When it comes time to pack up and leave for college, everyone knows there are certain things you need to bring to make your dorm room all it can be. Whether you’re following a checklist torn out of Real Simple or sent out in Bed Bath & Beyond’s flier, or simply going off the advice of friends, parents or older siblings that remember what dorm living is like, you know there is quite a bit of shopping to be done. And while all those basic things like sheets, room décor, and shower shoes are important, here are some things that often get forgotten about, but should definitely be included in your dorm room shopping trip.
1. Mini blender.
Dorm rooms normally do not have kitchens, meaning if you’re in a pinch and want to fix yourself a snack, you’re often stuck with limited options. One of my lifesavers freshman year was a mini blender. Trust me, when you’re burnt out on dining hall food and want something quick and tasty, being able to whip up a smoothie right there in your room will be a life saver.
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2. Earplugs/noise canceling headphones.
Whether you’re new roommate snores, talks in their sleep (guilty of this one myself), or simply watches Netflix late into the night minus headphones, earplugs or noise canceling headphones will be your saving grace. Sure, it seems like being noisy is your roommates problem, not yours, and you should adjust accordingly, but their snoring won’t be keeping them up. Better to have some way to block them out, just in case. On that note, an eye mask is not a terrible thing to bring either, after all if you have a test at 8:00 a.m. you want to get a good nights rest.
3. Mini fan.
Everyone knows to get a fan for their room as it often gets stuffy, but unfortunately one fan normally doesn’t cut in on those sweltering days. Getting a mini fan that you can place on your desk or bedside table to keep you cool when the bigger room fan just isn’t cutting it is definitely worth the investment.
4. HDMI cord.
You will literally be the hall hero if you are the only one who brought an HDMI cord and the hall wants to have a movie night in the common room. Although some dorm lounges might have DVD players, for the most part the dorm provides the bare minimum and you have to improvise. Having an HDMI cord allows you to project videos playing on your laptop onto the TV, saving the day when the whole wants to have a lazy Sunday movie marathon. Don’t forget a couple of your favorite DVDs to go with it.
5. Coffee maker.
If you're like me and can’t function without your morning coffee, having an in-room coffee maker is a must. Sure, you can get coffee almost anywhere on campus, but if you want to save time and a ton of money, investing in one for your room is highly advised.
6. Comfy mattress topper.
The number one thing that will make you feel at home in your dorm room is having a cozy bed. While foam mattress toppers can be pricey, it’s definitely worth the splurge, especially if you’ll be living in a dorm for multiple years. Plus goodness knows what that dorm room mattress has seen -- best to have a buffer just in case.
7. First aid kit.
Pretty common sense, but surprisingly a lot of people forget basic first aid items like Band-Aids or Neosporin. Nothing glamorous about them, but you’ll be thankful when you don’t have to go around knocking on people’s doors to find a Band-Aid.
8. Tool kit.
The person who brings the tool kit will be one of the most appreciated people on the floor, hands down. Sure, you won’t need it that often, but better just to buy a small one at the start of your college career to be prepared for all the Ikea furniture building in your future.
9. Emergen-C.
Residence halls are gross, plain and simple. There are a ton of germs circling around and you are bound to get sick once or twice. If you feel illness coming on, Emergen-C will be your best friend. Yes, it tastes disgusting, but you don’t want to waste any time in college stuck in bed stick.
10. Tide-to-go.
Doing laundry in the dorm is a pain. Most people avoid it as long as possible and only get to it when they are completely out of clean clothes. Gone are the days when you can just throw something in the wash if you spill on it, so keeping tide to go on hand helps to combat pesky stains before they set in and ruin your clothes forever.
11. An unreasonable amount of command hooks.
Command hooks are a way of life in dorm rooms. Just trust me on this one, stock up.
