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Find the right Dorm Room Essentials that fit your budget and needs. See our Top Picks! Dorm Room Essentials Every College Student Needs for a Communal Living Space
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Aug 23, 2023 · Fall is fast approaching, and if you’re an incoming college freshman (or the parent of one), that means it won’t be long until it’s time to load up the car and head for your dorm. Before ...
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- Command Hanging Variety Pack 2 Damage-Free Hanging. Command Hanging Variety Pack. Now 12% Off. This pack comes with hanging strips, wire hooks and utility hooks to make decorating blank walls a breeze.
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- Hamilton Beach Countertop Microwave Oven. Best Value Countertop Microwave. After testing, the Good Housekeeping Institute deemed this microwave one of the best for its power output of 1,000 watts, a level usually found in pricier models.
DORM BEDDING ESSENTIALS: DORM BATHROOM ESSENTIALS: DORM CLOSET ESSENTIALS: BEST DORM DECORATIONS: BEST DORM TAPESTRIES: DORM FURNITURE ESSENTIALS: DORM KITCHEN ESSENTIALS: DORM CLEANING ESSENTIALS: BEST COLLEGE BACKPACKS: COLLEGE TECH ESSENTIALS: WHAT "COOL" GIRLS ARE WEARING IN COLLEGE: ALL-TIME BEST DORM ROOM ESSENTIALS:
- Overview
- Our top picks
- How we picked our favorites
- Best dorm essentials
- Bed essentials
- Bath and laundry essentials
- Decor essentials
- Storage and organization essentials
- Kitchen essentials
- Tech essentials
When you’re in college, back-to-school shopping looks a little different. On top of laptops and fun stationery, you need bedding, bathroom and kitchen essentials, storage options and decor to help your dorm room feel more like home.
This year, the National Retail Federation (NRF)’s annual back-to-school spending survey found that college students and their families expect to spend an average of $1,367 per household — this is a significant increase from $1,199 last year, surpassing the record of $1,200.32 spent in 2021. The NRF noted that this increase in expected spending is mostly due to a higher demand for electronics. The NRF also said that people are starting to shop back-to-school early to get a head start in preparing for the upcoming school year. Still, 85% of respondents said they still have at least half of their shopping left to do.
SKIP AHEAD Our top picks | Best dorm essentials | How to shop for college essentials
Whether you’re sharing a bathroom and kitchen space with your peers or have your very own space, everyone’s dorm room experience will be different, which makes dorm shopping a very personal experience. As recent college graduates who have lived in many dorms, we’ve compiled a list of items that we consider essential for dorm living. We also highlighted products we wish we had bought before move-in day.
•Best bedding: Threshold 400 Thread Count Printed Sheet Set
•Best bath: Xomiboe Shower Shoes
•Best decor: Command Hooks
•Best storage: Room Essentials 11-inch Fabric Cube
•Best kitchen: Room Essentials Plastic Short Tumbler
•Best tech: Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)
We picked products based on our own experiences as former and current college students living in a dorm to help you determine what works best for your living situation. All the products we recommend are things that we’ve used or are highly rated. Here are some factors we kept in mind when picking our favorites:
•Dorm layout: We made sure to include products for different kinds of dorm room situations and layouts. Dorms can range from singles, doubles and triples to suites and the amount of space you have for your items will vary based on how many people you’re sharing a room with. Sites like DormCo and Dormify sell products specifically for dorm rooms with college students and families.
We separated our favorite products into six categories: bed, bath, decor, storage, kitchen and tech so you can shop based on what you need for your specific dorm room. It’s important to note that not all of these products are necessary to kickstart your college experience but may be helpful to help you settle in and make you more comfortable in thi...
