We’ve seen a million posts about dorm room essentials. Hey, we even have our own. That’s okay! Those are the things they need. But we also wanted to take a minute to talk about some things they don’t need, but will totally love. Because these non-essential dorm room items will make your kid’s room the fun dorm. And you know what that means? Friends!
So, while you are sure to pack those surge protectors and mattress covers, add in an ice cream maker or photo booth too . . . because connecting with other kids on your hall and making crazy memories is essential in our book.
Our favorite non-essential dorm room items that will help your student make friends
It’s hard to resist the draw of a photo booth, right? With the HP Sprocket portable printer and a bulletin board, you can easily create a super-fun destination for everyone on their hall to stop by and add their photo the board. It’s a great ice-breaker!
This Dash My Mug ice cream maker fits in their dorm room freezer, and with a few simple ingredients they can make fresh homemade ice cream. Leave the dorm room door open, and the friends will appear.
Hear me out: Guitar Hero. You can use Clone Hero to play via your computer if you don’t want to take a whole gaming system, then all you need are the guitar controllers for a retro night of serious fun. You’d be surprised how excited about this they’ll be.
Don’t overthink it. The best way to make new friends in a dorm is to keep your door open. So grab a doorstop to remind them to prop that door and wave to people walking by. Chances are they’ll stop by and say hi. Pro tip: a funny door stop is a great conversation starter.
A comfy chair for those late-night talks is so much better than squeezing onto a dorm bed. We love this one because it can fold up and slide under the bed when you aren’t using it. Essential for dorm living!
The Keurig K-Mini Mate Plus is just 5-inches wide—perfect for a dorm room. It brews hot or cold drinks, from coffees to lemonades. Everyone will be stopping by for one instead of running across the quad to the dining hall. (Just leave a tip jar by the machine to help pay for new K-pods.)
Go old school with a chalkboard on your door for friends to leave messages or to announce fun open-invite stuff your student wants to do. “Calc 2 study sesh at the dining hall at 3 pm!” “Meet up at the fountain for a hike after dinner.” It’s way less intimidating than going up and directly asking a stranger to hang out. (Don’t forget the Command hooks to hang it.)
Send them off with a couple party card games that make people feel comfortable, get them laughing, and (best of all) barely take up any space in their room. Slip It In challenges them to slip funny phrases into conversations. Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza is a super-fast easy-to-learn game. And, of course, you can’t go wrong with Uno.
You may wonder, what is she thinking…but hear me out: When you’re in college, you miss home cooked meals big time. Eating every meal with plasticware is a real bummer. So having a nice set of flatware in your dorm will elevate even cafeteria leftovers. (And an extra set will make those ice cream parties a lot easier!) We love these from Parachute Home.
Maybe this is just the mom in me, but I say: a clean room is an inviting room. Your kid’s dorm probably has a vacuum they can borrow, but sending them with their own stick vacuum that barely takes up any space is worth the investment. Plus, this one is almost $100 off at Walmart right now.
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