57+ College Dorm Essentials

Essential Bedding Items

1. Sheets
2. Pillowcases
3. Duvet or Comforter
4. Pillow
5. Mattress cover
6. Mattress pad
7. Throw blanket

I would recommend buying one or two sheet sets, depending on how often you plan on doing laundry and your storage space. If you think you won’t want to do laundry too often then buy two sets of sheets, but if you do not have enough storage space then one should be good enough!

I chose to get a duvet and duvet cover, so that I did not have to wash a huge comforter and I loved it. It was just a pain to take the cover on and off every time I did laundry. 

A good pillow can be your best friend, so choose it wisely. If you have one you love from back home, bring it with you! I got a good fluffy but firm pillow as well as a neck pillow for more neck support.

Dorm room mattresses are not very comfortable, probably not very clean and also probably not very new. Therefore getting a mattress pad should be high on your list. 

Although not completely necessary, I would recommend getting a mattress cover, especially if you are sensitive to allergens. 

Note: Be careful of filling up your bed too much.I made the mistake of buying too many decorative pillows at first. Dorm beds are usually Twin XL and you will already feel cramped in it.

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Essential Cleaning Items

1. Disinfectant wipes
2. Paper towels
3. All surfaces cleaner spray
4. Small trash can
5. Vacuum

You might think that disinfectant wipes and paper towels are interchangeable but they really aren’t. Disinfectant wipes usually work better at getting rid of bacteria than all-surface cleaners. Yet, you need paper towels because believe me you are definitely going to spill something around your dorm. 

Some dorms come with a trash can, but if you are living with a roommate, just one won’t be enough usually so plan on getting one for yourself. 

Most dorms are carpeted, so choose to get a vacuum over a broom. Getting a small yet full-sized one is the way to go. Handheld ones are great for space optimization but it will take forever to clean your floors.

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Essential Bathroom items

1. Shower Caddy
2. Flip Flops
3. Towels ( Body + Face)
4. Liquid Soap
5. Shampoo
6. Conditioner
7. Shaving kit
8. Face cleaning products
9. Toothbrush
10. Toothbrush cover
11. Toothpaste
12. Shower cap
13. Deodorant
14. Comb
15. Brush 
16. Hairdryer
17. Lotion
18. Q-tips
19. Mouthwash
20. Nail clippers
21. Loofah
22. Cotton balls
23. Hair ties
24. Tissues 
25. Floss 
26. Contact solution

For your bathroom essentials, the most important thing is to have all the things you always use from home. Pretty easy! But, if you are in a dorm where you have to share the bathroom I would recommend getting flip-flops, a shower caddy and a makeup bag where you can put all your products. Make sure everything is waterproof!

I would also advise that you take two sets of towels, so that you always have a clean spare.

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Roommate + Me Essential Items

1. Mini Fridge
2. Area Rug
3. Snack Bar
4. Water Filter Pitcher

Once you know who your roommate is, it is a good idea to figure out who is bringing what to the room early on. This list could include many other things but in my experience, these are the most frequently shared items. 

If your school allows them a microwave and mini-fridge can be very beneficial to keep snacks! Especially if you want something late at night and there is nothing open on campus. If not, a snack bar would also be a great alternative!

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Essential Decor Items

1. Posters or Tapestry
2. Washi Tape
3. Command hooks
4. Photos
5. Pushpins
6. Lights
7. Whiteboard

Your school will usually charge you a fee if you damage the walls too much, so be careful what you use  to hang your decor. 

There are plenty of ways to prevent getting charged. For example, I used push pins to hang all the posters and tapestries that I had for my dorm. That way, the holes were barely visible. I also recommend command hooks as an alternative if you want to hang something that is framed.

If you are doing a picture wall, use washi tape so that it peels off easily afterwards.

Something different that I used for my room was that I purchased peel and stick wallpaper. It made the room look so much nicer than plain white walls, and when i peeled it, it almost came clean off! If you do that, make sure to buy good quality wallpaper, so you have a better chance of not peeling paint afterwards.

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Essential Laundry Items

1. Laundry hamper
2. Laundry Detergent
3. Dryer sheets
4. Tide stain pen
5. Wrinkle remover spray
6. Mini steamer
7. Lint brush
8. Sewing kit

Doing laundry in the communal laundry area within the dorms can be a headache, with everyone in the building fighting over the 5 washers and dryers available. One way to make sure you make the best of it is by having everything you need on hand. I recommend using Tide pods instead of liquid detergent because it is so much easier to just throw in with your clothes.

Make sure the hamper you get can be comfortably carried, because you will most likely be going down some flights of stairs to a basement to do your laundry.

Not everyone considers a mini steamer an essential but believe me, you will wish you had one when all your clothes are wrinkled. 

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Other Items

1. Mirror 
2. Shoe rack
3. Power strip
4. Desk lamp
5. Small fan
6. Hangers
7. Under bed storage
8. Travel mug 
9. Water bottle
10. Umbrella
11. Gym bag
12. Alarm clock
13. Reading light
14. Makeup bag
15. First aid kit
16. Prescription medicines
17. Air freshener
18. Curtains
19. Curtain rods
20. Bedrisers
21. Stepladder
22. Small toolkit
23. Flashlight 
24. Bedside table
25. Bluetooth speaker
26. Printer
27. Small Sofa

The list of ‘other items’ could go on and on, but really it is all about your personal preference and how big your dorm room will be. You can create a lot more space if you raise your bed, and store things underneath! I personally was able to fit an extra dresser and chair.