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24 Essential Dorm Items All College Freshman Need
As a college freshman, packing up all your stuff and moving into your dorm room for the first time can be quite overwhelming. You might think you’ve packed everything you need for college, but you won’t really know until you get settled in. Dorm life is also going to be very different from living at home.
When you live in a small dorm room, it’s super easy to get it cluttered and dirty. You’ll have to get used to living with multiple roommates, follow all the rules and regulations that come with living on campus, and figure out how to turn your dorm into a functional living space.
Fortunately, there’s essential items that can help remove a lot of these stressful considerations and transform your dorm room into a more relaxing environment. Below, you’ll find 24 essential items that all college students can use to make their freshman dorm experience much more rewarding.
Move-In Preparations
Before you move into your dorm, you have to make sure that you have all your stuff packed up and ready to go. If you’re in need of boxes or any moving supplies, I recommend using Box Engine. They have pretty much everything you need to move out of your house and into your new dorm.
On their website, you’ll find loads of boxes that come in different shapes and sizes. They also have tons of moving supplies and special box kits that come with a combination of boxes and supplies.
Laundry
Laundry Hamper
One of the easiest ways to get your dorm room dirty is by having clothes all over the place. To prevent that from happening, you’ll need a laundry hamper for all your dirty clothes. What’s awesome about this one is that it comes with two extra laundry bags, which will come in handy if you fill up the hamper and don’t have time to go wash your clothes.
Clothes Hangers
If you end up bringing a lot of clothes to college, then you’ll definitely need some extra clothes hangers. The ones linked here are a pack of 20 premium wood hangers that should do the job and last you for many years to come. They’re much more durable than cheap plastics hangers that will probably break after a few semesters of moving back to campus.
Small Ironing Board
As a college freshman, maintaining a professional and neat appearance is crucial for making positive impressions. That’s why an ironing board in your dorm becomes essential. Whether you’re preparing for an interview, a class presentation, or a date, a well-ironed outfit can boost your confidence and reveal your attention to detail.
Tech
HP OfficeJet Pro Printer
A useful item to have in your dorm is a high-quality printer. You might not think you need a printer if there’s ones on campus to use; however, there might be times late at night when you need to print something, but the printers on campus aren’t available.
It’s also a hassle walking across campus to the library or to a computer lab every time you need to print something. Having one in your dorm will save you a lot of time and energy. The one I recommend is the HP OfficeJet Pro because it comes with all the useful features you’ll need for college at an affordable price.
Surge Protectors
A must-have for any dorm are surge protector power strips, which will protect your devices and anything else you have plugged in from power spikes. Not only does a surge protector provide a level of security for your electronics, but it also offers additional outlets.
This can be particularly useful in a dorm setting where outlets are limited. That’s why investing in surge protectors is a wise move for every college freshman living on campus.
Samsung Smart LED TV
It’s always nice to have a TV in your dorm so you can watch your favorite shows or movies. A TV provides a source of entertainment and relaxation after a long day of classes and studying. This smart LED TV has a crisp 1080p resolution and gives you access to tons of different streaming services.
Kitchen
Panasonic Microwave
One of the most essential items college freshman need in their dorm is a microwave. Instead of going out and buying food, you can warm up your favorite microwave meals or some leftovers, which will save you time and money.
This Panasonic microwave has a compact design that will fit nicely in a small dorm room. Additionally, it comes with powerful inverter technology that more evenly cooks food.
Black+Decker Mini Fridge
Without a mini fridge, you won’t be able to have any cold drinks or store any food in your dorm. Just like a microwave, a mini fridge is going to save you loads of time and money because you’ll conveniently have food and drinks right in your dorm without having to go out and buy anything.
This mini fridge from Black+Decker comes with a lot of great features that are perfect for your dorm, such as its low sound operation, full-width freezer, and loads of storage space. It also comes in white or stainless steel.
Trash Can
It’s always good to bring a small trash can to college so you can throw away your trash and keep your dorm room clean. It also saves you the inconvenience of having to frequently visit the communal trash bins. Investing in a small trash can is key for promoting a clean and productive living space in your dorm.
Keurig K-Mini Plus Coffee Maker
If you need coffee to get you going in the morning, then the Keurig K-Mini Plus will be your best friend. It has a strong brew button for a stronger cup of coffee, storage space to hold up to 9 K-Cup pods, and a removable water reservoir. It brews 6 to 12 ounce cup sizes and has a 1-cup water reservoir. Its slim design should also fit nicely in your dorm.
