A new school year is beginning, and it’s time for college move-ins for the fall semester. Depending on what type of dorm room you or your college-bound child will be staying in, your dorm room essential checklist could change. My oldest daughter headed off to college and we had to purchase everything for her in another state, since her school wasn’t really within driving distance. Here are 15 Girls College Dorm Room Must Haves, but really they’re a must for boys dorm rooms, too.
15 College Dorm Room Essentials
Some college dorm rooms may be more of an apartment style where you may need pots, pans, and small appliances. Other college dorm rooms may be a room with two beds and then a communal shower for the dorm hall. No matter what type of dorm room you may have, these were our college must haves.
My daughter stayed in the BYU dorms and they had both styles of apartments and rooms, so be sure to check out your room layout ahead of time.
1.Mattress Topper
Listen, dorm mattresses are not often changed for many years. A younger daughter of mine slept in a dorm room for an overnight soccer camp, and that bed was rough. Bring a mattress topper for a more comfortable sleep whether it’s an eggshell type topper, a foam mattress topper, or whatever is most comfortable for you.
2.Tool Kit
You may be thinking, what do you need a tool kit for? Well you never know when you need a quick fix. Sure, you can call maintenance, but sometimes it’s an easy fix and you need a hammer or pliers and don’t have time to wait for someone to fix it for you.
When we moved in our daughter, she needed some screwdrivers to put together her headboards and shelving.
This is a college tool kit (affiliate link) a friend recommended from Amazon.
3. Phone Chargers + Extra Cords
My kids go through cords like nobody’s business, so packing some extras just in case one breaks or runs out of juice is wise, because sometimes Amazon Prime isn’t quick enough when you need a fresh charge.
4. Dry Erase Board
Small Dry Erase Boards are helpful in leaving notes for roommates or even for help in studying. If you’re trying to solve problems or memorize things, a dry erase board can come through as a study buddy, and they don’t take up much space.
5. Fireproof Document Bag
Fireproof Document Bag (or Safe) is great for storing Important Documents like a Passport, Social Security Card, Insurance Card, Vaccination Card, Copy of Medical Records, Copy of Birth Certificate, etc.
You may also want a small safe for valuables if you happen to bring something that’s important, though I don’t recommend it.
6. Twin XL Sheets
Dorms rooms tend to have XL Twin beds, so make sure you pack those XL Twin sheets to fit!
7. Noise-Cancelling Headphones
Your roommate may have a different idea of a bedtime than you or different study habits. This is where noise-cancelling headphones come in handy or iPods or earbuds.
8. Command Hooks and Strips
3M Command hooks and command strips (or different brand) are great to hang up personal touches to a dorm room, whether it be pictures, fairy lights, banners, or other decor.
9. Bathroom Items Container
Some people like to use a shower caddy, but I prefer these clear plastic containers to store and transport bathroom items. They are stackable, and I like to see what’s inside of the container. You can use them for shower items or to store toiletries, makeup, deodorant, etc.
These are my favorites from Target.
For a shared bathroom with suite mates, my daughter and her roommate used this IKEA cart to store different bathroom items that didn’t have to constantly be taken back and forth.
10. Favorite Stuffed Animal
Ok, so everyone may not have a favorite stuffed animal, but if you do, it’s a dorm room essential, especially if you’re a little homesick. It can be any favorite item from childhood. My daughter narrowed it down to 3, and her weighted plush is very comforting.
11. Skinny Velvet Hangers
Closet space can be tight in dorm rooms, so the skinny velvet hangers take up less space and you can hang more clothes. I do not recommend skinny hangers without the velvet covering though as clothes slip off more easily. My daughter was able to fir all her clothes on one bar with these hangers.
12. Power Strip with Extra Outlets and USB
Some dorms that are a little older may not have all the outlets or USBs you need, so bringing your own power strip will give you plenty of options to charge all your electronics.
13. Shower Shoes
When you share a shower, sometimes the floor can be gross. So bring a pair of flip flops or slides for showers.
14. Lap Desk
If you don’t have much space in your room, a lap desk is helpful if you have to watch lectures on your laptop for class or for even watching movies. It’s also nice to have a different spot to do your work when you’re just a tad too tired to sit at your desk.
15. Drying Rack
Most likely in a dorm setting, you won’t have a washer and dryer in your room. So if you have delicates, swimsuits, bras, athletic clothing, etc., sometimes those fabrics should not go in the dryer. If you have a small drying rack you can lay them flat in your dorm room so they can dry.
Have fun decorating according to your budget and identity!
And if you’re trying to get a head start and have a high school senior this year, check out these fun Senior Parking spot ideas!
