Chances are, when you move into a dorm, it's your first time on your own. It can be really exhilarating to shop for homewares and contemplate making your dorm your own, but it can also be overwhelming to a first-timer to know precisely what you'll need. Tack onto that the fact that you're limited to standard-issue furniture, cinder block walls, and a Twin XL, and it can start to feel impossible to make a dorm feel like home. So we've compiled ten essentials that will help you feel prepared and comfortable in your new digs.
1. Bedding: Chances are, your bed is going to be the largest piece of furniture, and since you won't be able to paint, I'd recommend getting a bright comforter or duvet cover as an easy way to add a punch of color or pattern to your space. And since you're stuck with a Twin XL, don't hesitate to avail yourself of all the colorful kids' bedding out there. Just because it's marketed for children doesn't mean that it's immature. Some of my favorites are this otomi-patterned duvet and Faculty Mixer bedding from Land of Nod, the orange geometric comforter from Target, and the Frankie duvet from Serena & Lily.
If you can't find anything you like that's suitable for a Twin XL, you can always move up to full-size bedding. The fitted sheet can sometimes cause problems though, so here are some good Twin XL sheet options: herringbone sheet set, urban ikat organic sheet set, Oxford stripe linens, and 400-thread count Egyptian cotton sheet set.
And finally, I suggest outfitting your bed with more pillows than you normally would. If you have your bed against a wall, you can use all those extra pillows to line the back, making it more like a sofa for when your friends come to hang out. Check Etsy for some great accent pillows, or make your own using punchy fabric and this no-sew pillow method.
2. Rug: Cold linoleum can verge on "institutional" really fast, so adding a rug is a quick way to really soften up your space and give it a more comfortable feel. Even if you don't have the space or money for a large rug, a small 2x3 by your bed will make all the difference. This bathmat is soft and luxurious enough to live in a bedroom as well.
3. Desk lamp: A lamp (or two) will keep you from straining your eyes during those all-night study sessions, and it will also make your place a lot cozier when you want to hang out at home without the harsh glare of fluorescent overhead lighting. This brushed steel droplet lamp is a great option, as is this cheery little yellow lamp.
4. Closet Storage Materials: You'll need some hangers, and I recommend a set of slim-line hangers since you probably won't have a ton of space in your college closet. Other things that can come in handy are jewelry organizers, modular storage cubes, or shoe pockets, but I really recommend waiting to purchase these items until you can see your closet space in person. It's much easier that way to figure out a system that will fit in the space that you have.
5. Kitchen Basics : My mini-fridge was a lifesaver when I was in college. I'd stock up on food during dining hall runs, and then I'd have plenty for times when the dining hall wasn't open or when I was too busy to go. A microwave was the other item that I used almost daily. Aside from that, have a plate or two, a couple of drinking glasses, a set of food storage containers (I love my IKEA Pruta set), and a small set of silverware. Some of my friends kept coffee machines or toasters in their rooms, but I never needed them, so go with what you think you'll be using most often.
6. Towels and Bath Caddy: Communal bathrooms can be a bit of a shock to the system, and while I can't prepare you for the types of weird behaviors you'll probably encounter, you can be prepared item-wise if you have a couple of towels (I like these soft, quick-drying towels), a bath caddy to tote your toiletries back and forth for showers, and depending on how (un)tidy your dorm-mates are, a pair of flip flops to wear while showering. The last item may sound alarmist, but trust me, there were some days that I was glad to not be stepping in the hair and grime of ten other girls.
7. Laundry Bag: I really like this canvas duffle bag's classic look and easy-to-carry design. Another good option is this pop-up hamper that has side pockets to carry your detergent and laundry sheets.
8. Cleaning Supplies: The bright side of a small space is that you won't have need for a lot of cleaning supplies. A Swiffer, broom, or mini stick vacuum should do the trick. And keep some disinfecting wipes, dust cloths, and magic erasers around for some quick tidying. As an added treat, I kept a bottle of this linen spray around, which doubled as an air freshener and kept things smelling clean.
