Stylish Dorm Room Essentials 2020

In less than a month my oldest daughter heads back to college and wow are there ever a lot of mixed emotions about sending her back this year! While I’m definitely happy for her to be able to go back and not miss any more of her college experience, it will be interesting to see what that “experience” entails with everything going on right now. We’re trying to stay positive and grab ahold of any normalcy we can, including getting some fun new things for her room (she has a full bed this year so new bedding is in order!) and organizing and packing up everything from last year.

As part of that, I updated the dorm room essentials checklist I created last year and today I’m sharing my updated list plus current favorites for dorm room bedding, decor, and bath & desk accessories. I hope it’s helpful for those of you working on getting your student college-ready! (post includes affiliate links – full disclosure statement available {here})

Before kicking things off, in case you missed it I thought I’d share quick pics of the “before” and “after” of her freshman dorm room last year. My daughter wanted a boho chic vibe with a clean-lined, tailored feel so we went with a combination of blush, gray, and white with some tassels and medallions thrown into the mix! Here’s what it looked like when we walked in:

and here’s what it looked like just a couple of hours later:

It was so fun to do this quick and easy makeover and the best part was that she loved it! You can see more details of her finished dorm room {here}. Now let’s get going with my suggestions for dorm room essentials (and don’t miss the FREE printable dorm room checklist linked at the end of this post!) 

Dorm Room Bed Essentials

Starting with dorm bedding and bed accessories, these essentials range from mattress toppers to storage stools and even some fun extras like dorm headboards:

bed risers    |    sheets    |    blush ruffle quilt    |    winky pillow    |    cozy blush Euro pillow    |    tufted ivory pillow    |    clip on light    |    storage stool    |    footboard storage    |    sweatshirt blankets    |    charcoal plaid comforter

1. Mattress Protector, Topper, & Pad  – College dorm mattresses tend to be thin and sometimes kinda gross – this trio of products makes it much more comfortable, protects from bedbugs & other grossness, and keeps any spills from soaking into the mattress. First you’ll want a zippered waterproof mattress protector like {this one we have} or {this highly rated one} to encase the entire mattress. Then add {this 3″ memory foam topper} on top for comfort (this is the exact one my daughter had and it held up really well) and finally cover the mattress and topper with a mattress pad. We used {this cool touch mattress pad} since memory foam tends to trap heat. 

2. Sheet Set – Most dorm beds are size twin XL but be sure to check before buying because it varies (I was surprised by how many dorms have full beds). If you want to go with a simple solid color, {these highly rated sheets} are a great choice. Also check out {these popular favorite tee sheet sets} or have fun with a pattern:

3. Bed pillow – There’s no one-pillow-fits-all sleeping pillow but my one piece of advice here is to not go bottom-of-the-barrel cheap. We actually forgot my daughter’s pillow at home last year so bought a $4 pillow on a run to Target and it hit the trash can after a few weeks because it was so lumpy and terrible. Lesson learned.

4. Quilt, Comforter, or Duvet + Pillow Sham – There are so many great options for bedding! Last year my daughter went with {this tassel duvet cover} for her dorm bed (with {this duvet insert}). She loved having a duvet but make sure your kiddo is ok with the pain of having to get the duvet back in after washing the cover. If not, opt for a quilt or comforter instead. These are a few other favorites:

5. Blanket and/or Throw – Depending on the rest of the bedding you choose, you might also want to layer in a blanket like {this one}. My daughter also liked having a throw that she could use when studying if her room got chilly. These are a few cute options:

6. Decorative Pillows – A lot of students use their beds for lounging as much as sleeping so several throw pillows is key! 

