When you think about your upcoming college years, you’re probably excited to meet new people and find out for yourself what college classes are really all about. But how much thought have you given to shopping for dorm supplies? If you haven’t planned things out very much, do yourself a favor and make a college supplies shopping list. Not everyone’s list will be the same, of course, although there are some must-have dorm items that every new college freshman will need. Below is a sampling of essentials for college to help get you started; this list contains strictly the basics, so don’t limit yourself. After all, the right dorm supplies will make your dorm room yours.
1. Dorm bedding
Your school bed will be a twin XL mattress—99 percent of colleges provide mattresses in that size, so be sure you don’t buy sheets for a queen bed or anything too large! If you haven’t heard or guessed it, that university-provided mattress will be old, lumpy, and generally uncomfortable. If you put only sheets and a comforter on top of it, your dorm bed will be warm but still not very comfortable. It’ll take a nice bed topper like a layer of memory foam to help soften that bed up. Investing in some comfy dorm bedding is well worth it—four years of bad sleep won’t help those grades!
2. Dorm decor
When you first step into that dorm room, you might be taken aback by how bland things look; white, plain walls, a cold, barren floor and a skeletal bed are all you’ll see. So it’s up to you to liven things up. Posters are always popular because they’re cheap dorm decorations and can bring some character to that plain room. Or, lay down a nice rug for your dorm room to bring some color and soften up those hard floors. Dorm decor products not only bring color, they make your dorm room more home-like, which is important in order to ward off homesickness and to bring some of your personality to that little room.
3. Appliances
It’s never a bad idea to connect with your roommate before the big move-in day, especially when it comes to planning who’s bringing which appliances for your dorm room. The rumors are true that Easy Mac and Ramen noodles are college kids’ dietary staples, but you’ll need a microwave to cook them. Also, a mini fridge is essential for snacking in your dorm and for storing leftover pizza. Since appliances take up a fair amount of space, you’ll want a few dorm organization products to help you maximize what little space you have. Girls, try hanging an over-the-door shoe shelf on your closet or main door. You can also find a ton of under-bed storage boxes to make sure all that space under your bed doesn’t go wasted.
4. Shower supplies
Although it’s not one of the most pleasant parts of dorm living, you’ll need all the right dorm supplies for that daily commute to the communal shower. You’ll require a couple towels, of course, and a shower tote to hold all your bathroom accessories. Don’t forget a pair of shower shoes too! Those communal shower floors are always-wet and humid surfaces—which create the perfect conditions for germs and bacteria to breed. We know it’s not the nicest thing to think about, but a good pair of shower flip flops will keep you covered.
This list is hardly a comprehensive shopping list for college. Your needs will be different than those of every other incoming freshman, so really take some time to think about what you’ll need. Remember, this is an exciting time, so have some fun dorm shopping! If you’re ready to start dorm shopping or just need some more dorm-supplies tips, check out DormCo.com/NextStepU
– Keith Gillogly