9. Fan: This will depend on where you go to school obviously, but as a college student living in a dorm without air conditioning, you could barely pry me away from my clip-fan.
10. Artwork: This is where your space can really, truly become your own. Forgo the stereotypical college posters and start your own collection of art. There are some really affordable options on Etsy. Right now I'm loving the work of Vivienne Strauss, Clare Elsaesser, and, for a bit of fun, Angela Rossi. You may not be able to use nails or screws if you have cinder-block walls like I did, but Command strips or hooks are generally sufficient enough to support the weight of a basic frame. Frames will really elevate the look of your room, taking it from traditional college to homey chic.
(Images: 1a. & 1b. Land of Nod, 1c. Target, 1d. PB Teen, 2. Anthropologie, 3. Lamps Plus, 4. Amazon, 5. Ikea, 6. JC Penney, 7. Amazon, 8. Amazon, 9. Amazon, 10a. Clare Elsaesser, 10b. Angela Rossi)
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The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
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Shaw's Original Fir...
How To Make Perfect Bacon in the Oven
How To Cook Tender, Chewy Wheat Berries on the Stovetop
aww the herringbone sheet set from Target already appears to be gone :'(
One hates to bring the tone down, but my one piece of advice for freshers is to up-size your bedding. Good for movie nights, cold nights, and 'sharing' nights.
I think a electric kettle would be a good add too, for oatmeal or instant grits or hot chocolate. For a rug, we actually went to a carpet store and bought a large remnant. It wasn't bound on the edge but we cut it to fit the room and it was cheaper than a rug. I just tossed it after that year. Don't forget to get at least 2 - 4 stackable, non-breakable plates, glasses and silverware for in-room dining. My freshman year roommate and I also coordinated our colors so our room looked good. I had pink and white bedding and she had pink and black. We couldn't nail into the walls so we used the sticky hooks for hanging stuff.
I have that print of the girl in the ocean and I cannot express just how beautiful it really is in person.
rubber flip-flops in the shower? not alarmist. completely normal and smart. forget hair and grime - fungi, people. i showered in a dorm from age 14-22, and i wore flip-flops every one of those years because I SAW WHAT HAPPENED TO PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T.
Great list! :-)
I've lived in dorms and on-campus apartments ever since starting my undergrad in 2006. Residence isn't for everyone, but those who love it love it ... I'm a PhD student now, and the thought of leaving is a bit of a nightmare. It's so much easier living on campus when you're holding weird laboratory hours, and my university's cafeteria is simply AMAZING!
A couple comments on the list ...
1) Desk Lamp - in my experience, most rooms come with desk lamps, so it's not absolutely necessary. That said, many dorms are older, and lighting is not always fantastic - wait until you get into your room, get settled, and then decide whether or not you want another lamp.
2) Kitchens - All my dorms have had a kitchen for general use. While I would recommend a little beer fridge (just enough to keep milk, yoghurt, and booze in), you /should/ have access to a microwave through the Common Room. Again: don't buy anything until you arrive and see what's already there.
3) Bathrooms - sometimes they're great, sometimes they're horrible! Either way, pack a pair of shower sandals (flip-flops) and a housecoat for going back-and-forth from your room to the shower. A bath caddy will, literally, save your life!
4) Cleaning supplies - again, things like a vacuum and basic broom set /should/ be supplied by residence, and available in the Common Room. Some rags and a bottle of Vim will go a long way; don't worry about any fancy cleaning supplies.
5) Artwork - agreed! You can really have fun and spiff-up your room! (Or your laboratory!) Don't forget pictures of your family/friends ... being homesick is to expected, and it's always nice to have a picture of grandma/grandpa on the desk :-)
My room essentials:
- A tea kettle and a big, cozy pottery mug
- A rack for drying clothes on -- saves you laundry money!
