I had every single on of these items on this list in my dorm and I consider them all college dorm room essentials! I had some version of every item on this list, and it was very functional for my dorm room and made my dorm experience signficantly more efifcient and enjoyable.
Hey, y'all! My name is Isabella, and I’m a college student learning how to navigate adulthood right alongside you!! Today, I will tell you 25 College Dorm Room Essentials To Be Best Prepared!
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Power Strip Extension Cord Charging Station
This is such a staple for a dorm room.
You have to use every outlet you can in such a small space. This charging station lived on my desk and had probably eight things plugged into it at all times.
I got this exact one freshman year and have used it consistently since! It works perfectly! It also has a little light on top, which I often find helpful.
Desk Makeup Mirror, specifically with good lighting
Take any chance to add better lighting to a dorm room.
This type of mirror is excellent for that and is just great quality. It has multiple settings and is dimmable.
Get a good one that'll last you forever and can be reused. I will be reusing mine this year. This style is sturdy and looks good just sitting on my desk. This is the one I have in my dorm, and I love it!
Mattress topper
Dorm beds are seriously not comfy.
A mattress topper is genuinely essential if you want to sleep well. Do some research to find one that fits your needs.
I got the My Pillow 2” Twin XL mattress topper. It was terrific; I seriously loved my bed this year! I attached the Amazon link and the actual link to the My Pillow website. Since buying it on the website was cheaper, I did that.
Shower head filter
This isn't essential, but my suitemates and I loved it. I would 100% repurchase it and have convinced all my friends to buy it.
This showerhead comes with replacement filters and is still in perfect condition so I can reuse it this year.
I genuinely saw a difference in my hair's health and improved water pressure. Any shower head filters you use will probably be an upgrade from the one they provide you with.
Sadly, this isn't an option with communal showers. But if you have a bathroom and your roommates are okay with changing the shower head, I wholeheartedly recommend it! I got the 20+3 stage one in this link!
Toolset
I got one as a grad gift, and it was perfect to keep on hand. There is also always a chance someone in your dorm might need it, so it's good to have it just in case. You never know what you might need the tools for!
Medicine & First Aid supplies
I like to be prepared, so this was essential for me.
I made my own First Aid Kit by ordering an empty first aid storage bag and filling it with the items I wanted to keep on hand.
I wanted to have stuff on hand in case of emergencies, and in case one of us got sick. For example, I prepped it with gauze, hydrogen peroxide, and Neosporin for emergencies, as well as cough syrup, cough drops, band-aids, etc.
Extension Cords
These come in handy. You will need one, so having at least one on hand is best.
My roommate and I used one to plug in our fridge, and we had to use separate ones to plug in all of our lights under our desk.
Batteries
The most random things will need batteries; you will realize it on move-in day or at the most inconvenient time.
Just go ahead and bring some basic ones.
Command strips
These are especially helpful if you aren't allowed to drill in your dorm or apartment.
We got this kit and used it to hang corkboards and picture frames; it works surprisingly well.
Also, get some normal ones to have on hand. They come in handy for effectively using your space. For example, I used some to hold dish towels on the side of our fridge and for purses and bath towels.
Filter for drinking water
This is necessary, especially since the sink is your only water source. I have linked the one I had.
Most of them don't fit in a mini fridge, so keep that in mind when buying one. We had this one in the 6-cup size with a standard filter, which fit in our mini fridge.
Drying rack
This is especially essential if you take care of your athletic wear…but I always end up throwing mine in the dryer. However, I did use it frequently for my nicer clothes that need to be air-dried.
Make sure to be careful with your laundry in the dorm laundry room. For example, during the first week of school, my roommate and I burnt holes in our clothes from the dorm room dryers! So, use low heat, and if you think a dryer might mess it up, it's probably better just to hang it dry.
We used this one and collapsed it to store it in one of our closets when not in use.
Steamer
You'll probably use it more than you think.
Since you don't have space for an iron, it saves space and works faster than an iron with less work.
I always used it for date parties, church clothes, etc. I seriously loved mine! Also, it is easy to travel with. I took it on spring break!
Drawer organizers
These help keep your limited drawer space organized.
It can become easy to toss stuff in drawers, but staying organized always helps lower my stress.
