Top 10 Essentials for Your College Dorm Room
As mentioned yesterday, BabyGirl was accepted to her #1 college choice and the fabulous Well-Heeled offered to write a guest post for us about preparing for college life in the dorms. I hope you enjoy it. I sure did!
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Many colleges and retailers (Bed Bath & Beyond, Target, KMart, etc.) will provide lists of things that are useful for dorms. Before you buy anything, though, be sure to check with your college on what appliances are allowed (fewer than you’d think – my college prohibited hot plates and George Forman grills because of fire hazard concerns) and if your kid will be sharing a room, check with the roommate to make sure there won’t be two sets of microwaves, bookshelves, etc.
From my college experience, here are 10 Must-Haves for Keeping a College Student’s Dorm Room in Comfort and (some) Style.
1. Mini-fridge: Good place to stash the leftovers from last night’s marathon study session and eat it for lunch the next day! Teaches kids to appreciate the complex flavors of a well-marinated leftover meal. ;) Also good for stocking non-alcoholic soft drinks in the dorm room.
Mini-fridges can cost upwards of $200-$250 (especially for the bigger, more well-designed of mini-fridges), but cheaper models can be found for under $100. Super forward-thinking parents who live near the college campus might contact graduating seniors to buy their mini-fridges for a big discount. Mini-fridges can also be found on Craigslist.
2. Microwave: A good microwave is important – for some nights before finals I live on microwaved ramen because I didn’t have time to go to the dining halls. There’s no reason to spend a lot on a microwave, as a basic, quality model can be found for $50 to $75 new. Again, Craigslist will have microwaves for as low as $10. Be sure to test out used microwaves before you purchase, however – there’s nothing worse than a dorm with a broken microwave.
3. Reading lamp: IKEA is my favorite destination for a good reading lamp (a lamp with enough light and an adjustable neck). I’ve had my reading lamp for 5 years, and it’s still going strong. Expect to spend $25-$30 for a reading lamp, less if you buy it second-hand ($5-$20).
4. Area rugs: Yes, most dorm rooms have carpets. But they are ugly, scuffed up, and not very comfortable! One or two area rugs scattered around the bed or the desk will cozy up the room and add a little bit of color to the often industrial-looking carpeting that dorm rooms have. I’ve seen rugs for $10-$20 at Target or Home Goods.
5. Sheet sets, pillow(s), & comforter: Make sure to check if your dorm room requires Twin or Twin XL – you will need to buy different fitted sheet sets for each size. Each set usually includes 1 pillow case, 1 fitted sheet, and 1 flat sheet. I like to go to Target, TJ Maxx, or Marshalls for comfortable, relatively high-thread count (300+) sets for a reasonable price. Expect to spend $20-$40 per sheet set and $50-$100 for a down or down alternative comforter. You will need at least 2 sets of bed linens (one set to use while one set is in the laundry). Overstock.com is another great online resource to get bedding.
Also, a pillow is a good thing to bring – my college offered 1 pillow per student, but these were not the pillows that will help you get a good night’s rest (imagine a $5 pillow slept on by 30 students before you. Now you see). A good pillow can cost however much you want to pay, but I find that pillows in the $30+ range usually offer a better level of comfort. Costco can be a great place to get very expensive pillows for not very expensive prices – I got a down pillow for $35.
6. Shower Caddy & Flip Flops: A shower caddy can be purchased very cheaply ($5-$10) from Target. A few pairs of shower flip flops ($2-$4 a pair at Old Navy) are also a must-have. Because communal showers might be a college experience, but foot fungus should not!
7. Laundry supplies (detergent, bleach, stain remover, laundry basket, dryer sheets, rolls of quarters if necessary): $3-$10 per item at Target. I suggest the concentrated version (2x or 3x) of the detergent because they come in smaller bottles and last longer.
8. Butterfly chair or bean bags: Cheap and easy extra seating for the dorm. They are ~$15-$30 at Target (the mecca of college dorm shopping) or Overstock.com. When it comes to extra seating, it’s important to buy something that is 1. comfortable, 2. cheap enough that you won’t be broken-hearted if someone spills on it, and 3. easy to transport (butterfly chairs can be folded up, and bean bags can be squished into a small space for transport).
9. A set of unbreakable, plastic dishes & utensils: when late night munchies hit, it helps to have a bowl to make some ramen. $10-$15 at Target, TJ Maxx or Marshalls.
