I cannot believe we are already talking about going back to school, and college dorm room ideas, but we are, and my niece will be leaving for college this year. She is so excited, nervous, and excited, lol. My poor sister-n-law is a mess, but she has been doing a great job focusing on things her daughter is going to need for dorm room life.
25 College Dorm Room Ideas
Dorm room lists will be different depending on the school, but there are certain essentials you can safely get without the list. If you’re sending your kid to school for their first year here are a few things you can purchase early, but before purchasing anything more than personal items I would check with their school. You can normally find a list of recommended items, and they will also tell you which items not to bring.
- Bedding – There is no mattress like home, but you can do your best to make your child’s new bed comfy. Some nice sheets, pillows, pillowcases, comforter, and maybe even something to put on top of the dorm room bed to add comfort. They have 5-inch memory foam mattress pads that would fit nicely on top of the dorm room bed, and add a whole lot of comfort. A soft throw might also be a good idea for lounging around.
- Desk – Since you child will not have a ton of space, something small and affordable will do perfectly. You’ll also want to check with the school and see what cords, power strips, and extension cords you are going to need
- Computer Chair – They’re going to need a chair to go with their desk.
- Laptop – In today’s world, one cannot go to college without a laptop. Personally, I would purchase a new laptop for my child; the last thing you want to worry about is it breaking on them. Unless they are already sporting a new laptop, you might consider purchasing a new one
- Alarm clock – Don’t just get an alarm clock, be sure and get an alarm clock that will allow your child to play music from their iPod, phone, and even charge their phone. Saving little amounts of space will make a difference, and make things feel more like home.
- Mini Fridge – Kmart.com has an awesome Pink and Black Keystone 2.4 cu. Ft. Compact Refrigerator with Wipe-Off Board Front.
- Small coffeemaker – I seriously don’t know what I would do without a cup of coffee in the morning. A small, affordable coffee makers would work nicely in a dorm room.
- Fan – Even if you have AC you’ll appreciate the fan at some point. It doesn’t have to be anything big or fancy.
- Lightweight message board – You can go with a dry erase or chalk board.
- Fan – Even if you have AC you’ll appreciate the fan at some point. It doesn’t have to be anything big or fancy.
- Lamp – Having a lap on your desk will be nice for those late nights when you are studying. They have some neat laps too. I saw one at Bed Bath and Beyond with a 60° swivel base, and storage for pens, paperclips, etc. It was only $15 too.
- Laundry hamper – When looking for a laundry hamper, less is more. Look for something lightweight, a hanging hamper will work great. They are easy to carry, hold plenty of cloths, and save space. You will also need hangers, and laundry staples.
- Storage – If you are lucky and get your own closet a hanging closet organizer is an awesome way to keep all your cloths organized and save some space doing it.
- Shoe Hanger – If your child likes shoes the way mine do, a shoe hanger will save room, and allow them to keep their shoes organized.
- Shower – We all have to shower! You will want to get towels, wash cloths, bath puff, bathrobe, hairbrush, toothbrush, flip-flops, shower caddy, toiletries, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, razors, hair supplies, and any other person items you child uses.
- Sewing kit – You don’t need anything big and fancy. A small sewing kit, because you just never know, and it is better to be safe than sorry.
- Mirror – I would go with a full length mirror so they can use it for hair, makeup, or just to see how they look for the day. You can even look for an over the door vanity to save some space.
- Trash can – It’s always nice to have a trash can next to your desk.
- Food storage – They probably don’t need a lot of food storage for their dorm room, but it is a good idea to send them with something.
- First aid kit – You never know, and it’s better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it. There are also some neat apps you can download to turn your smartphone into a first aid kit.
- Furniture – Before buying furniture, check with your school, and your child’s roommate. When you shop for dorm room furniture go with something multifunctional. Futons are good options, because they can be used as a sofa and a bed. Ottomans, storage cubes, and folding furniture are other good options. Be sure to check and see if there will be room for big furniture like a Futon.
- Cell phone – I know your child probably already has a cell phone, but if they don’t you might want to get them one so you can call and make sure they are okay.
- Rugs – Check with the schools, but a nice rug will help make things feel more like home.
- Posters – Just so things feel a little more like home, and they have something they enjoy to look at.
- Décor – You don’t have to go all crazy, and it doesn’t have to be big things that make your space feel a little more like home. You can make yourself a headboard using wallpaper, buy some cool washi tape to put up pictures and give them a cool framed look, buy peel n stick décor, decorative pillows, wall canvases, and anything else you find that will help make their dorm room feel more like home.
- TV – Check with the school and roommate. Having a TV isn’t a necessity, but it will be nice when your child has some downtime. There are some great TV’s which don’t take up too much space, like this Panasonic 32” Class A400 Series LED LCD TV, which is super slim. It’s sleek design maximizes screen area and adds style toany décor, especially where space is limited.
Colleges provide the student with different items in their room, and they do not all allow the same items.
What items would you recommend taking to college for your first year of dorm room life? Do you have a cool dorm room ideas?
