Top 10 Things You Need for Your College Dorm
When going to college and moving into your first dorm (often a small double room), most freshmen have no clue what to bring, especially if they have never lived in a college dorm before during a summer camp or program. Luckily, I participated in my college’s pre-college program and stayed in a freshman dorm, as well as talked to my RA’s (current college students) who gave me advice on what to bring. Based on my personal experiences, internet research, and advice from current college students, these are a few of the items a new college student may need for his/her dorm that aren't so obvious.
Decorations might be obvious to many people, but some people may not know that there are certain college regulations for decorations. My college, for example, has a rule that only 3/4s of the wall can be covered by decorations, that certain lights are prohibited, that there is no faux-wallpaper allowed, and nothing can be on the ceiling. Be sure to look up your college or uni’s rules and regulations for decorations before purchasing. However, some things I hope to put up are pictures of friends, maybe fairy lights (battery-powered), and a dry-erase board.
Power Strips (With Surge Protection)
This is another essential item that many people may forget. Some universities also have rules on what power strips are allowed and what are not. Power Strips with surge protection and that have an on and off switch are usually allowed, but plain extension cords with no off switch may not be allowed. A power strip, however, will allow you to make the most of the 2-4 outlets you get on your side of the room.
Huge. A fan can make or break the comfortability of your dorm, especially if your dorm has no AC and you are in a warm area. Be sure to check the rules again for what fan to buy. Some colleges may not allow AC units to be brought in either, so a box fan is usually the safest bet for buying some sort of cooling system for your dorm.
“Organizing bins” is being used as an umbrella term here. When I say “organizing bins,” I mean several organizing mechanisms: closet organizers, bins for under your bed, side bed caddie storage… the works. Bringing organizers for your dorm will make dorm life easier and more homey, as well as making moving out way easier because you will have bins to pack stuff in to take home.
A mattress topper is a much more optional item, but it may make your stay in your dorms much easier. Many college mattresses are terribly uncomfortable, and a nice mattress topper could save your sleep schedule and greatly increase your comfortability in your dorm.
The number 1 decoration for your room and the first thing anyone who enters your room will see. In my personal opinion, aesthetic bed sheets (or bed sheets that are somewhat appealing to the eye) are a must to make your dorm both gorgeous and homey. Urban Outfitters has some great patterns and designs, as well as Pottery Barn and Bed, Bath, and Beyond.
A more obvious and self-explanatory one, these are to make showering a lot easier. Because you share your bathroom and shower space, bringing a large bathroom caddy and flip flops make the experience of sharing a bathroom much easier, cleaner, and more streamlined. Trust me when I say you do NOT want to enter that shower barefoot.
Purely for convenience. Outlets are never placed in the most convenient spot for phone charging. Bringing a 10-foot phone charger (or anything longer than the one Apple gives you, let’s be real) will change your life.
There is no mirror in your dorm room, and spending an hour doing makeup in your shared bathroom is going to be a pain when everyone and their fifth brother is trying to use the countertop space and mirror. Bring a small vanity mirror for your dorm so that you don’t have to be in that nasty shared bathroom more than you have to, and so you can get more privacy during your morning routine.
Cleaning your dorm is a must, especially cause it will not be as clean as you would like it when you arrive. Having a mop, small vacuum or dustpan, and some Clorox wipes will make keeping your dorm clean easier, and make the dorm much more homey for both you and your visitors.
