The Absolute BEST Dorm Essentials 

After 27+ years working in college admissions, I’m now a mom to a first-year college student.

And while I’m no expert on “How To Succeed As A College Freshman” if my recent experience with my own child and what I’m hearing from her roommates counts, I’ve gotta say that I absolutely nailed shopping for the dorm room essentials.

The priority was to transform her very tight ‘triple’ space into a cozy, welcoming spot that brings people together and offers some of the comforts of home.

My only regret? Waiting until the summer before her departure to collect everything she needed.

With my newly seasoned experience, I’m offering you this advice to help YOU navigate your college student’s first year: start collecting things now so you’re all set AHEAD of move-in day.

Puhlease don’t do what I did, which is wait til the last minute to get the haul. 

I spent a bundle of $$ in a very short time and I sooooo wish I’d spread out some of the purchases to be gifts in her senior year–think birthdays, holidays, and graduation gifts.

The transition to college is hard for everyone, but being prepared ahead of time means scrambling for dorm essentials at the last-minute need NOT be part of your family’s experience & you can actually enjoy the last few moments with a full nest (gulp).

THE WORTHWHILE SPLURGE

Folding Saucer Chair With Ottoman

A Versatile Solution For Group Study Sessions & Hangouts

This was absolutely the #1 purchase I made and is by far Kayla’s favorite room addition! It transformed her room into THE hangout spot in the hall.

Truthfully, I had it sitting in my Amazon cart for quite some time, unsure if it was reallllllly necessary. But, it ended up being totally worth the investment.

Why? Dorm furniture is built to last, not to be comfortable. With multiple color options available, this chair and ottoman set instantly elevated the aesthetic of the dorm room.

And even though it’s easy to fold and tuck away, my freshman and her roommates tell me it’s always being used!

With two possible seating options–the chair and the ottoman– it helps to cement their dorm room’s status as a comfortable place to unwind, or chill with friends.

An added bonus: With limited space, having an additional place to sit in the room keeps people from lounging on your teen’s bed.

A SOFT & FLUFFY SEAT COVER

Faux Fur Chair Seat Cover

A Washable Faux Fur Rug To Cover Ugly Dorm Room Chairs & Provide Super Soft Comfort All Year Long

Your college student is going to spend a lot of time at their desk. At least we hope so! And no one likes sitting in a scratchy, uncomfortable, hard chair for hours on end! 

Most colleges don’t allow students to remove preset furniture from the room. Well, I’ve got your solution to that little problem: Insert a DIY plush, super comfy & soft faux fur chair seat cover!

But here’s a secret: this product really isn’t a seat cover! It’s actually a soft washable RUG. Trust me–you want this chair to be the most inviting piece of furniture in the room.

A SENSE OF COMFORT

Cozy Throw Blanket [Multiple Colors]

Fluff Up The Bed & Instantly Turn Any Spot Into A Comfy Nest With A Soft Blanket

Odds are there are going to be moments when your teen is craving a sense of comfort. Since you can’t give them a hug every day (I know, it’s surreal!) a soft blanket is a cozy alternative.

Plus, if their dorm room is a bit on the cooler side, windows are always open, or it’s snowing outside, it’s nice to have a fluffy layer to wrap themselves in some warmth.

These blankets also make the perfect impromptu hangout spot on the floor with the roommates when a study break turns into a late-night pizza delivery.

We chose Blush Pink, but with a variety of color options, you’re sure to find one that matches your freshman’s style.

KEEP SNACKS IN REACH

4-Tier Space Saver Shelf

An Organized Way To Store Snacks

Dorm rooms are tiny and with so many doubles being turned into triples, (yes, friends, many freshmen are packed in like sardines), space is at a premium.

So the smart move is to look at vertical storage solutions.

Enter this sturdy space saver shelf! It fits directly over a student-sized mini fridge and was the most inexpensive one I found.

Bonus: the package came with all the tools to put the shelf together in less than 15 minutes.

With a bunch of young adults sharing space, they crave a way to separate items from their roommates while also knowing what’s available to share. Let them each claim a shelf and add pantry boxes to keep snacks neatly organized.

STAY FRESH & COOL

Woozoo Personal Fan

A Quiet Way To Keep Stale Dorm Air Circulating

Let’s be honest, dorm rooms can be gross cesspools of germs. The result of living in a building full of young adults? Air that’s often moist (ew!), stale, and stuffy.

With a ton of great reviews, we weren’t surprised to find the Woozoo is powerful enough to help create a comfortable space by keeping the room regulated and cool.

