College kids will soon be heading back to school (or for some, heading off on their own for the first time!). If you’re gathering all of your dorm room essentials and want to make sure you’re not missing anything, I’ve got you covered! I worked with my two college-aged daughters to create the ultimate dorm room essentials list. It includes essentials for your dorm bed, bath, & desk along plus some dorm decor ideas too.
I’ve also included a free printable checklist of all of the dorm room essentials you don’t want to forget. I hope it’s helpful for you as you plan, prepare, and have some fun with getting college-ready! (post includes commissionable links; for more information, see my full disclosure statement {here})
Dorm Room Essentials For Your Bed
Let’s kick things off with dorm room essentials for your bed! I’ve included everything from mattress protectors & toppers to bedding, stools for lofted beds, & more:
Sources: Clip-on lamp | Bedside storage | Twin XL sheets | Boucle throw pillows (also check out {these pillows}) | Gray reading pillow | Pleated comforter | Bed pillows | Navy comforter
1. Mattress Protector, Topper, & Pad – College dorm mattresses tend to be thin and sometimes kinda gross! I recommend a trio of products that make that thin mattress much more comfortable, protect from bedbugs & other grossness, and keeps any spills from soaking into the mattress and topper. Be sure you’re buying the right size items for your bed – most dorm beds are size twin XL which is a few inches longer than a standard twin.
First you’ll want a zippered waterproof mattress protector like {this highly rated option} to encase all six sides of the mattress. Then add a foam mattress topper like {this one} on top for comfort (most dorm mattresses really need it!). Finally, cover the mattress and topper with a waterproof mattress pad like {this one} to protect the topper and keep it in place.
2. Sheet Set – Not all sheets are available in twin XL but there are still plenty of options in this non-standard size. Two highly-rated options are {this sheet set} and {this sheet set} which are well priced & reviewed, soft, and, wrinkle resistant. They come in a ton of color and pattern options. If you prefer 100% cotton, you can find them in a twin XL size {here}.
3. Clip-on task light – My daughters often used their bed instead of their desk to study so having a light that clipped onto their bed frame was key:
It’s one of the dorm room essentials I wouldn’t do without! {This clip-on light} is a great option that comes in multiple color options.
4. 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 so bought a $5 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. {This set of two pillows} and {this set of pillows} are two highly-rated options.
5. Quilt, Comforter, or Duvet – There are so many great options for bedding! Generally a quilt or comforter is preferable to a duvet cover with insert since they’re easier to wash. A few sites to shop online for dorm room bedding in addition to Amazon include Pottery Barn Dorm, Urban Outfitters, and Target.
6. 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 daughters also liked having a throw like {this one} that they could use when hanging out or studying in their room if it got chilly.
7. Pillow Shams + Decorative Pillows – A lot of students use their beds for lounging as much as sleeping so adding in some decorative pillows like {these} or {these} is key! A reading pillow like {this one} is also key for bed studiers.
8. Bedside storage – We used a bedside storage caddy similar to {this one} that attached to her lofted bed with velcro straps. It worked out 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:
9. Bed Risers + Skirt – If you aren’t going to have a lofted bed but want a little extra storage space under your bed, bed risers such as {these} can be really useful. If you do put your bed on risers, some like to use an extra long bed skirt like {this one} that has several different length options to hide the junk.
10. Step/storage stool – A step stool is one of the dorm room essentials that some kids will need and others won’t depending on their bed height and furniture layout. My daughter was so glad she had one because we ended up lofting her bed fairly high and it made it easy for her to hop up! A folding stool like {this one} that you can tuck away when it’s not in use is ideal.
Another option is to get a storage stool like {this one} with a removable top hiding extra storage space inside. One of my daughters had one that doubled as a storage piece for her shoes (her exact one is no longer available):
See my post on dorm room ideas for girls for more ideas of how to organize your dorm room.
11. 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, check them out {here}.
Dorm Room Essentials For Bath & Laundry
The dorm room essentials that you’ll need for your bath 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!):
Sources: Towel set | Rolling storage cart | Shower shoes | Shower caddy | Sherpa robe | Laundry hamper with removable bag | Over the door hangers | Bath mat
1. Shower Caddy – The best style of shower caddy depends on whether there’s a sink in the room or not. If there’s a sink and you only need a caddy for your shower supplies, a plastic tote like {this one} is a great option. 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}.
2. Bath Stand/cart – If there’s space in the room, a multi-use stand or cart like {this one} is great for holding toiletries by a room sink or for holding shower caddies and towels to grab on the way to a hall bath.
3. Towels – Grab a towel set including bath towels, hand towels, and washcloths such as {this 8-piece set}. 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.
4. Shower Shoes + Bath Mat – Slip-on shower shoes are one of the dorm room essentials to not overlook if there’s a hall bathroom. A few options include {these cloud slides} or {these unisex Addidas slides}. If there’s a sink in the room, it’s nice to have a small bath mat like {this one} to stand on in front of the sink and to place wet shower shoes on.