Storage
Locking Storage Chest
I definitely recommend investing in a locking storage chest for your dorm room so you can keep any valuables you have secured. This will give you peace of mind when your roommates have random guests over that you don’t know very well.
The chest can easily store any expensive jewelry, electronics, documents, etc. The chest will fit nicely under your bed and out of sight so no visitors are able to see it.
Bedside Caddy
As a college freshman, you will quickly discover that dorm life requires optimal use of limited living space. A bedside caddy is a practical and effective solution for this issue. A bedside caddy is excellent for storing anything from your phone and laptop to snacks and drinks. It also provides easy access to your essentials when you’re laying in bed.
Hanging Closet Organizer
A hanging closet organizer is an absolute essential for college freshman dorms. Not only will it prevent your space from getting cluttered, but it also ensures your clothing items stay neatly organized.
This specific closest organizer comes with six shelves and five organizer drawers. There’s also all-purpose pockets that can be used for a variety of smaller items.
Under Bed Storage Organizers
When it comes to smart dorm storage, it doesn’t get much better than under bed storage organizers. With such a limited amount of space available, under bed storage organizers are a must for dorm rooms.
These handy tools take advantage of the underutilized space beneath your bed, providing extra storage for items like clothes, shoes, books, and other belongings.
Cleaning
Cordless Vacuum
The best way to keep your dorm room clean is with a compact, lightweight vacuum. And having one that’s cordless means you won’t have deal with any annoying cords getting in the way while you’re trying to clean your room. You can even detach the top to use it as a hand vacuum to clean those hard-to-reach spots.
Lysol Cleaning Kit
Here’s the perfect cleaning kit for any size dorm room. The kit comes with a multipurpose disinfecting spray that can be used on almost any surface in your dorm, from your desk and trash can to the floor and the walls. When the bottle is empty, just refill it with water to the fill line and drop in a new cleaning cartridge, which also comes included.
Bedding
Mattress Topper
Most college dorm beds aren’t known for their comfort, often being too firm, too soft, or just worn out from years of use. A mattress topper can help adjust the firmness to your liking and provide a comfortable place to rest so you can get some quality to sleep, which is sometimes hard to come by in college.
Weighted Blanket
Everyone needs a blanket for their bed, but have you ever thought about getting a weighted one? Weighted blankets are excellent for not only improving your sleep but also relieving stress and anxiety. With this blanket, you’ll be able to select what weight and size you want for your desired sleep needs.
Memory Foam Pillow
A pillow is one of the last main bedding items you need to finish making your bed comfortable and relaxing. I recommend this fully adjustable memory foam pillow from Coop Home Goods. Their pillows are certified for the best quality and safety.
Pillow Headboard
Instead of assembling a regular headboard, you can simply put this pillow headboard on your bed to instantly increase the comfortability of you sleeping area. It will also make your dorm look much more cozy. It also has a washable cover so you can keep it clean for years to come.
Furniture/Lights
Desk Lamp
A desk lamp in your dorm is an essential item for any college freshman. It provides adequate lighting for late-night study sessions, reading, and other tasks. This industrial-style desk lamp will add ambient lighting and a decorative element to your dorm. It also has two USB ports so you can charge your phone or laptop.
Desk Chair
If you think you’ll be doing a lot of college work at your desk, you’ll definitely need a better desk chair than the old, worn out one that came with the dorm. This white PU leather desk chair will be a solid addition to your dorm. It has soft sponge padding, a 360-degree swivel, and is height adjustable.
Dorm Rug
A dorm rug can completely change the look and feel of any dorm room. They add a cozy vibe and save you the trouble of walking on a cold floor. This soft shag rug is available in loads of different colors, shapes, and sizes, so you should have no problem finding the perfect one for your dorm.
LED Light Strip
LED light strips are really popular nowadays, especially with college students because they’re inexpensive and easy to install. Here’s a 50-foot light strip that comes with a remote so you can conveniently change between all the different colors while laying in bed.
You can also use the smart app control on your phone to adjust the colors and different settings. The strip uses a super strong adhesive that will easily stick to any hard surface in your dorm. The lights even have a built-in microphone that can sync to music playing.
