12 College Dorm Room Must Haves

Last year around this time I wrote a huge college shopping list, and it remains my most popular post today! Because the list is so big though, some of the items are more necessary than others, and for those with small dorms, several items listed would be impossible to fit (I wish my dorm was big enough for a futon!). So to simplify things a bit, I’ve narrowed that list down to 12 items I couldn’t have lived without in my dorm. These items will work for any dorm, big or small, and a few aren’t even on my original list. I’ve included links to a few of my favorite choices, some of which I own myself!

1. A coffee maker: Whether you like coffee, tea, or oatmeal for breakfast, a coffee maker is a money + time saver. When you’re in a rush to get to class, stopping by the cafeteria or a Starbucks is out of the question, and who knows how long the line will be anyway? I stopped by Costco and grabbed an 80 count box of K-cups at a great discount, so I’m basically paying $0.40 for each cup of coffee! I have a Keurig K45 Elite, which I found at a huge discount at Target on Black Friday.

2. A weekender bag: For those weekends when you want head out to the city or spend some time at home, a weekender bag is the perfect size to pack a few days worth of clothes. I also used mine for switching my clothes out before winter, which was so much easier than using a suitcase! My Vera Bradley duffel has worked perfectly for everything from weekend trips to two week vacations (I packed everything I needed for my Florida vacation in it), and I’ve been surprised at how durable it’s been! Target also has some cute ones at great prices.

3. A fuzzy blanket: My dorm was always freezing cold, so I spent practically all of my time under a blanket. Having a super comfy and fuzzy blanket is great for the winter months, sleepovers, and late night study sessions. I got a fleece throw from Target last year in a color that coordinated with the rest of my room (most of which came from Target anyway!). The bigger the better!

4. A bedrest pillow: These pillows work just about anywhere, from your bed to the floor. It makes sitting up in bed so much easier, and creates some extra floor seating if needed! I have a big fuzzy one from Target that matches perfectly with my blanket.

5. An over-the-door mirror: The thing about dorms is you never know what you’re gonna get. My dorm had no mirror (or a sink for that matter), so I had to DIY a bit. Over-the-door mirrors are great because they don’t take up the minimal wall space you have, and they’re full length so you can check out your entire outfit. Some of them (like this one) even have extra storage inside for jewelry and other small items. Don’t put too much money towards this though; I got a plastic one for $10, and it worked fine!

6. A custom first aid kit: You know your body better than a big company making first aid kits, so I would definitely DIY this one. I grabbed a small storage container and all the medicines I tend to use throughout the year, as well as the basics like bandages. Some of you might have specific medicines you need to take, but to start I would include pain relievers, allergy meds, stomachache meds, itch reliever, and sleeping pills if necessary!

7. Drawer liners: You’d be amazed at how much dust ends up in drawers over a summer of not being used. I’m all about keeping things sanitary, so I put drawer liners in every drawer my dorm came with. They also keep things from shifting around, so no more reorganizing every time you open one!

8. A multi-outlet surge protector: So, my dorm only came with one outlet on my side of the room, which I knew from the start would not work for me. I needed to plug in at least 5 things, so a long surge protector was a necessity.

9. Paper plates/plasticware: Before moving in, I had this grand idea that I would use all my cute plates and bowls and silverware like a grown adult. That lasted for about a month until I became sick of washing dishes, and they went home the next weekend. Maybe this was because I had to wash my dishes in the community bathroom, but it’s so much easier to go the one-use route.

10. Dishwashing wand: In some cases it’s impossible to avoid washing dishes, so you’re going to need some sort of supplies. I kept my ceramic mugs in the dorm, so every night I would wash those out. A dish wand lets you keep your hands clean vs. using a regular sponge, which you’ll seriously learn to appreciate. They’re relatively cheap too, and when your sponge gets old, you just pop it off and add a new one onto the wand. I have this one, which I found at Target of course.

11. Disinfecting wipes: Cleaning is another chore you’ll want to avoid, so I always went the lazy route and cleaned just about everything with disinfecting wipes. Drawers, desks, sinks, basically everything in your dorm can be cleaned with these, and you don’t have to deal with a spray getting all over your stuff!

12. Reusable bags: These things come in handy all the time, from moving things between your house and dorm to picking up groceries. They’re a lot bigger than your average plastic bag, and if you live somewhere like Austin, your grocery stores (or any stores for that matter) won’t even offer one-time-use bags. I always kept at least 2 reusable bags in my dorm, and a smaller one that folds up nicely in my purse just in case!

You can check out these items and more of my picks in the widget below!

Are there any supplies you couldn’t have lived without in your dorm? Let me know in the comments!