I’ve become a bit of a pro at picking out dorm room essentials, which means separating the must-haves from the nice-to-haves from the not-going-to-haves. Especially if I’m paying for it. Having sent all of my three kids away to college, it’s become clear how much I actually have this stuff down now!
So let me help you, as we kick off our back to school shopping guide this year.
14 College Dorm Room Essentials You May Not Have Considered: Part I
While your kids may be thinking of wall posters, a new laptop, shiny new noise-cancelling headphones (even inexpensive ones), the ever-popular twinkle lights with photo clips, and a single-cup coffee maker as tops on their own list of dorm room dessentials, I’ve put together a list of dorm room essentials they might not have considered,.
I promise you, through trial and error, my kids and I have found these all to be at the top of the dorm room essentials shopping checklist — beyond the bedding of course. (And be sure you get those requisite twin XL sheets from Target!)
Hopefully these suggestions for dorm essentials help you feel like you have sent your kid off with the stuff they need to make that transition into adulthood a little less bumpy. For both of you.
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1. Backpack Laundry Bag
Skip the space-eating laundry baskets (though this one is solid if you do want to go that route). Instead, check out this backpack laundry bag as your first must-have dorm essential. It’s available at Target and is hands-down the best laundry bag we’ve found.
It’s perfect for kids who may have to carry their laundry down — or up — several flights of stairs to get to the laundry room, and has a convenient outside mesh pocket for stashing detergent. And of course, if your kids are taking laundry home on weekends, it makes things a lot easier than a suitcase.
Bonus tip: We are also big fans of these lightweight, eco-friendly laundry detergent sheets and one box will do almost 100 loads — enough to get you through the school year.
2. A Power Strip (or two)
There are never enough outlets in a dorm room, so be sure you get at least one good power strip with surge protector so they can plug in all of the things. This TESSAN power strip with USB port is my kid’s favorite because it has a flat plug and takes up very little space. You can get 3 sizes, but all the college moms here say “go with the 15ft cord!” Sometimes dorm rooms don’t have convenient outlet locations.
3. A Good Reading Lamp… and a Book Light
Your student will need a good reading lamp that won’t keep their roommate up at night when they have different study (or sleep) schedules. This sleekly designed Multifunctional LED Desk Lamp with Wireless Charger is the perfect dorm room essential (on sale 20% off right now!) and my daughter loves the wireless charging pad at the base. It has 7 brightness levels and even comes with a 30- and 60-minute shut-off timer.
You might also consider an LED book lamp like this one (10% off coupon on site right now!) that wraps around your neck — smart for students with roommates who go to sleep earlier. It’s rechargeable and even has a 30-minute timer. (College students are prone to falling asleep while reading.) Of course there’s also the classic, best-selling Mighty Bright Recharge Book Light, which is one of the best Barnes & Noble impulse purchases ever.
4. Memory Foam Mattress Topper
Let’s face it, the mattresses in dorm rooms are sub-par and your college student needs to get as much good sleep as possible. Invest in a good mattress topper for an XL twin mattress (this is key for most dorms) like this ViscoSoft 4″-thick memory foam mattress topper.It is a bit more expensive than some others, but a thicker mattress topper is worth the money in the long run.
You may also want to grab a zippered Twin XL mattress protector, which helps reduce allergens that may be hiding in the dorm room.
5. An Electric Throw Blanket
Winter will come and most dorms do not have great HVAC heating/cooling systems. Unless your kid is in a deep-south school that never gets cold, a cozy electric blanked, like this top-rated electric blanket from Westinghouse (on sale!) in a cozy flannel is a dorm room essential that keeps your student warm wherever they need it — on their bed, at their desk, or they can even take it to a common area. For somethng a little more fun, check out the Beautyrest Faux Fur Electric Throw Blanket by Beautyrest at Target. It has a 3 hour automatic shut off and is even machine washable.
6. A Reading Pillow
There’s not generally a lot of sitting space in a dorm room, so this reading pillow (also called a husband) is definitely a dorm essential your college student will be grateful to have. It turns any bed (or honestly, floor space) into a comfy study area. The standard size is pretty small, so I recommend getting the XL. Tip: It’s big, so consider shipping it to your student’s dorm after arrival instead of jamming it into a trunk or an already packed car.
7. An Air Purifier
No matter where your college student will be living next year, a compact, lightweight PuroAir HEPA filter air purifier is a must-have, especially if they suffer from allergies. (Currently 20% off, plus an additional 20% coupon on Amazon.) It’s meant to work in a rooms up to 1,115 square feet, which means this is a small investment that they can keep using even after they move on from dorms to apartment living. Besides, it automatically detects air quality and adjusts accordingly, which means a student can just turn it on and basically forget about it.
As they will anyway.
See Part 2 of our list of college dorm room essentials beyond the expected here.