We set the fan on a shelf attached to Kayla’s loft bed and above her desk, and since it’s quiet there are no complaints when she keeps it running 24/7.

FOR BETTER SLEEPS

USB Clip On Fan

A Personalized Way To Sleep Comfortably

In tight shared spaces, a personal fan is a must to allow a student to control the airflow directly around their sleeping area without affecting their roommates comfort.

My college freshman is in a loft bed, which means no matter the temperature outside, it’s stuffy up top.

We zip-tied an extension cord to her bed to easily power the fan so it’s ready to drown out background noise from noisy neighbors and the next door lounge, and regulate her temperature so she catches quality zzzzzz’s.

WIN THE SPACE RACE

Over The Door Storage Solution

Wave Bye-Bye To Clutter With A Multi-Purpose Storage Solution

Making the most of every inch of your teen’s new home away from home is the name of the game. Over door hangers are absolutely the key to getting more storage space!

A hanging shoe holder fits perfectly over the top of a door for a versatile, convenient solution to store items and keep dorm rooms tidy.

One pocket easily fits a pair of shoes like flip flops & tennis shoes, important cords, snacks, medicines, school supplies, and accessories.

With 35 pockets, this is a must-have especially if you have a teen who struggles to keep their belongings organized. You’ll be tempted to gift them another one for their room at home!

BECAUSE COMMUNAL BATHROOMS

Plastic Shower Caddy

Make Good Hygiene Habits Hassle Free

Repeat after me: Plastic shower caddies only, please. Do yourself a favor and pass on the mesh fabric ones that easily retain moisture and grow mold. Yuck!

Instead, you need a durable, plastic caddy with enough compartments to organize all your freshman’s favorite personal care products.

This one easily fits full-sized body wash, shampoo, conditioner, shaving cream, razors, face wash, toothpaste, a toothbrush (with a cover, please!) and washcloths.

Hot tip for your teen: Encourage them to take everything out of their caddy about once a month to rinse out the nooks & crannies really well, so it stays grime-free.

COMPACT STORAGE FOR DAILY NEEDS

3-Tier Rolling Cart

A Portable Powerhouse For Everyday Needs

This mid-price point compact rolling cart was one of my first purchases!

It’s incredible how much Kayla stores in this cart. We’re talking a blow dryer, curling iron, her jewelry organizer, mugs, school supplies…

There’s a ton of space.

I love this particular cart because of its extra compartments for things like hair ties, extra snacks, pens & pencils and other small items we couldn’t find another home for.

Whatever your freshman chooses to store in this cart, they’ll love how easily it moves around the room and eventually into their off-campus apartment!

THE REAL MVP

Memory Foam Mattress Topper

The Secret Upgrade To Guarantee Solid Z’s

Forget the “egg crate,” you need THIS mattress topper.

Let’s be real–dorm mattresses aren’t exactly known for being a 5-star situation. Many college freshmen feel like they’re sleeping on bricks.

But after a long day of classes, studying and socializing, you’ll want your teen to melt into their bed for some quality sleep.

A mattress topper is a relatively affordable way to upgrade your teen’s sleep situation to suit their personal preferences.

With this gel-based, cooling mattress topper, soft sheets and cozy blankets, Kayla’s college bed is now a gazillion times more comfortable than her one at home. She texts me all the time that it “feels like a marshmallow.”

Pro packing tip: Save opening your mattress topper for move-in day at the dorms. They expand quite a bit and you’ll already be tight for space.

ENCOURAGE INTERACTION

Door Stoppers

An Easy Way To Create A Welcoming Atmosphere

Ode to the door stopper…you need this thing!

These tiny workhorses are the unsung heroes of move-in day. There’s nothing more annoying than struggling with heavy, closed doors when your hands are loaded with boxes.

And, hot tip: for at least the first couple of months after move-in day, your teen should leave their door open as much as possible. Nothing screams “anti-social” as much as a closed door.

Insert this door stopper and BOOM, your new college student will be making new friends in NO time.

FOR A DORM ROOM GLOW UP

LED Wall Sconces

Serving Up Function And Aesthetics

Dorm rooms come with standard, usually harsh overhead, fluorescent lighting. H-E-L-L-O headaches.

These LED Wall Sconces–we chose the wood color for a Boho vibe–are the perfect dorm-friendly, dimmable solution to cater to different activities or moods. Your teen can read or study at night without bothering their sleeping roommate.

Note: there are often hefty fines for damaging dorm walls, but these USB rechargeable lamps can be installed using dorm-approved adhesive like these Command Strips.

Fun fact: On move-in day, the sconces were such a hit that all the roomies have their own set now!