Now that you’ve graduated high school and are transitioning to college life, it’s time to start prepping your dorm room essentials checklist. Moving away from home and living alone for your first time is an exciting time in life, but it can also be a stressful and anxious one too. As your first semester of college approaches and you start shopping for your dorm room decor, you can use this checklist as a reminder of must-have college dorm items.
In this article, we’ll give you a checklist of our top 15 dorm room essentials that every college student needs to make their new dorm functional, cozy, and conducive to studying. By the end of this article, you’ll have a clear idea of what dorm room items are necessary to create an organized and welcoming living environment.
15 Dorm Room Essentials
Basic Dorm Room Essentials
Smart TV and Streaming Services
We recommend getting a smart TV for your room so you can stream your favorite shows and networks. If you get a smart TV, you’ll be able to open your favorite apps without needing to get an Amazon Fire TV Stick. You won’t need to get a gigantic flat-screen TV, but we do recommend getting one that is about 40 inches to 55 inches in size. You may want to wait until your move-in day to buy a TV because you’ll want to see how your dorm room is set up.
Even though streaming subscriptions aren’t a necessity, we do recommend purchasing some if you don’t already have them. Netflix, Hulu, Paramount+, YouTube TV and other streaming networks may offer student discounts.
Power Strips and Surge Protectors
Dorm rooms have limited outlets, so you’ll want to make sure to buy a few power strips and surge protectors. We recommend choosing ones with a few plug sockets and buying at least one with USB ports. The USB port ones are great for charging things like your iPhone or Android, Apple Watch and similar devices. You may want to buy an extension cord, just in case, as well.
Desk Lamp
It’s more convenient to study and complete your college work in your dorm than heading out to the computer center on campus. This is why we recommend buying a desk lamp that is bright and has adjustable settings. A good desk lamp will reduce eye strain and can also be used as a nightlight.
Bedding Essentials
Out of all the dorm room essentials on this list, comfortable bedding is a top priority. Most dorm rooms will come with a mattress, but they can be stiff, hard, and less than ideal. To make your dorm bed feel like your bed at home, we recommend buying a mattress topper. You’ll want to make sure to buy a good comforter, sheets, and pillows. You should look to buy twin XL sheets because most dorm beds are longer than a standard twin bed.
Dorm Room Essentials For Cooking and Eating
Mini Fridge
You’ll have to check with your college, but most dorm rooms do not come with a mini fridge. If not, you’ll want to purchase one to store your snacks, drinks, and leftovers. We recommend getting a two-door mini fridge and freezer combo.
Microwave
A microwave is another dorm room essential that sometimes gets overlooked. You’ll want one for making quick and easy meals or reheating leftovers. This will save you time and money too.
You may want to consider buying a combo mini fridge and microwave. Typically, these are less than buying the two separately and can help you save space in your dorm.
Basic Kitchen Supplies and Dinnerware
We recommend getting basic eating utensils, plates, bowls, cups, and mugs. It’s also a good idea to buy plastic food containers so that you can store leftovers in your mini fridge. You’ll want to make sure that these containers, plates, and cups are microwave-safe.
You probably already have an insulated cup like a Stanley or Yeti but if not, we recommend purchasing one. These cups will keep your drinks cold or coffee hot as you walk around campus and attend classes.
Food, Drinks, Snacks
As a college student, you’ll have a meal plan for your on-campus cafeteria and food places. You’ll still want to have plenty of food, snacks, and drinks back at your dorm room for when you’re hanging out or studying. You can save money by buying these in bulk at stores like Costco or Sam’s club.
Dorm Room Essentials For Cleaning and Laundry
Laundry Basket and Supplies
As a college student you will have to do your own laundry. (Yes, this is one of the downsides of moving away and living on your own.) Dorm buildings have washers and dryers in them, but you’ll need to bring your own laundry supplies. You’ll need a laundry basket, laundry detergent, , fabric softener, and other laundry items. We recommend buying a collapsible laundry basket to save space in your room.
Cleaning Supplies
Now that you’re living on your own, keeping your room clean should be a top priority. Cleaning supplies may not be on your dorm room essentials list, but they should be. You should keep cleaning supplies like disinfecting wipes, paper towels, and a scrub brush in your room. We also recommend buying a small vacuum cleaner, mop and broom. As winter approaches, you’ll want to clean and disinfect your dorm room more frequently to prevent catching a cold or the flu.
Dorm Room Essentials For Organizing
Clothing Hangers, Iron, and Closet Organizers
You’ll be living in your dorm room for over half the year, so you’ll have plenty of clothes to organize there. Make sure you bring hangers with you to keep clothes wrinkle-free. You’ll also want to purchase a clothes iron and ironing board so you can keep clothes fresh and crisp.
A hanging closet organizer for clothing accessories and a shoe rack are other dorm room essentials. You will have limited space in your dorm room so closet organization is important.
Storage Bins
We recommend buying several storage bins of different sizes to help optimize room space. You’ll want a few bins that fit underneath your bunkbed or in your closet. Clear bins are great for seeing what’s in them at a glance; we also recommend labeling them.
Desk Organizer
You’ll be sharing a room with a roommate, so you’ll want to keep your desk area organized and clean. Since space will be limited in your dorm, you’ll want to get a desk organizer or two for your school supplies. Chances are that your desk will double as a tabletop most of the time. Look for an organizer that has compartments for pens, notebooks, and other essentials. We also recommend looking at stackable organizers.
Dorm Room Essentials For The Bathroom and Shower
Bathroom Caddy and Toiletries
A bathroom caddy is a very important dorm room essential. Unless you’re living in some sort of college dorm suite or apartment, you’ll probably be using a communal bathroom. A bathroom caddy will make your life much simpler. It can hold all of your bathroom toiletries such as shampoo, conditioner, body wash, razors, toothbrush, and toothpaste. We recommend looking for one that has drainage holes to keep your items dry and a handle for easy carrying.
Shower Shoes
As far as cleanliness is concerned, shower shoes or sandals are very important. Although communal showers are quite safe to use, they can be breeding grounds for germs. A good pair of shower sandals or shoes will help prevent the spread of athlete’s foot and foot fungus, among other things. You’ll want to look for a pair that dries quickly and has an anti-slip sole.
Equipping a dorm room with these dorm room essentials can make a significant difference in your dorm room experience. These college items can help you organize your room and make it more functional. You want to create an environment that is comfortable, entertaining, and conducive to studying. With these 15 dorm room essentials, you can start your college journey on the right foot, ready to tackle academic challenges and enjoy campus life. Now that you have this dorm room essentials checklist, you can enjoy the rest of your summer and relax before move-in day.
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