Dorm Room Essentials Checklist
After putting together 2 dorm rooms in 2 years, I kind of feel like a pro. Ha!
Here is a college dorm room essentials checklist for you so you don’t miss a thing!! You can find the whole list on my Amazon Storefront as well.
Bedding
I have daughters, so my perspective might be a little different than that of a mom of boys. Girls get excited about having cute bedding when they go off to college. However, we did not want to spend a ton of money knowing they would most likely only use it only a year or 2!
Here are the basics you’ll need.
Art/Dorm Room Decor
It’s so fun to let your child decorate their room. It’s neat to see their unique personality and style displayed. We found some really great art and frames on Etsy and Amazon.
Ashley, my younger daughter, is an artist so she did a lot of her own art.
Here are some of my favorite frames and art you can purchase in different sizes!
Storage/Organization
The biggest challenge in living in a dorm room is storage. You have to get creative or you will for sure run out of space!
These hangers allow you to more than quadruple your hang space!
A lot of people put their twin beds on risers so they can have tons of storage space under their bed. Here are some great storage containers.
We used these bags when we moved our girls into and out of their dorm rooms. They are so inexpensive and can even be checked on an airplane. I highly recommend them!
This inexpensive cart is a game changer! It’s amazing how much you can fit on it. My daughters used it mostly for food and snacks.
Every kid needs a plastic shower caddy. Here are some that get great reviews. They can also be used for storing hairspray, brushes, and other hair necessities.
Laundry baskets are a necessity. The ones that roll are super helpful since your child most likely will have to take their laundry basket quite a distance to get to the washing machine and dryer. Here are some great options.
Meds
This is most likely the first time your kid has been away from home and living pretty much on their own. I started off the year with pretty much every medication I could think of that the girls might need.
Miscellaneous
Here are some things that are helpful that my girls enjoyed having.
- Mini Keurig
- Steamer
- Brita Water Pitcher
- Small shelving unit
- Mini fridge
- Command strips
- Toothbrush holder
- Drawer organizers
- Desk Mirror
- Power strips are a must have. Your kids will have all kinds of chargers and electronics that need power!
We loved getting rugs for the girls rooms. They soften the space and add so much warmth! Here are some inexpensive rugs we have and love.
We love Amazon, but found lots of great dorm room decor at HomeGoods and Target as well. Here’s a post I wrote about HomeGoods shopping tips and tricks!
I hope this has been helpful in getting you ready for move in day! When you plan and prepare, you can make sweet memories and not be overwhelmed with all the things that need to be purchased.
Grateful for you!
Julie
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