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Why Does What I Bring to College Even Matter?
One of the first things students look forward to in starting college or coming back is making the dormitory their own space. Knowing what to bring to college for your dorm is important. This space is your central hub鈥攜our study spot, your mini kitchen, your bedroom, your space for late-night deep conversations, and so much more. So how do you know what to bring to college? Our guide will help you with the college dorm essentials.
Our Top 12 Basic College Dorm Essentials
Does twelve seem a little odd? Well, we couldn鈥檛 leave some items out (hence 鈥渆ssentials鈥�).聽
1. Curtains鈥擜re you a light sleeper? Blinds may only be so helpful. Having black-out curtains that block out sunlight can be crucial. They also can be a perfect, simple addition to personalize your space.
2. Mini Fridge鈥擲nacks are another important part of the college lifestyle. And if you grab a few letter magnets, you can leave cryptic messages to your roommates.
3. Plastic Dishes鈥擲peaking of eating, thrift a plate or two, or grab $1 plastic dishes from Target or Walmart. They鈥檙e lightweight and sturdy, probably lasting longer than a freshman-year relationship.
4. Area Rug鈥擡ven if your dorm is carpeted, having a small area rug is another great way to add dimension and personality to your room as well as cover up any small stains you might have accidentally made.
5. Full-length mirror鈥擳hose dimly-lit college bathroom half-mirrors cannot give you the full picture. Full length mirrors are easy to find and set up anywhere in the room!
6. String or LED lights鈥擳hese are a great and affordable way to customize the lighting of your room to your aesthetic preference.
7. Storage Bins鈥擣inding a way to fit your life into a small room shared with another individual can be tricky. One of the best ways to conserve space and still bring your stuff is to get creative with storage!
8. Power Strips鈥擳here鈥檚 usually a 1:100 ratio for accessible outlets to things you need to plug in on a regular basis. Having a few extension cords on your hands will make those hard-to-reach outlets more accessible.
9. Electric Hot Pot鈥擶hen the cafeteria is closed, but you鈥檙e still hungry, grabbing a dorm-safe, university-approved hotpot is a lifesaver. It can be used to boil pasta, ramen, steam veggies, or do a ton of other things that can fuel you up.
10. Sturdy Laundry Basket鈥擧aving something sturdy is important. This is what you鈥檒l be lugging between college and your parent鈥檚 house, or up and down steps from your dorm to the laundry room, so get something that鈥檒l last.聽
11. First Aid Kit鈥擸ou never know when you might need it. You never think you will until you do.
12. Fan鈥擨f you and your roommate have disagreements on temperature preference, having a smaller fan is always a great way to cool down without changing the room鈥檚 entire temperature.
What You Never Think To Bring But Always End Up Needing in Your Dorm
Otherwise known as the items never on those college dorm essentials checklists. This detailed college list is all the things you wished someone had told you what you would need at unexpected times.
- Mattress topper. It鈥檚 not the most decorative item, but your sleep is one of the most valuable things in college. A mattress topper guarantees a better night鈥檚 rest.
- White noise machine. Having one of these handy will help replace the snore of your roommate with peaceful sounds.
- Seat cushion. Sometimes, those dorm chairs just don鈥檛 cut it. Finding a perfect seat cushion can make a huge difference.
- Booklight. When you are trying to finish an assignment but your roommate is asleep, having portable book lights comes in handy.
- Keychain Holder. Have you ever left your keychain somewhere in your house and ran late because you couldn’t find it? A keychain holder can solve that problem, and there are plenty of options that don鈥檛 require you to drill holes in dorm walls.
- Compact toolbox. Sometimes, a screw in your chair comes loose. A toolbox with the basic essentials will give you the skills to fix minor problems, or adjust things in your dorm to your exact liking. Just don鈥檛 become a renovator.
- Comfortable folding saucer chair or bean bag chair. Having a spare folding chair can be a great alternative for guests, or for you when you鈥檙e tired of studying at your desk.
- Stain remover/disinfectant. Inevitably, something will spill on your clothes or on your bedding. These can help save you.
- 聽Electric Kettle. If you want to make a quick cup of coffee or tea, electric kettles are great!
- Scissors. Your parents always had a pair in the house, so you took its availability for granted.
Download Your Complete Dorm Essentials Checklist!
We hope this guide helped you figure out what you need to bring to college. For your convenience, we compiled the college dorm essentials into a downloadable and printable checklist with links to available products included in this blog!