Home-It Adjustable Bed Risers
One thing we recommend to anyone living in a dorm is a bed riser, which lifts the bed a few inches off the floor and can be useful if you want to create storage space underneath. These adjustable bed risers come in a set of four and have a 4.5-star average rating from 19,188 reviews on Amazon. Home-It Adjustable Bed Risers $19.49 $24.05
Offelia Vass Duvet Cover and Pillowcase
“I love this duvet cover because it’s comfortable, but also has a subtle pattern that makes my room look more put together,” says Select intern Estee Yi (Cornell University ’24), who’s used this duvet cover through her dorm and college apartment. It comes in Full/Queen and King sizes and though this duvet doesn’t come in a Twin XL, Yi says that a twin-sized duvet was still long enough for her twin XL bed. Offelia Vass Duvet Cover and Pillowcase $37.99
Brooklinen Mulberry Silk Pillowcase
This silk pillowcase from Brooklinen is a favorite of former Select intern Kala Herh (NYU ’22). It can be especially useful for those with dry and acne-prone skin since silk doesn’t zap away moisture from the skin like cotton pillowcases tend to do, experts told us in our guide to silk bedding. Brooklinen Mulberry Silk Pillowcase $59.00
Xomiboe Shower Shoes
After living in dorms, we can confirm that you should always wear flip-flops or sandals in communal dorm showers. These open-toe slide sandals have drainage holes that prevent water from pooling under your feet, according to the brand. The shoes are made from a quick-drying elastic material and have grippy anti-slip outsoles so you don’t fall in the shower, according to the brand. Xomiboe Shower Shoes $15.98 $19.80
H&M Waffled Bathrobe
A robe is useful to wear while heading to the bathroom and walking back to your dorm room after a shower, according to our staff. This highly rated H&M bathrobe has a 4.3-star average rating from 207 reviews at H&M. It is made from a machine-washable waffle-weave cotton blend. It has two front pockets and a tie belt at the waist. H&M Waffled Bathrobe $36.99
Room Essentials Mesh Shower Caddy
Shower caddies help you store your shampoo, soap, toothbrush and other supplies in one space, which makes going to a shared bathroom a more streamlined experience. This option is a foldable mesh tote that keeps your toiletries organized with multiple pockets for other accessories. Yi liked this tote because she could hang it from a hook in the communal shower instead of putting her toiletries on the shower floor. Room Essentials Mesh Shower Caddy $6.00
Command Hooks
Since you usually can’t use nails to hang anything on dorm room walls, Command Hooks are a great choice, Malin says. Their sticky adhesive doesn’t damage walls when you apply or remove them, and you can purchase them in different styles, like strips and cord organizers. Beyond using Command Hooks to cover the walls in picture frames, posters, bulletin boards and string lights, Malin also used them in her closet and on the back of the door to hang coats and backpacks. The brand also offers a line of hooks to support heavier items weighing 10 to 20 pounds. Command Hooks $16.99 $28.99
Mixtiles
Mixtiles is a service that turns your favorite images into framed wall art with a built-in adhesive on the back — you can hang the frames on walls without nails or screws, making them ideal for dorm rooms. The frames measure about 8 inches by 8 inches and are less than an inch thick. You can take them off walls and move them around multiple times without the adhesive losing its stickiness. Malin moved her Mixtiles between two dorm rooms and three apartments. You can upload pictures through the company’s website or its app and flow in pictures from Facebook or Instagram, as well as purchase Mixtiles individually. And if you don’t want to use pictures of friends, family and pets, you can also browse Mixtiles’ collection of art. $15.00 Mixtiles
U Brands Magnetic Chalkboard Calendar
This chalkboard calendar is a decor piece and an organizational tool in one, according to Herh. It comes with two pieces of chalk and a magnet so you can tack on important notes, lists or photos. The calendar is easy to hang using its included mounting system and requires no additional tools, Herh says. U Brands Magnetic Chalkboard Calendar $15.99
Wonder Hanger 10-Pack
Closets are tricky in dorm rooms: Some have no doors, and sometimes you’re only provided with an armoire that barely fits half your wardrobe. But the one thing you’re almost always guaranteed is a hanging rod, and you need to maximize every inch of space you’re given. Malin says the Wonder Hanger helped to increase the storage volume of the closet by hanging up to five garments from one hanger. Each Wonder Hanger can hold up to 30 pounds of clothing and works with any type of hanger, according to the brand. You can use it horizontally with both hooks or vertically with one hook. Wonder Hanger 10-Pack $13.99