10. An individual Britta filter: $25, plus ~$10 for a set of 4 filters. This way, fresh water is only a bathroom (and a filter) away!
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Thanks Well-Heeled! If you enjoyed this guest post, please check out her blog Well-Heeled, with a Mission or follow her on Twitter.
From your college experience, is there anything you would add to the list? Any preparation tips you’d like to share?
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Have you read the Fabulous Financials comment policy lately?
I am ever amazed at how much cheaper things are south of the border.
The guest post writer is on the west coast in a high COLA. The prices seem pretty standard to me. [-SM]
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Except for the actual college tuition, of course!
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Very comprehensive. She covered it all!
I’d also suggest one of those wardrobe hanging things..? With the individual pockets so you can put sweaters in them or gloves, without taking up precious space.
Kind of like this: http://www.lesort.com/UploadFiles/200992216472102.jpg
I found it immensely useful to put gloves and hats on the top, store sweaters, shoes, and other knickknack things you don’t want to keep on a shelf.
Makes good use of vertical space :)
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A huge congrats to your daughter! That is fantastic and probably a huge weight lifted off both of your shoulders!
I would add: Lofted beds (if possible)
My freshman year, my roommate and I had lofted beds in our small room and it makes a huge difference. We had so much extra room we could fit a futon and it was much more comfortable. They can get expensive, but well worth the price. Our orientation package had some loft companies listed, and they were selling loft packages during freshman move-in.
Best of luck to you and her!
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I would definitely check out the door rooms first and see what is provided (check a picture online maybe?). Most of my college dorm rooms didn’t have space for a bean bag (my freshman year I lived in a quad – yep, 4 girls!). Those butterfly chairs are similar to the folding camp ones and are nice to have since they’re easy to store.
For bedding, a lot of “Bed in a Bag” sets come with XL sheets now. Those are usually a pretty good deal. The reading light I needed was really a desk lamp.
I also bought these for storage: http://www.yaffainc.com/
Cool storage thingies! Seems like they take up a lot of space though. [-SM]
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I think a laptop and a b&w printer are also essential–relying on a computer lab is almost never good enough. A decent printer can be acquired in the $30-50 range. I never had an area rug or additional chairs in my dorm (wouldn’t have fit).
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I’d also add a thumb drive to the list – to port BG’s assignments around rather than just emailing them to herself.
Some underbed storage if you don’t loft the bed? Crates or shelves to store food & other essentials…a robe so BG doesn’t have to walk down the hall in her towel. (trust me, the showers get pretty nasty, you don’t want to spend more time in there than you have to.)
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I am going to draw from my own experience and suggest cleaning supplies like clorox wipes, broom and dust pan because there is no maid (mom) in college and that floor needs a good sweep every now and then. That desk will need a good wipe sometimes, too.
I had a GROSS roommate.
Oh, and let us not forget that picture of MOM,to remind us to always be on our best behavior!
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I got a lot of use out of my hot pot. good for tea, instant coffee, noodles, rice a roni, etc.
I also used a brita filter…cheaper and better for the environment than buying bottled water.
I had a rug in my dorm room, but I didn’t like it because it needed to be vacuumed and well, that was another appliance to need.
A bean bag wouldn’t have fit in my dorm room.
It might be a good idea to make a list and wait until you get to the college destination (walmart and target are everywhere pretty much) to get what you need. This will make packing the car easier.
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Great suggestions! Here are my additions:
1) Alarm clock (bonus points if it docks her iPod) – Can’t be late for that 8am class!
2) Over the door shoe/accessories organizer – If her shoe game is anything like yours, she’ll definitely need this.
3) A stand-in local family if her school is out of state – I know this may sound odd, but I could not have made it through undergrad or grad school so far without the support of my local family. These are folks (who may or may not be biologically related to me) that took me in as one of their own. They fed me, let me do laundry, let me store my junk there over the summer, and generally made being away from home more bearable.
LOL @ #3. First time I’ve heard that suggestion. If she goes to her #1 choice school, in essence, she’ll be returning “home.” We have no family in DC. [-SM]
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Congrats to your family!!!
I would also like to draw your attention to the fridge/microwave combination appliances. This option can be cost effect and somewhat environmentally friendly as one appliance energy reduces while the other is in use.
Interesting, never heard of a fridge/microwave combo. I’m clearly behind on the times. [-SM]
Another tip, even though you are looking for the best deals, some things are worth waiting on. For example, my undergrad gave each student a shower caddy filled with laundry and household supplies. Depending on the institution, you might get these items at summer orientation or fall move-in.
