Trying to prepare for college move-in in just a few months? My dorm room essentials list will make sure you have IT ALL!
College is a huge transition, but one you should be really excited to make. If you’re feeling nervous about packing up your entire life and moving it, I want to help. This is a complete master list of everything I used my freshman year and what all my senior friends recommend. If you use this as a guide, I promise you will be 100% ready for move-in.
So without further introduction, let’s break down EVERY. SINGLE. ITEM. you need for your dorm room!
Dorm Room Essentials List From A Senior In College:
I’ve separated this post into categories so it’s easy to figure out what you have vs. what you need. Yes, it’s long and thorough, but it encompasses every item I moved into my dorm freshman year at Arizona State University. Trust me, I had everything and was able to help out my roommates + make friends by letting people borrow things.
If you’re not as high maintenance as me and need less, great! College was a HUGE transition for me and having my living space completed was a huge stress-relief. So, I wanted to include it all to help you.
Bedding Essentials:
If you take anything away from this post – it’s this section. I had the absolute most perfect bed set up in my dorm that I still dream about sometimes. Yes, you read that right. I dream of the comfortable twin XL I had three years ago. I linked all the exact bedding essentials for your dorm room in case you don’t want any guess work in making the perfect bed:
- Mattress Pad – This is the BEST mattress pad. I had a friend buy this one and throw hers away.
- Quilt / Comforter / Duvet – This is more personal depending on the weather your college has.
- Mattress Protector
- Sheet Set
- Pillows
- Soft Blanket – I linked the one on my bed that’s a Barefoot Dreams dupe.
- Reading Light
- Storage Ottoman – If your bed is lofted, you’ll need it + the storage is great.
- Silk Eye Mask – I could sleep soundly without my roommate ever bothering me.
Food-Related Essentials:
While it may not seem like you’ll be eating in your dorm much, you will way more than you think. It’s nice to have the option to eat fresh food you choose vs the routine visits to the dining hall. Here is the list of food related dorm essentials that make it easy to eat when you want to:
- Brita Water Filter Pitcher
- Mini Fridge – Make sure the one you get has a freezer.
- Microwave – I linked the exact one I had that wasn’t too expensive.
- Simple Knife Set
- Small Cutting Board
- Plastic Plate & Bowl Set
- Travel Tumbler Mug – So nice if you’re a tea + coffee lover.
Closet Essentials:
Closets are notoriously small in dorm rooms, but there are still ways to fit all the clothes, shoes, and other random items you need. The goal is to use organization smartly, but also not to overstuff this space with storage that doesn’t work for you. This is what I recommend and loved for my closet:
- Clothing Steamer
- Hanging Closet Organizer
- Velvet Hangers – Nothing falls off, plus they’re thinner so more clothes can fit.
- Fabric Storage Cubes – I loved these to throw anything in to actually be neat.
Laundry Essentials:
When it comes to laundry is college, the goal is to make it as easy as possible. These must-haves are not glamorous, but I never had any issues, stains, or lost socks during my entire freshman year. Trust me, this is a badge I wear with honor.
- Dryer Sheets
- Liquid Detergent – The washers are not powerful enough to break Tide pods, so they stain instead.
- Mesh Laundry Bags – Throw your dirty intimates in and you will NEVER lose anything.
- Laundry Backpack – Trust me, you’ll like having the option to carry it several ways.
- Drying Rack – I linked one my roommate had because mine was awful.
Bathroom Essentials:
This list is going to differ on if you have your own bathroom or a community bathroom. For my situation, I had a suite of four girls and we all shared a shower, toilet, and two sinks. Obviously, think about your personal situation (I did not use shower shoes in my bathroom of four), but I wanted to add EVERYTHING to cover the bases for a lot of incoming freshmen.
- Shower Curtain
- Shower Liner
- Shower Curtain Rings
- Bath Mats
- Towel Set
- Robe – I liked a robe because I felt comfortable walking around in it.
- Shower Shoes
- Shower Caddy
- Hand Soap – Buy 2 or 3 because you will not want to buy it again.
- Under The Sink Storage – My roommate and I shared one sink, so this was really helpful.
- Trash Can for Toilet
- Toilet Paper
- Toilet Bowl Cleaner
- Toilet Brush – I bought one that looked like a cherry! It’s still my favorite cleaning purchase.
- Plunger – I made my mom buy me one three weeks after we moved in so I could use the bathroom without fear.
Cleaning Essentials
College dorm rooms are small, but still need to be cleaned up every once in a while. I wasn’t an insane germaphobe, but it’s nice to feel like your space is fresh. Also before I unpacked anything, I liked having a germ-free space so it felt like no one had lived there before. Here are my top cleaning essentials:
- Trash Bags – Your dorm will give you a garbage / recycling bin.
- Vacuum – Just buy a cheap one.
- Lysol Wipes
- Mirror Cleaner
- Paper Towels
Medicine Essentials
One thing about college, it’s the sickest you’ll ever be in your life. Your body is in a brand new environment with germs it’s never been introduced to before. Disgusting, but true. My dorm also had a nasty case of black mold so that didn’t help anything. If you’re feeling under the weather, it’s nice to have these things already on hand:
- Cold Medicine – Dayquil / Nyquil is my go-to.
- Cough Medicine
- Cough Drops
- Emergen-C
- Neosporin
- Band Aids
- Advil
- Excedrin – If you get headaches like I do.
- Tums
Random Essentials
These are the dorm-room essentials you will want to have, but don’t necessarily fit into a specific category. That being said, these were all items I really loved having + all my friends also used!
- Extension Cords
- Packing Tape – Just buy it, you’ll need it sometime during the school year and wish you had it.
- Three Tiered Cart – This was my one-stop getting ready shop and I wheeled it everywhere.
- Makeup Mirror
- Command Hooks
Ready For College Move-In Day?
College is one of the scariest, most fun times of my entire life. If you’re nervous like I was, getting your dorm in order can really help you feel more relaxed for the transition ahead.
Did my dorm room essentials list miss anything? Let me know in the comments! And to see more college advice, check out my recent posts: