When you’re preparing your first-time college student for the dorms, it’s hard to know exactly what to bring. A lot of things listed as “essential” aren’t really necessary, while other popular items may not be allowed at your child’s school. And with limited space, you really do need to be careful about how many “extras” you bring.
As your child gets ready to head off to college, here are ten things to make their experience more comfortable. They would also make great gift ideas for a new grad.
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1. Laundry Hamper with Wheels: Your student is going to have to use their dorm’s laundry room, and this laundry hamper will make transporting their clothes easier than ever. It’s pricier than some of the more traditional collapsible hampers or laundry bags, but they’ll appreciate the sturdiness as much as the wheels.
2. Desk Lamp: Dorms are notorious for having poor lighting. This desk lamp has built-in USB ports and adjustable light levels to help avoid eye strain (and also not annoy their roommates if they’re having a late-night study session while others are trying to sleep).
3. XL Sheets: Double-check with the school, but most college dorms have XL twin beds, which means standard-sized sheets from home won’t work.
4. Clip on Bed Fan: With multiple people sharing a room, there are bound to be some disagreements about the ideal room temp. This clip-on fan is a great option because it’s rechargeable (USB) so it doesn’t have to compete for available electrical outlets, and the long neck allows it to reach further than some of the other options.
5. Sleep Mask: Differing bedtimes won’t be a problem with a light-blocking sleep mask. These would also make a great gift for the new roomies! If you’ve got a tech lover in your life, they might appreciate this upgraded version that includes Bluetooth speakers for music or white noise.
6. Hangers: Don’t forget hangers for the closet!
7. Bluetooth Speaker: These little things are so handy. If they don’t already have one, make sure you send them off to college with one! It will be great for listening to music from their phone or boosting the sound on their laptop if they’re streaming a movie with their friends. They come in multiple sizes and are available at multiple price points, but this one has great sound quality.
8. Shower Caddy: A shower caddy makes it easy to transport toiletries to and from the shower room. I prefer this mesh design over the traditional plastic because it can be tossed in the laundry when it starts to get gross. And don’t forget shower shoes for the shared showers; I love all the cute colors these come in!
9. Mattress Topper: Dorm mattresses don’t have the best reputation for comfort and have been slept on by several students so a mattress topper isn’t the worst idea to ensure your student sleeps well.
10. Small Toolkit: Maybe they’ll buy a shelf and need to put it together, something will break, or they just need a hammer. Having a few tools around is always a good idea.
Those are our dorm room essentials, but if you’re still looking for ideas, here are our five runner-ups:
11. Coffee Maker: Does your student need their coffee before they can start their day? This slim-profile single-serve brewer is compatible with grounds, K-cups, or loose-leaf tea.
12: Small Chair: Space is always at a premium; folding chairs are a good option because they can be easily put away when not in use to free up floor space.
13: Command Hooks: You can’t put holes in walls but you’ll have a ton of things to hang up: your robe, towel, purse, backpack, photos. You can even use Command hooks to organize wires or hang up storage baskets without damaging the walls. Bring a wide variety!
14: Power Strip: There will never be enough outlets. A power strip will help everyone plug in all their devices, and offer surge protection to your student’s laptop or computer. This one even has separate ports for USB devices!
15: Microwave: Not every dorm allows microwaves or other cooking appliances. But if it’s permissible, a microwave is pretty convenient to have. Just coordinate with the other residents on who’s bringing the microwave – because you only need one!
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