Dorm Room Essentials Your College Kid Needs
Get your college student ready with these top dorm room essentials that save space and stress. Take a peek at what they’ll actually use.
Even though our kid’s are not quite there yet, we know so many of you have kids headed off to college for the first time this year. We know we’ll totally be a mess of emotions, but our favorite way to combat the mixed emotions will be our standard go to… get prepared to get what they need within budget. The goal will be to avoid overpacking while still making sure they’re set up for a comfortable and functional space. Hopefully this list will give you a great starting point to gather their dorm room essentials they’ll actually need, want, and use. Let’s get to it!
Budget-Friendly Dorm Musts That Make Move-In Easier
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. For more information, see my disclosures here. As an Amazon associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Save Space and Sanity
As most of us remember from when we went to college, the lack of space is the hardest part. Making use of all vertical space and finding hidden storage is key. We really love collapsible or stackable organizers that make moving things around to fit just right way easier.
Dual-purpose is quite literally the name of the game when it comes to keeping their dorm room clutter-free and easily organized. It’ll probably be a transition period for all our kiddos to go from space at home to living with someone else in a tiny room in the dorms. It’s good life lessons though and figuring out how to share storage with a roommate is what we like to call life-preparedness… a humbling experience.
Keep It Cozy (Without Overheating or Overcrowding)
As we remember, the beds in the dorms leave much to be desired, so fining a good egg crate or mattress topper will make sure your kiddo stays comfortable and gets some good sleep while away. We love the idea of personalizing the room with fairy string lights to make it feel more like home.
Having small comforts can help ease any homesickness your kids might have until they adjust. To make what you purchase last throughout the four years, we like to stick with neutrals and soft tones to help keep their space calm too.
Stay on Top of Laundry and Showers
Ah yes, the joys of doing laundry in college. We definitely don’t miss that, but one of the things that makes hauling clothes around less annoying is a backpack-style laundry bag. That’s a must for sure. Another must is a portable shower caddy. When you are sharing a bathroom with a bunch of people, having all your stuff easily grab and go is the best way to do it. Shower shoes, multiple towels and extra sheet sets are always good to have around too in case a laundry day gets skipped.
Food Fixes for Busy Students
If the dorm doesn’t already have one, making space for a mini-fridge is a great idea to allow your kids to save leftovers and snacks to have on hand. Microwave-friendly meals are always a must and we love a ramen cooker to save time and keep their kids full between classes.
Our Favorite Dorm Room Essentials
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. For more information, see my disclosures here. As an Amazon associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Here are 10 dorm room products we love that are both affordable and incredibly practical for college students.
- Power Strip Surge Protector – A dorm essential for powering laptops, phone chargers, lamps, and mini fans. With limited outlets in most dorms, this helps keep everything plugged in and protected.
- Space Saving Hangers – These help your student fit more clothes in their tiny closet without everything getting jammed together. Great for organizing outfits by type or season too.
- LED Fairy String Lights – These lights double as decor and soft lighting for late-night study sessions. Bonus points if they include photo clips so they can hang memories from home.
- Backpack Laundry Bag – Makes it way easier to haul laundry to and from the laundry room without dropping socks along the way. We like the ones that have padded straps and extra compartments.
- Portable Shower Caddy – A must for shared bathrooms. The breathable mesh and compartments help them keep shampoo, razors, and other essentials separate and easy to grab.
- Cozy Blanket – Dorm rooms can be drafty or just not super inviting at first. A warm, soft throw makes the bed feel a little more like home and is great for movie nights too.
- Twin XL 2 Inch Gel Memory Foam Mattress Topper – Dorm beds are notoriously uncomfortable. This topper makes a huge difference in quality of sleep, which can impact focus and stress.
- Microwave Ramen Cooker – This is one of those little things that makes life so much easier. It cooks ramen quickly and safely in the dorm’s shared microwave and usually comes with a built-in strainer.
- Stackable Closet Storage Baskets – Perfect for socks, snacks, toiletries, or even school supplies. They help keep shelves and floor space organized and can be easily rearranged.
- Dual-purpose Bedside Caddy – This hangs right off the bed and gives them a spot for their phone, glasses, notebook, or late-night snack. A good way to keep clutter off the desk or floor.
Hopefully these dorm room essential picks will help make preparing your kids to go away to school a little bit easier. Setting them up with the right tools will ease your mind and hopefully give them some creature comforts to focus their time and energy on classes, making friends, and everything else that goes along with college. What would you add to your college packing list? Drop it in the comments.
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