Not sure what to bring to college? Here are 33 tested and approved college dorm room essentials you don’t want to forget (coming from someone who has been through it all).
As exciting as it is to move into a dorm room and begin a new life as a college student, it’s hard to know exactly what you will need. As someone who has lived in a college dorm, I am going to share with you the 33 college dorm room essentials every student should have in their dorm.
You are going to learn about all of the best college dorm room essentials from college dorm essentials list, college dorm room essentials for girls, college dorm room essentials amazon, and more.
After you learn exactly what to bring to your college dorm room, you are going to have all of the necessities you need to make your dorm feel like home.
This post is all about the best college dorm essentials that every college student needs.
Top 8 College Dorm Room Essentials:
Best Overall: Storage Unit
“if you are looking for something that resembles a makeshift dresser, these stackable storage bins have pull out drawers for super easy access to whatever it is you may need extra space for.”
Best Under $25: Handheld Steamer
“I could not tell you how many times I reached for this handheld steamer in college. A lot of times I wouldn’t fold my clothes right away so when I would go to wear something, more often than not it would have a few wrinkles.”
Best Under $50: Wall Shelf With Hooks
“I love nothing more than when a decor piece doubles as storage! This shelf with hooks would look adorable above your dorm bed or even by the door.”
Best Under $100: Desk Hutch
“You can never have too much storage space in your dorm. This desk hutch is a great addition to any desk to maximize your storage space and make use of the vertical space above your desk.”
Best Splurge: Memory Foam Mattress Pad
“Trust me when I say that a memory foam mattress pad will be your best friend. I mean college students usually don’t get much sleep as it is so you want to make sure what sleep you do get is quality and comfortable.”
Most Popular: Bedside Caddy
“This bedside caddy just came back in stock and I’m in love! It’s such a great way to keep your electronics and any other essentials you may want within easy reach while you’re in bed.”
Best Value: Space Saving Hangers
“This is easily one of my favorite space-saving hacks when it comes to dorm room closets. If you think the dorm room closets aren’t too small, just wait until you start putting things in it and you will run out of space very quickly (I know I did).”
Mable’s Favorite: Nightstand
“The perfect height for a nightstand and it even has outlets for charging which makes it a great all around piece to have in your dorm. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, you can never have enough storage in your dorm!”
Best College Dorm Room Essentials:
Bedding
1. Memory Foam Mattress Pad
If you could only bring one item to the dorms with you, I would recommend bringing a mattress pad, preferably one made with memory foam.
As much as I wish I could say that mattresses in the college dorms are comfy, the hard truth is, it feels like you are sleeping on rocks. There is no cushiness in those mattresses.
So trust me when I say that a memory foam mattress pad will be your best friend. I mean college students usually don’t get much sleep as it is so you want to make sure what sleep you do get is quality and comfortable.
The first mattress pad is almost like a mini memory foam mattress in and of itself that goes on top of your dorm mattress. I will say this one is a little more on the pricey side so I would only recommend this one if you know you are going to be living in the college dorms for your first couple of years.
If you are looking for a more affordable option that will give you a little extra cushion on your dorm bed without breaking the bank, the second one is still a really good option.
Either way I would recommend getting some kind of memory foam mattress pad because they are truly the difference between having a comfy bed or not.
2. Duvet Cover
Duvet covers are a great way to brighten up your dorm room and make it feel extra cozy.
Depending on what theme you are going for in your dorm, white is always a great option to make your room feel brighter, plus white literally goes with everything. But if you are looking to add a pop of color to your dorm, the second option has a variety of colors to choose from.
The first option is definitely one of the cutest duvets I have seen this year and the fun texture will add some style to your bedding without being too overbearing.
On the other hand, you can never go wrong with a plain Jane white duvet cover for your dorm.
3. Sheets
This first sheet option is by far my favorite! It may look like just another boring set of sheets, but it actually has a pocket on the side that you can slip your phone into for easy access. How cool is that?!
When it comes to dorm rooms, multi purpose items are the name of the game, so anywhere you can get extra storage are use a product more than one way is a win.
Also, I recommend bringing two sets of sheets to college (something I wish I had known my first year). That way if you ever spill or just need an extra set while your other one is being washed, you don’t have to go without bed sheets.
4. Pillows
Decorative pillows are a great way to make your bed feel extra cozy!
This is where you can get creative decorating your college dorm and choose a color scheme for the decor in your dorm. Mixing and matching different colors and textures is such a fun way to add character and personality to your room!
I like to think anywhere between 1-3 decorative pillows is the sweet spot. It’s just enough to make your bed look and feel homey, but not too much to where you can’t fit comfortably on it.