How exciting! Happy Shopping!
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Congratulations Baby Girl & Single Ma!
Here are my suggestions based on my dorm experience:
– A foot locker with a lock to store valuables and other items. (You may trust your roommate but you may not trust her/their friends).
– Air freshner for the room & bathroom.
– Multi-level hangers, so you can hang multiple items on one hanger. (Those closets are much smaller than you think.) I also concur on the under-bed storage.
– Plants & pictures – this will remind you of home.
– Black Marker, as many things will suddenly grow legs and walk.
– A good iron, regular sized ironing board, and an over-the-door device to hang it on. Those smaller ones do not provide enough space for ironing.
Other items such as broom/dust pan & mop/Swifter, mini-fridge, etc. were covered by other posters.
Also if you can Single Ma, wait until she’s moved in to make the purchases intown versus carting it from home.
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Yep, the black marker is a must to mark any stuff she plans to bring back home with her.
If she’s old skool and bringing CDs, she should write her initials on them (though, in my experience, it doesn’t necessarily stop CDs from vanishing and never returning).
I second a thumb drive. These days, these kids assignments are all digital.
Don’t forget an iron and mini ironing board.
She may want to bring a small TV with built in CD and a stereo, but you can coordinate that with a roommate. One can bring the TV and the other, the stereo. I still have my 13-inch TV from college! It’s in my bedroom.
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May colleges offer fridge/micro combo for rent very cheaply! I would also not purchase that until speaking with any roommates she has – don’t need multiple fridges and roomies may already have one.
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Brita filter??? What’s wrong with the tap water? Save your money.
Also, if your daughter is going to eat in the cafeteria, I’d say skip the microwave for sure, because those things take up a lot of room and there is probably one in the dormitory common room. A fridge is nice, but I’d wait until Thanksgiving break before deciding if one was needed.
A “guest” chair? A rug? Again, wait until Thanksgiving before deciding if those are worth the money.
Yes to the lamp, the linens and pillow, the mug, the shower supplies and the laundry supplies.
Also, some kind of alarm clock/radio to wake up for those early morning classes they foist on the freshmen.
Fight the TV! It’s a time-sucking vortex and to be avoided, IMHO.
I asked if you all had anything to ADD with the expectation that additional comments would add VALUE to the guest post, not discount or question what others have recommended. Obviously, I will review ALL comments and decide what’s best for my child. I hope anyone who reads this post in the future will do the same for their child(ren). [-SM]
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I suggest a reliable alarm clock and a distinctive towel. As a graduation gift, someone gave me one with my name embroidered on it, which was a little dorky but actually quite useful. A bright beach towel or something similar would also work – being stuck in the dorm shower when someone swiped your towel by mistake is no fun at all.
I didn’t have a microwave, but I quickly became friends with someone who did. I used a small one-serving coffee maker to heat water for ramen noodles, tea, cocoa, etc.
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http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-02-17-leadpoisoning-case_N.htm – that is what is wrong with tap water.
Don’t get a TV! They take time away from meeting/networking/socializing with real people.
Furnishing a dorm room isn’t the expensive part. These are the expensive things:
travel home
($20 for gas when I went to school a few hours away from home. I went home once a
month.)
parking tickets
($25 a pop. sucked)
text books
(these are killer expense. At LEAST $300 a semester, and I wasn’t even an engineering/math major with those -expensive- books.)
Laptop and printer
($800 in 2001)
sorority rushing costs
(I never did it, but lots of friends spent money on dresses, crafts, prom type events)
PS it is usually much much cheaper to live off campus, but for a freshman it’s good to have the structure and organization of a dorm and meal plan.
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These are great general suggestions, but I would only buy bedding, laundry supplies, shower supplies and a small set of dishes/utensils ahead of time. My dorm room didn’t have space for anything but the necessities, but other rooms in older dorms were even smaller or much bigger–it really varied!
Try to borrow a fridge or get a used one. I didn’t have a microwave (they weren’t allowed-check the rules), but there was one down the hall in the common kitchen. I did have a “hot pot,” which was great for heating up water for soup or hot chocolate.
I had a loft bed sophomore year, and that provided lots more space. I got it for free from a friend who was moving into fraternity housing and no longer needed it. If it’s convenient to go for a visit at the end of this school year, you can get a lot of stuff for free or cheap from students who don’t have a way to get their stuff home.