5. Robe – With hall showers comes the need for a robe such as one of {these}, {these} or {these} for women and one of {these} for guys.
6. Laundry Bag or Hamper – The best option for a laundry bag or hamper depends in part on whether your kiddo has to navigate stairs to get to the laundry room. {This laundry hamper with removable bag} is a great option if you’re going up or down stairs. The hamper contains a mesh bag that you can lift out and carry down to do your laundry. Another great option for taking laundry up or down stairs is {this backpack laundry bag}. If laundry is on the same floor, {this rolling hamper} that you can roll down the hall is a great option.
A collapsible laundry basket like {this one} can be nice to have for bringing freshly washed laundry back to the room. It collapses flat for easy storage under the bed when not in use:
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. {This over the door hanger set} is another useful item for hanging wet towels, purses or laptop bags, and more.
Dorm Room Essentials For Desks
Let’s talk about dorm room essentials for desks! There are so many smart options including “no nail” organizers, lamps with USB ports, & more:
Sources: Linen bulletin board | Desk lamp with USB ports | Makeup organizer | Portable mirror | Power strip with USB ports | Desktop fan | Under desk cup holder & headphone hanger | Desk riser | Cord clips
1. Desk lamp – There are some really great options for desk lamps including several that have USB ports built into the base (which is a nice feature since outlets can be in funky places in dorm rooms). A few options include {this lamp with 2 USB ports} that comes in several colors and {this lamp} that’s similar to the one my daughter had:
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. Pinboards & Desk Organizers – There are lots of great options for items that hang from the wall with no-damage adhesive strips such as {this wall organizer} or {this combination pinboard and dry erase board}. My daughter chose {this oversized pinboard} for photos, assignments, etc. that she outlined with battery operated fairy lights ({this pinboard} is a similar option):
A cup holder and headphone hanger like {this one} that clamps onto the desk and cord holder clips like {these} can come in handy too.
4. Vanity Mirror & Makeup Organizer – My daughter put on her makeup at her desk instead of using the hall bathroom so having a vanity mirror such as {this desktop mirror} was really useful for her. It would also be helpful for putting contacts in & out. My daughter also had a makeup organizer similar to {this one}.
5. 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.
6. Surge Protector/ Power Strip, Power Cords & Cables, Chargers – Don’t forget all of your electronics cords and chargers! I’d recommend bringing 2-3 power strips (most schools allow power strips but some don’t allow extensions cords so you may need several strips so they’re close enough to everything you want to plug in). {This power strip} and {this power strip} are two options that have several outlets plus USB ports too. Also be sure to pack power cables for laptops, phones, headphones, etc.
Dorm Room Decor
And of course there’s the most fun part of dorm room shopping – dorm room essentials for decorating your space! There are so many fun things to choose from including these decor pieces:
Sources: Over-the-door mirror | Wall basket | Tassel garland | No nail shelves | Fairy lights | Folding lounge chair | Jewelry box | Shag rug
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 a rug similar to {this rug} that was super soft and luckily the perfect fit between their two beds:
Places to look for dorm room area rugs besides Amazon include Rugs USA, PB Teen, and Ruggable.
2. Lounge Seating – Many dorm rooms have enough space to add 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 folding lounge chair like {this one}.
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 shelves, wall baskets, fairy lights and more. My daughter chose {this tapestry} and wow – it made such a HUGE difference for not a lot of money! It’s one of the dorm room essentials I’d most recommend for decorating.
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! {These curtains} are a great budget-friendly option that comes in a variety of colors and sizes.
There are a lot of other little things to remember too 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 College Packing Checklist
You can download and print my updated printable dorm checklist {HERE}.
Tips for Move-In Day
And one last thing! Now that we’ve covered dorm room essentials, l’d love to share a few tips for move-in day:
- If space in your car is going to be tight, consider using space-saving vacuum bags such as {these} for clothing and bedding.
- 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 FRAKTA storage bags from IKEA or {these nearly identical moving bags} are the best!!
- 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.
- Pack a door stopper – some dorm room doors close on their own so having a door stopper makes multiple trips in and out easier
- 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.
- Unless your student lives in an upper floor of a dorm without an elevator, invest in a foldable dolly such as {this one}. They’re not cheap but after moving two kids in and out of dorm rooms and apartments multiple times, trust me that it’s money well spent! Plus it would re-sell well on Facebook Marketplace once you’re done with college move-ins.
Good luck to those of you who are parents of incoming freshman!
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Anonymous says
Great post – makes me want to go back to college!
Kris Jarrett says
There’s definitely so much more fun stuff right?
Gissel says
My son is an incoming freshman and your dorm checklist and tips are really helpful! Thank you
Kris Jarrett says
I’m so glad you found it helpful! Hope you son has a great year!