But I mean, can you ever really have to many pillows? 😉
5. Throws
Throw blankets are a non-negotiable for any dorm room. Whether you get cold at night and need that extra layer to keep you warm or just want something to cozy up with while reading a good book or catching up on your latest Netflix binge, having a couple of throws on hand is never a bad thing.
These two throw options are my current favs! They are both crazy soft and plush (think Barefoot dreams) without the harsh price tag.
Bathroom
6. Shower Caddy
Lugging all of your shower items back and forth from the community baths is such a pain but a shower caddy like this one from Amazon will make your life 100x easier!
There are so many compartments to hold all of your essentials and then some so you don’t have to worry about not having enough space to bring your hairdryer or towel with you. You will be surprised at how much this caddy can hold!
Plus you can hang it from the shower hooks so you don’t have to put all of your stuff on the dirty ground (eww).
7. Shower Shoes
A lot of people forget to bring shower shoes but they are SO IMPORTANT! I know you might be thinking that I am exaggerating but when you think about the fact that everyone is showering in the same stalls in a community bath (think about all of the germs), it will make you want to order some shower shoes.
I will admit, I am a bit of a germaphobe, but there is nothing wrong with making an extra effort to be as sanitary as possible, your future self will thank you.
8. Hair Turban
If you don’t already have a hair turban, they are seriously game changers! They make drying your hair so much easier and less time consuming. It’s also super helpful to keep your wet hair out of your face when you are trying to do your makeup or a face mask.
This set from Amazon comes with three different hair turbans so you can have a couple on hand for you or your roommate.
9. Towel Wrap
A towel wrap is super convenient when you are walking from the community bath back to your room. That way you don’t have to worry about accidentally flashing people coming out of the bathroom. 🫣
Definitely worth it if you ask me!
Desk
10. Charging Desk Lamp
A desk lamp that has a wireless charging base? If you ask me, that’s the way to go. That way when you are working at your desk you can easily charge your phone without having to scour for an available outlet.
Not to mention this desk lamp has additional USB ports so you can conveniently charge all of your electronics at the same time.
11. Desk Organizer
A small caddy like this mesh organizer is a great way to keep all of your school supplies and desk accessories organized and out of the way while still having easy access to anything you may need for homework or studying.
12. Desk Hutch
You can never have too much storage space in your dorm. This desk hutch is a great addition to any desk to maximize your storage space and make use of the vertical space above your desk.
I bought one very similar to this white desk hutch for my dorm and it was one of my favorite purchases because of how much extra space it gave me to store items ranging from books to makeup to cute decorations.
13. Vanity Mirror
The desk in your dorm is also your vanity so having a makeup mirror will be a life saver when it comes to having a place to get ready in the morning or spruce up before going out.
This vanity mirror will be your best friend when getting ready because you can see EVERYTHING in this mirror but it won’t take up too much space on your desk. Plus there are 3 different light modes if the brightest one is too harsh.
14. Jewelry Organizer
If you are a big jewelry person like myself or are just looking for a way to store your favorite accessories, a jewelry organizer like this one will do wonders to keep your jewelry from getting tangled or lost in the depths of your dorm.
Having a designated place to keep all of your jewelry will be so helpful!
15. Makeup Organizer
I couldn’t not include this makeup organizer in this post, because just look at it. Have you ever seen a cuter makeup organizer because I certainly haven’t.
I love that this one has drawers but it also has shelves on top to store skincare products.
And the best part? It has a cover that goes over the top to protect your products and a handle that makes it super easy to take your skincare and makeup with you on the go to get ready in a friend’s dorm.
Gadgets
16. Water Filter
As nice as it would be, college doesn’t usually have the cleanest water so having some kind of water filtration system to make sure your water is filtered and clean for you to drink is just one less thing that you have to worry about.
17. Coffee Maker
Whether you are a coffee drinker or not, you will want a coffee machine in your dorm. There is nothing that will save you like a cup of coffee to get you awake for an early morning lecture or keep you awake during a late night study session.
Seriously, you won’t know how you ever survived without coffee.
18. Handheld Steamer
I could not tell you how many times I reached for this handheld steamer in college. A lot of times I wouldn’t fold my clothes right away so when I would go to wear something, more often than not it would have a few wrinkles.
It’s pretty small so it’s also really easy to store and take with you when you travel.
I seriously don’t know what I would have done without my handheld steamer.
19. First Aid Kit
Not exactly the most glamorous college dorm room essential, but safety comes first!
They do have nurses on campus but it’s always nice to be able to take care of minor cuts and injuries on your own, especially in a pinch.
Definitely something you want to keep in your dorm room.
Storage and Decor
20. Drawer Units (With Wheels)
One of my favorite organization hacks are these drawer units on wheels. They are great to use as nightstands, food storage, extra desk storage, etc.