Wait until you get there to buy the extras she wants. Even in small college towns, the stores stock up on back to college items, so you should be able to buy what you want locally. If you have to ship some items, she’ll enjoy getting the package!
I was the first girl in my family to go away to college, and I took way too much stuff. I brought things home every trip freshman year.
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i’d definitely recommend a laundry bag or basket if her dorm has a communal laundry room. i’d also suggest earplugs, eye mask and a bathrobe.
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It was fun reliving my dorm-decorating experience. :) By the way, my new blog address is http://wellheeledblog.com
Thanks for the guest post opp!
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As a 4-th year on-campus resident (and 2nd year RA) at a large university
I suggest
- 3M Mounting tape. it costs more than most, but comes right off/doesn’t remove paint
- hooks! (cause your purses, towels, and scarves need a place to hang)
- plastic storage bins – get the stackable kind
- pop-up laundry hamper – buy the cheapest one you can. even the $5 kind last all 4 years
What is the 3M tape for? [-SM]
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Great post! and alot of great things in the comments, I think the only thing I don’t agree with would be not wanting 2 sets of appliances. As a RA I deal with countless roommate disagreements over sharing things. I think it is best for each roommate to have her own everything (TV, microwave, fridge, laptop…) it helps cut down on conflict. I would also suggest that her and her roommate don’t immediately agree to share “everything”, I see freshmen do this every year because the roommates adore each other when they first get to school and then it becomes a big issue because roommate #2 ate the last pepperoni hot pocket!
LOL that’s funny! My daughter is an only child and she’s not used to sharing, so I can totally see her doing this. [-SM]
She also might want to take one of those things to lock your laptop to the desk and a small safe for valuables.
An extra cell phone charger!
Quarters if she’ll need those for laundry
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This is great. Thanks everyone!
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I second the 3M tape – it’s great for hanging up posters/pictures on cinder block walls.
UMBRELLAS! Yes, plural. They grow legs in college sometimes. Nothing sucks worse than being in class a mile from home without an umbrella. I had a little collapsible one I kept in my backpack.
The Brita filter is a great idea. It’s nice to have your own water in your room so if you wake up in the middle of the night and are thirsty you don’t need to throw on your slippers, grab your room key, pad down to the bubbler or sink, get water, then climb back into the loft.
I think a lightweight throw blanket is nice for those drafty nights when you’re up studying late or when you aren’t feeling well.
My mom and I packed a mini First Aid kit when I went off to school and it was really nice to have the first time I got sick. It had cough drops, cough medicine, allergy medicine, Neosporin, bandages, and apsirin.
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Dry Erase board…for your door, so friends can leave messages.
This shower tote is awesome!
http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&SKU=118936
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I would check with the school to make sure that she can have a microwave…alot of schools don’t allow them…BUT that didn’t stop us from having one…LOL. We had a microwave, george foreman and a hot pot. All tucked away under the bed.
I would also suggest bed risers…that way she can store things under her bed.
Big Wall/Desk calendar for remembering assignments and social activities.
Laptop lock….it hooks up to your laptop and I believe desk so that no one can take it out your room or you can get a trunk with a padlock to put all her valuables in.
I would have DIED without a TV and DVD player. I had both and still found time to network. I usually watched it while getting ready for bed. Also for movie nights with the girls.
Plastic, airtight storage bins for food….some dorms have ummmm *pests* in them. Along with that….bugspray…LOL!
Nice Robe for walking to and from the bathroom if it’s shared
Toilet paper….the institutional stuff sucks
Cleaning supplies…I had a swiffter since I didn’t have carpet…windex, clorox wipes
Some sort of filing system to store important papers, tests, etc.
My dorm wasn’t air conditioned so I needed a fan. If she has medical problems…I think you may have said she had asthma??? She can get a doctor’s note and you can install a window A/C unit.
I went to a HBCU…(NCAT to be exact…AGGIE PRIDE!!!)and there was a LONG list of things we couldn’t have unike some big universities that pretty much let you have/do anything. I know that they usually have a list of things that are and aren’t allowed on their website. I would check BG’s school to see.
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Oh I forgot one more thing…not a decorating item but its important…a nice business suit and shoes. You often have to dress up for class presentations, career fairs, etc. Also, a nice portfolio/padfolio that she can put her resume in and take notes with when she goes to the fairs and different campus events.
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One of the necessaries for me was a drying rack that folds up and out of the way. I still use it now, and I’ve been out of school for 2 years. Dryers can be expensive!