7. Bed Skirt – With small dorm rooms, you have to take advantage of every square inch, including the storage space under the bed. A bed skirt is great for hiding all of the junk! If the bed is on risers, consider one of {these extra long bed skirts} or {this one}

8. Headboard (if you want to go all out…) – Yes, this is a thing! PBdorm makes “faux” headboards that hang on the wall with D-rings as well as no-nails headboards that hang using 3M adhesive strips. If your kiddo is wanting to go “all in” on their dorm room, here are some options:

9. Bed Risers – If the dorm bed isn’t adjustable in height, bed risers such as {these} create extra storage space underneath. These are about 100 times better than the cement blocks we used to do the same job when I was in college 🙂

10. Clip-on task light – My daughter used her bed instead of her desk to study most of the time so having a clip-on light allowed her to be able to turn off the overhead light but still be able to read when her roomie wanted to go to sleep. She used {this clip-on light} that is no longer available in the gray but comes in two metal finishes: 

{This inexpensive clip-on light} is another great option that comes in three colors, including white.

11. Footboard storage – We used {this canvas footboard storage} that attached to the end of her lofted bed with velcro straps. It worked out so well for her because she could reach things from her bed without getting off of it and it also helped keep her desk free of clutter:

12. Step stool – She was so glad she had a step stool because we ended up lofting her bed fairly high and it made it easy for her to hop up! She used ({this storage stool} with a removable top that she used to corral all of her shoes:

My sister’s son used {this upholstered storage ottoman} and it was a winner too.

Dorm Room Bath Essentials

What you’ll need for bath essentials depends at least in part on whether your dorm room has it’s own toilet, sink, and/or shower or if you’ll be using a shared hall bath. These are a few things to consider putting on your list (I added a few laundry recommendations too!): 

shower shoes    |    laundry backpack    |    white stand    |    robes    |    striped towels    |    collapsible laundry basket    |    shower caddy    |    pom pom bath mat

1. Shower Caddy – The best style of shower caddy depends on whether you have a sink in your room or not. If you have a sink in your room and only need a caddy for your shower supplies, an open wire or plastic caddy like {this one} that can get wet and will dry easily is best. If you don’t have a sink in the room and will be transporting all of your toiletries back and forth, consider a larger caddy with lots of pockets like {this one}. These are a few other options:

2. Bath stand – If there’s space in the room, a multi-use stand such as {this one} works beautifully for holding toiletries by a room sink or for holding shower caddies and towels to grab on the way to a hall bath. A rolling metal cart like {this cart} would also work well.

3. Towels – Consider bringing towels in a unique color or pattern so they don’t easily get mixed up with someone else’s. Since drying conditions aren’t always the best at college (often towel racks are on the inside of closet doors) don’t get towels that are too insanely fluffy – quicker drying ones like {these towels} are great. Even better, consider giving your kids your old towels and getting new ones for yourself! 🙂 Along with bath towels, be sure to get a couple of hand towels and washcloths too.

4. Shower Shoes + Bath Mat – Slip-on shower shoes are a must if there’s a hall bathroom. My daughter used {these shower-ready slides}. She and her roommate also had small bath mat in their room that they could stand on in front of the sink and was a great place to put their wet shower shoes. 

5. Robe – With hall showers comes the need for a robe such as one of {these}. My daughter had {this robe} and it held up really well!

6. Laundry Bag or Hamper – While not exactly a “bath” item, laundry typically also involves trekking down the hall so I thought I’d throw this in here. The best option depends in part on whether your kiddo has to navigate stairs to get to the laundry room. My daughter used {this backpack laundry bag} to put her dirty laundry and carry it down to the laundry room. She also used a collapsible laundry basket like {this one} to bring her freshly washed laundry back to her room. These are great because they collapse flat for easy storage under the bed when not in use:

My sister’s college son had a laundry room on the same floor – he used {this rolling hamper} and said it worked out great. These are a few other hamper options:

7. Drying Rack – Not all kids will need or want a drying rack but my daughter brought {this rack} that folds flat for storage and used it frequently. 

Dorm Room Desk Essentials

Let’s talk about desk essentials! A lot has changed since I went to college – there are so many smart options including “no nail” organizers, lamps with USB ports, organizers for chair backs & more:

dry erase calendar    |    oversized pinboard    |    desk lamp with USB port    |    chair back space saver    |    desktop fan    |    vanity mirror    |    desk riser

1. Desk lamp – There are some really great options for desk lamps including several that have a USB port built into the base (which is a nice feature since outlets can be in funky places in dorm rooms). My daughter had {this USB lamp} in white: 

These are some other similar options:

2. Desktop fan – A small fan that can be transported to various spots throughout the room such as {this one} are a good idea, especially if your kiddo and his/her roommate have different ideas of what a comfortable room temperature is.