Plus the wheels make it super easy to move around your dorm and even use as a makeshift table.
The second option is the perfect height for a nightstand and it even has outlets for charging which makes it a great all around piece to have in your dorm.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, you can never have enough storage in your dorm!
21. Wall Shelf With Hooks
I love nothing more than when a decor piece doubles as storage! This shelf with hooks would look adorable above your dorm bed or even by the door.
You can store your bags, backpacks, keys, hats, or even use the top of the shelf to store books. This piece is so versatile so you can really make it your own!
If I was decorating a college dorm, this organizer would definitely make the list of must have essentials.
22. Hanging Shoe Caddy
One of my biggest worries about my dorm room was if I would have enough space to store all of the shoes I wanted to bring (I know, first world problems) but this over-the-door shoe caddy has space for literally all of the shoes you could possibly want to bring. I mean there’s room for 24 pairs of shoes!
And even if you don’t use all of the shoe slots, you can use the extra ones to organize anything from socks to hats and anything in between.
It also makes sure your shoes aren’t making a mess of your dorm or getting anything else dirty.
23. Space Saving Hangers
This is easily one of my favorite space-saving hacks when it comes to dorm room closets. If you think the dorm room closets aren’t too small, just wait until you start putting things in it and you will run out of space very quickly (I know I did).
But that’s where these space-saving hangers come into play. They take your clothes and condense them by using the vertical space in your closet so you have even more hanging room.
So even if you don’t have enough dresser space to store your jeans or pants, you will probably have space in your closet to hang them up with these hangers.
24. Bedside Caddy
This bedside caddy just came back in stock and I’m in love! It’s such a great way to keep your electronics and any other essentials you may want within easy reach while you’re in bed.
This is definitely something I wish I got for my dorm because my small nightstand could not hold nearly everything I wanted it to.
25. Hanging Mirror
I brought this exact hanging mirror with me to college and boy am I glad I did! It’s just big enough for outfit checks and getting ready with the girls, but it doesn’t take up a ton of room which is really nice.
I hung it on the wall, but you can also hang it on your closet door to save wall space.
A tall mirror is one of those things you don’t really realize how much you use until you don’t have one.
Plus you can always put it in your apartment or home when you move out of the dorms.
26. Under Bed Storage
Both of these under the bed storage options are a great way to sneak in some extra storage under your bed for clothes, shoes, accessories, etc.
The first under the bed storage option is great for storing items that you don’t use everyday like snow or sports gear.
But if you are looking for something that resembles a makeshift dresser, these stackable storage bins have pull out drawers for super easy access to whatever it is you may need extra space for.
27. Drawer Dividers
Whether its your dresser or your desk drawers, these drawer dividers make it super easy to keep everything nice and organized without having to spend any extra money on individual baskets or bins.
I loved using these drawer dividers for my dorm because they are adjustable so it made it super easy to use in pretty much any type of drawer or storage unit.
Electronics
28. Braided Cord
These braided cord chargers are literally the only ones that don’t break or fray after a year of use. Pro tip: Get a charger that’s a different color than most like this light pink one so you won’t get your chargers mixed up with your roommates.
29. Wireless Charger
The last thing you want to have happen is being out and about when your phone dies.
I never go anywhere without a wireless charger, it has saved my butt more times than I can count!
Even if you charge your devices the night before, chances are your electronics are going to need a little pick me up throughout the day, especially when you are using them for hours on end during lectures.
30. Rotating Fan
Dorms can get pretty hot, especially with the summer heat. If you don’t have a fan to cool you down, it can get pretty miserable, especially if you are one of those people that tend to run hot.
This fan is everyone’s top pick for dorms because it’s small but mighty and can rotate to circulate the air. Plus, I can’t get over how cute this pink color is. It’s the perfect dorm room fan!
31. Charging Extender
There is almost never enough places to plug in all of the electronics you will bring with you to college, so charging extenders will be your best friend!
Also somehow the outlets are not in the the most convenient places so a charging extender is a must-have to be able to have your cords reach.
Laundry
32. Laundry Bags
When it comes to college laundry, you are going to want laundry bags to keep all of your intimates and delicate items safe and organized.
It also protects your more delicate items from getting ruined or torn in the washer. That way when they are done washing you can just hang them up to dry.
33. Laundry Basket
More likely than not the laundry room is not going to be right next to your dorm so having an easy way to transport your laundry will be such a lifesaver!
A lot of people will bring laundry backpacks or bags but when you have a lot of laundry to do you are not going to want to lug it across the halls.
This laundry basket is super cute and has wheels on the bottom so you can easily transport your laundry to and from the laundry rooms.
This post was all about the best college dorm room essentials every college student needs.
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