Depending on her laundry room, she may need quarters or a card. If she needs coins, a roll of quarters would be helpful.
Bring things like cereals, canned fruits (if you don’t mind them), and other non-perishables to the dorm – sometimes the cafeteria won’t be open before you need to get going, or you missed the dining time!
We technically weren’t allowed a microwave because we were in an older building in my first year, but I had one and didn’t know that stipulation. Myself and the neighbouring girl figured out that we could use it without short-circuiting our rooms if we turned off everything except our computers, so we both shared it and lived with the inconvenience. We were only allowed electrical items that had an auto-shut off (so no the George Foreman grills, etc), but I had a little electric “Hot Pot” (http://www.proctorsilex.com/products/kitchen-appliances-hot-pot.php) that was wonderful! You could use it for soups, pasta, hard boiled eggs, tea, hot chocolate, pretty much anything that you can use a pot on the stove for. People liked borrowing it, especially when the weather was nsaty and we didn’t want to leave for food.
Pictures of friends and home might help if she might get a little home sick, as will a long distance calling card (if a phone is included with her res), or a web cam if she doesn’t have one already. If she has a laptop, having an extra battery and power supply might be helpful, and I agree with a person above about the USB drive.
Check if there is air conditioning – she may want to have a fan (and also may want a little heater, since they don’t always have the heat on even if it’s chilly outside), but those are just things to think about when she’s there.
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I agree with #5, 6, and 7 only. The rest are all luxuries, not essentials. In fact, I myself had only #5, 6, and 7 and did not feel deprived. Here are some other essentials:
a) Proper clothing. I needed warm clothes and shoes that weren’t slippery because my school was on a snowy hillside.
b) Something from home. I had pictures and music.
c) Communication devices. I had stamps and envelopes to keep in touch with my best friend and a typewriter for papers. Nowadays I’d go for a computer, internet connection, and maybe a printer–normal people would also want a cell phone.
d) Sleep and study aids if necessary – ear plugs may be handy if the roommate snores for example.
e) Organizational tools – a calendar / day planner / phone alarms or something to keep track of classes, homework, events, project meetings, etc.
f) Open mind and will power. I tried a lot of new things. I refused to try some new things (illegal and scary ones).
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The only two things that I absolutely had to have in my dorm room were a refrigerator and microwave. They allowed me to eat on a budget. Without them, the cost of eating would have been sky high!
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Bed risers/lifts are a “must have” since storage space is usually limited. I’d recommed waiting until you know what type of bed she’ll have, to avoid buying one that doesn’t fit.
Let me first say, been there, done that.. SM with an only daughter and I bought her all the new stuff she needed… if only someone had advised me. While having brand new dorm appliances is nice, I would recommend that she make friends with graduating seniors or someone moving off campus and offer to buy their stuff. First choice are those that are from out of state, the further the better because they are less likely to pay more to haul stuff they can replace:)
For you and her- may need to review the type of cell plan you have, unlimted minutes, data plan, friends etc. Not sure how far away from home she will be, but those minutes add up and with new friends on different plans it can add up even if you’re in the same state.
Good luck to both of you!
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Do review the cell plan and consider chat programs like Skype/iChat. For the rest of the stuff, she can get to know her neighbors by borrowing and socializing for a little while until she knows what she’ll use (’cause she’s smart Frugal, right?)
A great thing is to have a follow up visit shortly after she starts classes. Take her and her new friends out for dinner and a trip to Target. You’ll get to see the crowd she’s hanging out with which has as much influence over her time at college as her major. And it sure does help alleviate empty nesting/homesickness if she’s living far away.
Sleep and Study aides equally important for Dorm room “essentials”. I actually replaced my dorm chair since I did a lot of studying in my room into wee hours of the night. The hard little chair they gave me wasn’t cutting it. If I were the laptop toting library type, an extra laptop power adapter might be handy so one can stay at my desk in the dorm room. Power strips. I’ve always needed those for recharging gadgets or to be able to rearrange furniture to my liking when a wall plug wasn’t convenient.
#11 “essential” – sense of humor, some rules and general agreements for living with others. Especially for a single child (I am one) living with someone other than family can be a big adjustment. Not everyone has the same values and habits nor respect for others property plus assumptions are made. Heck, not everybody takes kindly to life size Twilight posters… And Ahem, college is a time where some people go a little wild. Best for her to make it clear what is cool and what is not. A good habit is to knock on your own door or make some noise before going on.
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