Students all across the country are moving into their dorm rooms or apartments for the start of a new school year. Some students, like myself, make lists and spend hours searching Pinterest for what to pack, while other students completely wing it. Regardless of the amount of preparation you do, there's always something you didn't think of or forgot to pack. Here's a list of five items you didn't know you needed.
1. Power strips and extension cords
As you move into your new room, you might notice the wall outlets aren't in very convenient places. Instead of rearranging your room to have easy access to the outlets, invest in power strips and extension cords. They will make life so much easier, just remember to plug your mini-fridge and microwave directly into the wall!
2. A floor lamp
Yes, most rooms do come with ceiling lamps, but did you ever think the ones in the dorms would make you feel like you're in a hospital room? My floor lamp was given to me as a birthday gift right before I left for college. At first I thought it was an odd gift, but it was a blessing in disguise. I rarely had the overhead light on, partially because it made a weird buzzing noise and because it was not a pleasant way to light the room. If you don't want to get an entire floor lamp, pick up some Christmas lights for a soft glow in the evenings.
3. Command Strips and hooks
One of the most disappointing parts of living in a dormitory is that you can't nail/screw things onto the walls, which usually means no curtains. Luckily I figured out this hack right when I moved into my freshman dorm (thanks to my dad). You can buy very large Command Hooks that a thin curtain rod fits nicely into. You will be able to hang up your curtains to block out the early morning sunlight without violating any housing rules!
4. A small fan
Before I moved to college, I never had to worry about late night noises disrupting my sleep. I quickly learned I would be hearing students walking around at all hours of the night or blasting music when I really needed a nap. I went down to Target and purchased a small, cheap fan to drown out the excess noise. If you don't want to spend any money, there are tons of free apps (I recommend "Sleep Fan") or YouTube videos on hour long loops.
5. A door stop
These small inventions are perfect for dorm rooms! Your student ID card is most likely your key to your room and it is easy to forget it when you're heading to the bathroom down the hall. A door stop ensures your door won't accidentally close or your roommate doesn't close the door before you've come back to the room. Dorm rooms also don't have much air circulation, so this will help get some air flowing and keep your room cool!
No matter how much you prepare while packing, you'll have to make a few runs to the store during the first couple weeks of school. There are tons of other items you might not think you'll need, so try to think of your day to day life when packing. As you continue through college you will realize what you need to get you through the year!