3. Chair back space saver – If you’re looking to make the most storage space out of what you’re given, chair back storage pieces such as {this one} or {this one} that tie to the back of the chair can hold folders, notebooks, pens, pencils, and other accessories to help keep clutter off the desk. 

4. White Board, Pinboard, and/or Wall Organizers for above the desk – There are lots of great options for items that hang with 3M adhesive strips so they require no nails in the wall. My daughter chose {this oversized pinboard} for photos, assignments, etc. that she outlined with battery operated fairy lights:

These are some other options that might work for you:

5. Vanity Mirror – My daughter put on her makeup at her desk instead of using the hall bathroom so having a vanity mirror such as {this pretty brass one} was really useful for her. 

6. Desk Riser – If you want to maximize the amount of storage space on the desk, a desk riser such as one of {these} or {this} that sits on top of the desk is something to consider.

8. Surge Protector/ Power Strip, Power Cords & Cables, Chargers – Don’t forget all of your electronics cords and chargers! I’d recommend bringing two power strips so you have one by the desk and one by the bed.

Dorm Room Decor

And of course there’s the most fun part of dorm room shopping – dorm room decor! There are so many fun things to choose from including some that will give you a lot of bang for your buck:

tassel garland (no longer available – {this one} is similar    |    over-the-door mirror    |    black & white tapestry    |    blush hang-a-round-chair    |    shag rug    |    beanbag chair

1. Area Rug – Dorm room floors are typically cold tile so most kids want some type of area rug in their space. Be sure to place your rug in the room first before moving everything in 🙂 My daughter brought {this rug} which was super soft and luckily the perfect fit between their two beds:

These are some other pretty area rug options:

2. Lounge Seating – There was zero space in my daughter’s dorm room to bring in any furniture pieces but I know others have larger rooms with space for some extra seating. Options include a beanbag (only a good idea if you’re local because it takes up too much car space!), a leanback lounger, or a hang-a-round chair that easily folds for storage:

3. Long Mirror – Some dorm rooms include a mirror while others don’t. If you need to buy one, snag a mirror that hangs on the back of the door such as {this one}.

4. Wall Decor – There are SO many fun options for dressing up dorm walls including tapestries, posters, garlands, no nails photo rails, fairy lights and more. My daughter chose {this tapestry} and wow – it made such a HUGE difference for under $30!

Also check out these options:

5. Curtains  – Most people don’t put up curtains on dorm room windows since installing a rod typically involves putting holes in the wall but if you have an open closet (not all dorm closets have doors), you might want to get a tension rod and curtains to hide the mess! IKEA is a great source for inexpensive curtains (the RITVA curtains are great).

There are a lot of other little things to remember too (including things we never had to think about before like masks!) so I’ve put everything I just shared plus all of those little extras together into a free printable dorm checklist so you don’t forget a thing on move-in day:

Free Printable Dorm Room Checklist

You can download and print my updated printable dorm checklist {HERE}.

Tips for Move-In Day

And one last thing – a few tips for move-in day:

1. If space in your car is going to be tight, consider using space-saving vacuum bags for clothing and bedding.
2. Oversized handled duffle bags that can hold everything from clothes to bedding to toiletries are priceless since they mean less trips back and forth to the car. {These IKEA FRAKTA bags} are the best!!
3. For clothes that will be hung in the closet, transport them on hangers by tying the hangers together and covering them with a garbage bag with the hangers poking out the top. Tie the open end of the bag in a knot so nothing falls out.
4. Pack a door stopper – some dorm room doors close on their own so having a door stopper makes multiple trips in and out easier
5. Label any bags and boxes with your student’s last name, dorm, and dorm room number. Often there are helpers for freshman move-in and labeling can help avoid potential mix-ups.

Good luck to those of you who are parents of incoming freshman – this year is sure going to be one for the history books! Are those of you with kids going back to college going to be in mostly online classes, in-person classes, or a mix of both?