10 College Dorm Room Essentials
As move-in season approaches,
college students are trying to pack up their belongings to prepare for move-in
day. While it might seem like you’ll be simply taking your bedroom with you,
household and first aid items are also on top of the college packing list. As
packing can feel like an overwhelming process, we’ve compiled a list below of
things you definitely don’t want to forget.
Mattress Topper
Some college students find
the mattresses provided in their dorm room just don’t match up to the one they
left at home. A good way to combat this is by taking a mattress topper to
increase the comfort level of your dorm room for the ultimate night’s sleep. Pro-tip: consider
purchasing the same mattress cover/topper you have on your bed at home to make
your dorm room feel more like your home.
First Aid Kit
Accidents happen, so it is
best to be prepared. Having a small first aid kit in your room including band
aids, triple antibiotic ointment, hydrogen peroxide, and other common first aid
items might be a good idea. While your college’s medical center is available
for your medical needs, keeping these items in your room can be helpful for
minor injuries and in the case that the center is closed.
Shower Shoes & Caddy
While colleges do their
best to keep facilities clean and sanitized, there are many students using
them. Having your own pair of shower shoes ensures you keep your feet clean and
protected from anything that might be on the floor. You can’t leave your shampoo
and other products in a community bathroom, making a shower caddy another dorm
room staple. Having some organization for your shower items can save you time
and keep your stuff clean. A good caddy should be able to get wet and have
enough space to carry everything you need from your room to the shower: from
shampoo and conditioner, to your loofah, and more.
Power Strips/Surge
Protectors
You can never have enough
outlets in your dorm room. Having power strips for all your necessities is
another essential. When purchasing power strips, consider those with surge
protection. This will ensure the safety of your computer and other valuable
electronics in the event of a power outage or power surge. Be sure to
check your college’s policy before adding this necessity to your list, as some
schools don’t allow them. If they are allowed, making sure that your power strip
also has an on/off switch is important to abide by many college’s dorm room
guidelines that your resident advisor will enforce.
Command Strips
When you move in, it is
important to make your dorm room feel comfy and cozy since it will be your home
away from home. To many college students, this means hanging up photos of their
friends and family, posters, and lights to decorate. When you’re
doing this, remember that if you don’t want to face fines at the end of the
year for wall damage, you need to find another solution. Ung command strips
will allow you to add character and coziness to your space without facing
penalties at the end of the year!
Fan
Not every college has air conditioning in their dorm buildings.
If you prefer cooler temperatures in your room, having a fan may help. Another
great role a fan could play is providing white noise to help you study or
sleep. In a college dorm, nights can get noisy despite quiet hours, so having a
fan to help balance some of that is key. In addition, putting your fan in your
window will provide extra fresh air should you need it.
Storage
In your dorm room, you
might not have a lot of options when it comes to storage. It doesn’t take much to
create clutter in a small space. You can combat this by having totes, baskets, and
plastic drawers to help you organize. In addition, looking over what you’ve
packed and eliminating things that you don’t need might be necessary. Having an
idea of the storage you need before move-in day is great, but you may also find
yourself heading out to the nearest superstore to grab more organizational
tools to fill in for any missing pieces.
Dry Erase Board/Calendar
Staying organized doesn’t
end at having a place to keep all your items. You’ll also want to consider ways
in which you can keep track of your class schedule, due dates, and more. Many
college students find that having a dry erase board is an easy way to stay
organized. Having one allows you to map out your day and keep track of
assignments you’ll need to work on. In addition, if you have a roommate, it
also helps you both know where the other is. This might be key if you are
planning to hit the gym together, study, or even if you want to plan time for
when your roommate will be out to give yourself absolute quiet to study or
decompress.
Small Trash Can
Having a trash can in your
dorm room might not be the very first thing that comes to mind when you think
of the essentials, but it surely is one. When you’re done snacking or decide to
crumple up the paper you’ve been working on to start fresh, you’ll need
somewhere to put your trash. Pro-tip: purchasing scented trash bags can keep
your room smelling fresh in between taking trash out!
Cleaning Supplies
If you’re someone who
thrives in a neat and tidy environment, you’ll want to include cleaning supplies on your packing
list. Having a broom and even a vacuum if you plan on including an area rug in
your decor can be a game changer when it comes to keeping your dorm room clean.
You should also take disinfectant spray and paper towels for surfaces. These
essentials will keep your room tidy and smelling fresh. While it might be
tempting to add a candle to your packing list to keep unwanted odors at bay,
many college dorms have policies against it, so it may be best to leave those
at home.
Moving into college can be
stressful, but it should also be a
memorable time that you enjoy. By making sure you pack the essentials, you are
setting yourself up for a successful move-in weekend.