These are great for maximizing space in a dorm room and are perfect for an undergarments drawer.
Handheld vacuum (WITH attachable vacuum head!)
It's a necessity—non-negotiable. Your room will get gross so quickly. That little dorm room is your kitchen, living room, bedroom, and bathroom. You will need a good vacuum.
Our handheld vacuum died during the second semester….I guess we really put it to work. That said, I think a vacuum is an excellent place to spend more money. Also, I wish ours had an attachable vacuum head like this one to clean the rug better.
I have linked an alternative vacuum to what I had which I researched and seems to get great reviews!
Robe
I was never a robe girl but became one in college. When living with roommates, it's a must.
You never know who will open the door to your dorm room and at what point if you leave it unlocked.
I got one as a graduation gift, and it is a waffle texture like this, which I love!!
Backpack hamper or collapsable rolling hamper
This is the backpack hamper I used. It worked very well for me. What I love about this backpack hamper is how many clothes you can fit. It is awesome.
I could put sheets, towels, and all my laundry in this one bag, and when I wasn't using it, I just put it in a drawer.
It depends on how you would prefer to carry it. Most people used a backpack hamper, as referenced above, or had a rolling laundry hamper.
With a rolling hamper, you can easily take the elevator if you have one and walk to your laundry room. Make sure it would fit in your closet or under your bed.
It is less embarrassing than hauling a huge backpack of clothes…but I chose convenience!
Mesh Laundry Bag for Delicates
Someone recommended this to me, and I'm so glad I got it. It is easy for socks and other undergarments to get stuck in the washing machine.
I used one of these bags all year, every time I did my laundry. It also made putting away my laundry easier!
Extra Large Moving Bags
These bags are amazing. They fit so much. I added stick-on labels to mine.
For example, I had clothes in some, appliances in some, and bedding in another.
The labeling made unpacking more organized and saved us a few trips up and down the stairs.
TIP: Consider getting a wagon. Move-in is an exhausting day of hundreds of trips up and down the stairs. If your dorm has an elevator like the ones in the quad, this would 100% make your life easier. I wish we had one!
Over-the-door shoe organizer
This is an AMAZING space saver. In my dorm room, I put this inside my closet door so it was out of sight.
It cleared up so much space and always kept my shoes organized. I also had a basket on the shelf in my closet, which I used for more oversized shoes, such as my rain boots.
Rolling cart
This is a staple. You can use these for literally anything: under-the-bed storage, kitchen storage, bathroom storage, etc.
We used ours for kitchen supplies by removing the wheels and keeping them next to our fridge. It worked perfectly for us and is so easy to reuse that I'll use it again this year!
Over the door mirror
Our dorm had a mirror, but we got this to put on the back of our door since we put hanging shoe racks over the ones on the inside of our closet door.
It was a great way to use our space efficiently.
Fan
Woozoo fan. We loved it! I was recommended this exact fan, and we're so glad we got it.
The dorm temperature is inconsistent, so we left it on 24/7 for nine months. It helped circulate the room to keep it from feeling stuffy and kept us cool on the hot nights.
Clip-on fan
Along with the Woozoo fan, I purchased a clip-on fan that I clipped onto the side of my desk hutch to blow directly on my bed.
I am hot-natured, so it was essential for me, but it, again, just helped the airflow so it didn't feel stuffy.
Damp-rid Dehumidifier Bags
Dorm rooms, especially, are just gross! They hold moisture and create mold, especially since you do all your daily activities in one room. Someone suggested to me to get this, and I didn't think it would be necessary, but WOW.
I always had one bag in my tiny closet, and I replaced it at least three times. The amount of liquid that filled up mine was disgusting.
It's helpful to keep your clothes in excellent condition regardless of where you live, but especially in a dorm room, my clothes always smelled fresh, too, and never got a musty dorm smell.
Cord holders and cord covers
This is especially helpful in a dorm room.
Climbing back out of your dorm room bed just because you can't reach your charger can get annoying.
It also helps keep your cords organized and bunched together.
You have to use just about any outlet you can find in a small dorm room or apartment, so cord covers can help your space feel less cluttered and keep it organized. I used both of these items on my desk hutch last year.
With love,
Isabella XO
