Imagine you’re a college student who must live on campus. You’d probably be wondering what you need for your room. Sure, you might’ve already read the pamphlet Residential Life emailed to you before you moved in, but there are still some important things you may want to buy to get the best dorm life experience.
Ready to go shopping with me?
Mattress topper ($15/Twin XL). The dorm beds are very hard, so you could wake up with back pain. My freshman year, I had a mattress topper from Target, and even though it was all staticky and the cheapest one there, it saved me from an aching back. I forgot it moving into my third year, and after sleeping on the extra-long twin-sized bed for two months straight, I woke up with stabbing and sore pain in my upper back. Trust me when I say that a mattress topper is worth it. When I had one, I didn’t experience any pain.
Shower caddy ($8). You obviously need somewhere to put your shampoo, conditioner, body wash, razors, shaving cream, etc. This is when a caddy comes in handy because you don’t want to try carrying all those things back and forth from your room to the bathroom. I use this mesh shower caddy, and I like its design because it prevents water from pooling, and it has pockets for you to put smaller items.
Shower shoes ($3.99). Communal bathrooms can be disgusting, and you never know if people have athlete’s foot or other infections—I remember both my sister and my CA telling me this my freshman year. Do yourself a favor and buy cheap flip-flops because you don’t want to risk getting an infection walking around the bathroom or in the shower without shoes. (I linked the ones I use, but any flip-flops could work.)
Mini dehumidifier ($39.99). In the winter, condensation from the snow combined with humidity from the heaters can create a perfect breeding ground for mold to form above the window ceiling. When I lived in one of the residence halls, I had to contact maintenance three times because the mold would always grow back after it was cleaned with bleach. To help reduce the problem, my sister bought me this mini dehumidifier.
Rug ($26.99). This will make your dorm room a bit cozier. I find sitting on a rug is much more comfortable than a desk chair since I don’t have enough room for a futon. It’s also just nice to have in general. Instead of stepping on the tile all the time, you can step onto this fuzzy rug.
Desk lamp ($15). I use this one because I like having outlets to charge my phone and my laptop. In the room you’re in, there are often limited electrical outlets, so being able to charge your devices using your desk lamp can be convenient. (Note: on the website, it states that the lightbulb is non-removable though, but for mine, I can replace it easily. I may have an older model.) Regardless, I still highly recommend it. It helped to have a lamp for my freshman year because I’d always be awake, studying, while my roommate would be sleeping with the room light turned off.
Air freshener ($4.99/pack). It’s good to have an air freshener to get rid of any bad smells in your room. You might be thinking, “My room doesn’t smell bad,” right now, but you never know when you’ll need to freshen it up. If you throw food away, the trash can start to smell even if it’s not ready to be taken out yet. If your next-door neighbor microwaves popcorn, the smell can make its way into your space. I speak from personal experience.
Wait, did we miss anything while we were out? Let me know by leaving a comment with a few of your own suggestions! 🙂