Seville Classics Shoe Rack
Since Malin put a mirror on the back of her door, she couldn’t use an over-the-door organizer to store her shoes. Instead, she bought this shoe rack and kept it under her dorm bed. It holds up to 12 pairs of shoes, and if you need more space, you can stack multiple racks on top of one another, according to the brand. The rack has three mesh shelves that hold up to 30 pounds and you can assemble the shelves either flat or at an angle depending on how much space you want between them. Seville Classics 3 Tier Mesh MultiPosition Utility Shoe Rack $39.99 $39.99
Room Essentials 11-inch Fabric Cube
Fabric cubes are the perfect storage solution to organize extra clothes, books, skin care essentials and more, according to our staff. Select associate reporter Bianca Alvarez (Penn State ‘21) says she would be worried about there being too much clutter in her dorm room and likes that these storage cubes served as both decor and storage. The cube is collapsible and can fold flat to store away when you’re not using it. It can hold up to 25 pounds. Room Essentials 11-inch Fabric Cube $5.00
Brita Water Filter Pitcher
Instead of walking to the water fountain to fill up your water bottle, you can keep a pitcher with a filter in your mini fridge. This Brita water filter has a 48-ounce capacity and is slim enough to fit inside a mini fridge, according to Yi. If you don’t want to use a filter pitcher, Malin recommends a water bottle with a built-in filter like those by LARQ and S’well. Brita Water Filter Pitcher $18.23 $22.79
Anyday The Medium Shallow Dish
Malin spent the first two years of college exclusively cooking meals in a communal microwave using this dish, which is designed to steam food in the microwave. The dish is made from frosted borosilicate glass and has a silicone-rimmed glass lid that keeps steam inside. The dishes are dishwasher- and freezer-safe, and they come in small, medium and large sizes, as well as shallow and deep depths. Malin recommends purchasing the medium dish since it allows you to make enough food to have leftovers. Anyday The Medium Shallow Dish $35.00
Room Essentials Plastic Short Tumbler
Heavy drinking glasses can be difficult to store if you have minimal shelf space, especially since dorm rooms don’t usually have kitchens. This 18-ounce tumbler is both microwave- and dishwasher-safe. Though some plastic cups can be flimsy, this option is sturdy and won’t easily tip over when you fill it, according to Yi. She also recommends this cup as drinkware or a holder for items like kitchen utensils or makeup brushes. Room Essentials Plastic Short Tumbler $0.50
Tripp Lite Surge Protector Clamp Mount
Power strips are incredibly useful accessories for devices like vacuums and laptop chargers. Herh says that dorm desks tend to come with only one outlet, which makes it difficult to charge a phone, laptop and calculator at the same time. This power strip clamps on the desk and has six outlets and two USB charging ports. Tripp Lite Surge Protector Clamp Mount $39.74
Levoit Air Purifier
Having an air purifier in your dorm room is good to have to keep germs, bacteria, dust and poor air quality out of your room. Alvarez found this air purifier particularly helpful during flu seasons. “It kept us from getting sick constantly and was just helpful to have that added layer of protection,” she says. This air purifier has three fan speeds and is ideal for room sizes from 105 square feet to 178 square feet, according to the brand. Replacement filters are sold separately. Levoit Air Purifier $49.99 $49.99
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)
Going to the library to study isn’t always possible — sometimes it’s too late or too crowded. With the Apple AirPods Pro’s noise-canceling feature, you can create a quiet study space wherever you are, even if you’re with your roommate. The AirPods are also sweat- and water-resistant, according to Apple, making them great for wearing while you work out. These earbuds come with a MagSafe charging case and three sets of silicone tips in different sizes, allowing you to customize their fit. These earbuds also won a Select Wellness Award for best fitness equipment and tech. Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) $189.00 $249.00 $189.00 $249.00 $189.99 $249.99
Jul 31, 2023 · So, what are you waiting for? Take a look at everything you need to check off your college packing list now. Move-in day can’t come soon enough! Our Top Picks. Best dorm room essential from...
Aug 4, 2023 · Whether you're an incoming freshman or returning to dorm life, picking the right stuff for college can be tough. On one hand, you want to have quality gear that won't let you down by midterms.
Aug 14, 2023 · Lauren Savoie and Lily Alig. Updated. Aug 14, 2023, 9:44 AM PDT. Between picking out classes and meeting new roommates, there's a lot on your mind when you're a college freshman. Chances are,...