- A folding camp chair - more comfortable for watching movies in, and good for company
- A sleeping bag, just in case you have guests
- Slippers
- A houseplant -- every room should have something alive in it! (Your zombie-like roomie doesn't count!)
Great post! First-year students will probably have meal plans at most colleges, but as an upperclassman I added a can opener, frying pan, saucepan, and pancake turner to my kitchen arsenal.
I agree with @enialedam about adding a rack for drying clothes-- it'll save money and energy, and help your clothes last longer.
Beyond the stuff that a woman may love in the kitchen and on the walls, I would suggest cord wrappers for all that computer stuff that litters the desks and a giant laundry hamper and waste basket that picks up clothes/garbarge too. :)
b
PS If you have an older family member moving into a smaller space, the college dorm room practical items are just wonderful.
http://www.retireinstyleblog.com
At the beginning of each year at my college, there'd be temporary on-campus tent stores for posters and rugs. I think the "rugs" were large remnants of industrial carpeting. They were perfect for dorms.
Ditto to SHOEDAYDREAMS' kettle suggestion. Most of us start out in rooms without their own kitchen, and I think that microwaves are usually banned from individual rooms for fire safety. Having a hot pot (and small cutting board and knife) allowed me to enjoy ramen noodles at all hours in the comfort of my own tiny room.
My freshman year room was so small that the only seating was our two desk chairs (our beds were lofted), so we kept a couple of collapsable tailgate chairs in our closet. I think our friends actually enjoyed having a chair with a cupholder when they came over.
My 17 year old son is going to boarding school, he'll have his own room with bed, wardrobe, desk & sink, communal showers & toilets. They have a lounge area with a kitchen. Thanks for the great tips here, like showering with flip flops. I never had that problem in my student years, but I guess times have changed.
Re: #8 "linen spray"
A better/cheaper version....fill a clean spray bottle halfway with the most inexpensive vodka you can find, usually on the literal bottom shelf. Fill the rest of the bottle with distilled water. Add in drops of essential oil for fragrance if desired. Use like the $8.95 version.
I really have to nix that style of laundry bag- I lived in a pretty small dorm where I only had to schlep laundry down 4 flights of stairs, and the shoulder strap on my bag like that broke only a few months into the semester. Open baskets may show your skivvies to anyone you pass in the hall, but at least they're sturdy!
@akay
? Strange... in undergrad (at Rutgers U) all the dorm rooms were equipped with microfridges with attached microwaves. For some reason I am under the impression that the electric kettle is more likely to be a banned item. o.O
Agree with everything on the list, plus the addition of the electric kettle, which is very useful. My kids had work study jobs that started very early, before the dining hall opened, so with the kettle they could fix themselves oatmeal and tea for breakfast before they left.
Although we bought them each a pop-up mesh hamper/laundry bag, they ended up using those giant blue nylon IKEA shopping bags to carry their laundry back and forth. Very sturdy and only 59 cents. What a deal.
And I will add a small whiteboard/dry erase monthly calendar, too.They used those 3M removable stickers to adhere them to the wall above their desks. Very handy.
Take a hammer, a screwdriver, and a roll of duct tape. I used them AND made friends immediately in the dorm loaning mine out.
Nooo, don't buy the IKEA Pruta tupperware. I bought them when I first moved out and all the tops warped like crazy, thus not being able to fit anymore. Unless you want to hand wash all your tupperware, then you'll be fine I suppose.
Pyrex sells a 10-piece glass tupperware set on amazon for less than $20. No warps and no food stains like plastic.
These are great choices for back to college essentials! We especially like the idea of the linen spray that can double as an air freshener! That's something that's extremely important in a dorm room with limited space, having only the necessities and if those necessities can be dual purposed, even better!
Lumbar support! At least in my current dorm the desk chairs are hard, wood deals. A cushion on the bottom and one shoved against the back helps with back pain after long hours at the desk.