I have to admit, I over-shopped for my college dorm rooms. I brought these they were not useful and took up way too much space. In that same sense, I forgot things that I needed definitely.
Let’s get into a list of things, you need for your college dorm room.
Bed Supplies
| Comforter set | Pillows |
| Sheets | Mattress topper |
| Mattress Protector | Blanket |
Bathroom Supplies
| Cleaning supplies | Soap, bodywash |
| Wash cloths | Towels |
| Decorations (Foot mat) | Disinfectant spray |
| Toilet brushes | Hand soap |
| Wipes | Shower shoes |
| Shower caddy | Medicines |
| Shampoo, conditioner | Paper towel, toilet tissue |
| Tooth paste | Tooth brush |
| Hair supplies (Combs, brushes, bonnet) | Floss |
| Mouth wash | Deodorant |
Kitchen Supplies
| Mini fridge | Microwave |
| Cups, plates | Forks, spoons |
| Napkins | Dish soap |
| Snacks | Microwavable foods |
Miscellaneous Supplies
| Masks, gloves | Hand sanitizer |
| Rugs (If no carpet) | Blender |
| Coffee Maker | Air Fryer (Check campus guidelines) |
| Laundry bin | Laundry detergent |
| Lamps | Mini Decor Table |
| Desk (If not available with dorm) | Broom and dust pan |
| Lounge Chair | Futon |
| Storage | Candles (If permitted) |
| Calendar | Dry erase board |
| Cork board | Hangers |
| Printer (If not available for free printing) | Fire TV Stick, Roku |
| TV | Decorations |
Things you will forget
| Batteries | Command strips |
| Winter gloves, hat, scarf (Cold climate) | Winter coat (Cold climate) |
| Extension cords (Don’t buy cheap) | Notebooks |
| Tool kits | Folders, binders |
| Pens, pencils | Storage bins |
| Lined paper | Scissors, tape |
| Trash bins | Trash bags |
Do NOT Bring These
| Toaster | Dresser |
| Big furniture | Mattress |
| Obsessive amount of things (Pens, paper) | Collections (Teddy bears, books, Pokemon cards) |
| Old trophies | Luggages |
| Prohibited items (Drugs, alcohol, etc) | Baking supplies |
Inspirational dorm spaces via Pinterest
Places to shop for great deals
Click the images below to be lead to some college dorm room essentials.
Unsure what you can buy from Dollar Tree? Here is a guide on how to shop there.
Additional tips
- Don’t shop for everything, wait until you arrive. That way you can see what you need exactly. Without buying unnecessary things.
- Communicate with roommate, because you never know what they may buy.
- Be mindful of roommate and space. Don’t over crowd with nonsense.
- See what campus has free. At my university they provided free toilet paper and trash bags.
- Remember this is a temporary living situation.
- Gradually bring things you are not back home.
- Less decorations more room.
Looking for some freshmen college advice? Check out my recent blog post on how to succeed your first year.