’s too much information you didn’t ask for.
Not having a mirror in your dorm room is not an option. And having a mirror that occupies space is not practical. This mirror is designed specifically for dorm rooms
24. Sleeping Mask
Eye masks are great for catching up on some sleep between classes and in the afternoons. Say you have got a roommate who wakes up early and switches on the lights, these sleeping masks will make a ton of difference.
They did for me. Since I was always pulling all-nighters to complete my assignments and essays, I had to catch up on some sleep in the afternoon. I used to put my sleeping mask on and sleep blissfully.
I’d suggest you get a silk sleeping mask because the inexpensive ones tend to press into your eyes and give you a dizzy feeling when you wake up.
If you plan on buying a sleeping mask, prefer the silk ones since they won’t press into your eyes and are quite soft.
25. Fan
Dorm rooms usually don’t have any kind of air circulators or fans. In summer, it can get quite hot and sweaty. And not to mention, stuffy! Sleeping in those conditions is simply not possible. You need to have some cool circulation that will prevent your dorm room from getting smelly.
This fan is an absolute life saver. It needs very little space and you can keep it anywhere in your dorm. If I were you, I would keep it opposite my bed so that the air blows into my face and keeps me cool while I sleep
26. Keurig K-classic coffee maker
This Coffee maker was the most prized possession in my freshman year.
For 15 days or so in a month, I would survive on about 4 hours of sleep and this coffee maker got me through those times. Back then I was obsessed with french vanilla K-Pods and I would go through 3 or 4 packs of them in a month( Yes, I was that addicted.)
My Keurig still works in a super condition and still helps me to get through my life.
27. Mini fridge
I used my mini-fridge to store my oat milk, bread, the occasional fruits, salad sauces, my cold brew coffee, and all my precious beauty products.
It was just the perfect size to carry around in my car as well when I used to go out. You can either power up this fridge using a battery or connect it to a wall socket.
It works perfectly either way and makes your life way easier.
28. Laundry Hamper
My biggest suggestion to you is Don’t get hampers that have a top/lid cover.
It’s easier if you can just dump your laundry directly without having the added step of taking out the top lid. I know it seems almost trivial but trust me, It’s the difference between a messy room with used clothes lying around and having a clean organized room.
29. Wash Bags
It’s a simple hack but if you want to wash your delicates, tights, stockings, or anything that needs a gentle hand wash, these mesh bags are a must.
Especially for clothes or delicates, that have Lace. These mesh bags will make sure that your clothing articles remain newer and rip-free.
30. Wrinkle release spray
Downy wrinkle release spray is magic. Nothing less. It’s a magic spray that makes your clothes look well-pressed.
I don’t even know how it works honestly but I cannot get over this product. It’s easy to use, affordable, and makes you look instantly presentable.
31. Lint Rollers
I have a lot of cotton shirts, knitted sweaters and black T-shirts from H&M. And all of them get visibly dirty after a few uses since they collect dust and fur from my friend’s cat(not that I mind since the cat is an absolute angel and lets me pet it ).
So I use these lint rollers on all of my black clothes which make up the majority of my wardrobe and all my cotton shirts as well. It makes them look more fresh and clean.
32. Pen Drives
If you are wondering whether you need to buy them, let me make that clear, You Need A Pen Drive. Preferably a 64 GB one.
Why? To print out your projects, you usually need to get your project files onto the pen drive and go to your printer. And You will have a lot of projects in your college.
33. Power Strip
I had a laptop, Phone, Coffee maker, mini-fridge, and a power bank. And my dorm room had like 2 wall sockets at the bottom corner of my room.
I don’t know why, but dorm rooms have the worst wall socket positions ever. Power sockets have helped a lot in this aspect since I could use and charge my phone and laptop while laying on my bed.
34. Power Bank
For all the times you forget to charge your phone, go on trips, and when wall sockets aren’t available for use.
Power banks are more of a comfort factor for me. I don’t have to constantly worry about my phone dying on me leaving me stranded or lost somewhere. I charge my power bank every other day and toss it into my backpack or handbag and I am good to go.
35. Multiwall USB Adapter
I use this when my friends come over to my room. since 3 of the five sockets, I have on my power strip are almost always occupied. The good thing about this adapter is that you can just connect your USB wire directly.
36. Utensils
Plates, Mugs, Bowls, Spoons, Forks, and knives. If you want to get fancy, get all of them in ceramic. But keep in mind that you’d have to wash them every single time you eat.
So try buying a limited amount of them so that you will wash them every time you have to use them again. That way the dishes won’t pile up.
37. Cooking Wear
I used to set my monthly budget to about $150 dollars for my eating expenses. So eating out every day was not an option for me. So I got into the habit of cooking. They didn’t taste fantastic but they were nutritious. I’d suggest you do the same.
Get on youtube, search for ‘easy college meals’ and you’ll get a lot of options. And this cooking wear set will be enough to get you through your college life.
This cooking set here comes with all the cooking wear a beginner would need (59 Pieces).
38. Stationery Supplies
You’d never know when you’ll need them but you will use all of them constantly throughout your college years. Instead of rushing at the last moment because you don’t have them, Pack them now.
I am personally a fan of the rose gold color set that’s linked below. They are beautiful and work amazingly. The puncher is essential that you will use every other day in college to get your paperwork, notes, and assignments organized.
39. Files and Notebooks
I use different colored notebooks for every subject. I am a huge fan of color coding and I implement it everywhere. It prevents you from picking up the wrong notebook while going to lecture classes and the library. It’s a minor thing but I appreciate it.
40. Student Planner
Success in college is all about being organized, planning, and being prepared. A planner helps you to do all those three things.
41. Travel Mug
I took my travel mug everywhere. To class, library, road trips, friends’ rooms, and bed. Do you get the picture?
I use my Keurig coffee maker to make my french vanilla coffee and pour it into this travel mug and just live my life. Everyone should have a travel mug that they can rely on. Much better if that travel mug has coffee in it. Preferably vanilla flavored.
42. College Backpack
It’s water-resistant, so you don’t have to worry about water seeping through your bag or liquids being spilled on top of it. It’s a super important feature for me.
Also, it comes with a USB charging port. And you can fit multiple books, your laptop, and any other study-related material you want into this backpack. It’s below $35 and lasts you a very long time.
So this post was all about the dorm Room Essentials that you’ll be needing to survive through college.
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