Dorm Therapy

I Shopped 3 Popular Back-To-School Spots, and These Are My Favorite Dorm Decor Picks

published Aug 20, 2021
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However you’re college-ing this year — heading to a dorm, moving to an off-campus apartment, living at home, or learning remotely — now’s officially the time to start setting up your perfect study/living/hangout space, be it your first-ever semester or senior year. Any dorm room or bedroom, big or small (major emphasis on small), can benefit big-time from a few organizing and comfort essentials. The good news is that you don’t have to spend a fortune to set up a space that’ll work hard for you.

With the first day of classes right around the corner, you’ve probably got a lot on your to-do list, so I’m here to help in the shopping department. I headed to three popular back-to-school stores — Dormify, Bed Bath & Beyond, and The Container Store — to scope out some stylish-meets-functional college picks for every budget (because it’s no secret college is expensive enough as is). Check out some of my favorite finds below — from storage solutions to double-duty lamps to desk decor — that can see you through all your college years and beyond. Even if you’re not a student, you’ll find these small space products handy — I promise!

Dormify:

1 / 5
Dormify
$89.00

There’s so many uses for this piece: It’s a chair! It’s an ottoman! It’s extra storage! You can basically fold it and use it however you want to. There’s even a removable insert inside for organizing your shoes.

2 / 5
Dormify
$44.00

A laundry basket with wheels is the ultimate game changer — transporting your clothes and linens to and from the laundry room couldn't be easier. This one has a divider to separate lights and darks (because yes, people still do that), and it won’t take up a ton of space in your room either.

3 / 5
Dormify
$119.00

Tuck this cart in any tight spaces or next to your bed, especially if you don't have room for a full nightstand. The drawers are also surprisingly deep, and you can put books or a lamp (or both!) on top.

4 / 5
Dormify
$32.00

Planning to put pictures up on your wall? Then you absolutely need this heart-shaped accent piece. It would look amazing over your bed, and you can easily hang it with removable wall hooks.

5 / 5
Dormify
$36.00

You can get so much use out of this double-duty lamp on your nightstand or desk. It’s simple, stylish, and has two trays to fit all your knickknacks and baubles.

Bed Bath & Beyond:

1 / 5
Bed Bath & Beyond
$40.00

Expect to get a lot of use out of this chair — from studying to gaming to movie nights. It comes in five different colors and easily folds up if you want to stow it to save space.

2 / 5
Bed Bath & Beyond
$35.00

Believe me when I say this shelf will be SO useful for storing food, books, a printer — whatever you need. Style it with some cute little baskets and plants, too.

3 / 5
Bed Bath & Beyond
$20.00

If you can't fit a full chair in your room, this ottoman, which comes in pink and a dark gray, gives friends a place to sit when they come over. You can take off the lid to store stuff inside, too.

4 / 5
Bed Bath & Beyond
$40.00

For days when you (inevitably) want to study from bed, this foldable desk is genius. There’s a little built-in drawer, a surface for a notebook or water bottle, and an adjustable laptop angle.

5 / 5
Bed Bath & Beyond
$40.00

I really love this shelf because it easily attaches to your bed and can charge your phone or tablet — just plug it in and voilà. It’s essentially an extra little nightstand for everything you need before bed.

The Container Store:

1 / 5
The Container Store
$89.99

This bookcase can work as either a hutch on your desk or sitting on the floor. It folds up super easily, too, and you can actually stack two on top of each other.

2 / 5
The Container Store
$29.99

This cart is a must: It comes with a handful of accessories you can attach to the side — like a mini peg board and storage baskets — and it’s so perfect for storing snacks or all your books, especially in an empty corner.

3 / 5
The Container Store
$59.95

Dress up your desk and stay organized all year with these really cute Poppin pieces. You can buy the whole collection, which comes with a few different trays and a pencil holder, or get everything individually. Plus, they come in multiple colors.

4 / 5
The Container Store
$22.99

For more desk-worthy details, you can also take your pick of the color palette with these stackable drawers. Made from recylced materials, they're great for stashing papers, small notebooks, or school supplies.

5 / 5
The Container Store
$158.00

If you’re running low on dorm room storage spots, this over-the-door rack has so many different baskets and hooks. Adjust the placements of each to customize as needed.