This post is all about dorm essentials you need in 2023.
Going to college is a very exciting and fun experience. However, there are some things you need to take into consideration if you want to survive living on your own in a dorm room for 4 years.
As a college graduate myself, I’ve put together a list of the 15 dorm essentials that helped me and made my life easier as a college student.
Here are the 15 dorm essentials you actually need in 2023.
15 Dorm Essentials You Actually Need
1. Wire Baskets for Your Closet
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Dorm rooms are small, so you’ll want to optimize your space as much as possible. I highly recommend getting these wire baskets you can put in your closet.
This is the best way to organize all your clothes without having tons of boxes or bags laying in your dorm room.
2. Tray Cart
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A tray cart is perfect to use as a bedside table or to put those small objects you don’t know where to store.
The best thing about getting a tray cart is that it has wheels on it so you can move it around your dorm and place it wherever it’s more convenient for you.
3. Storage Cubes
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Since college dorm rooms are so tiny, it’s very common to see people using the space under their beds for storage purposes.
Storage cubbies are super cheap and they work wonders. I had two in my dorm room and I used them to store shoes, big blankets, clothes I wasn’t wearing, and even school supplies!
4. Mirror
A lot of people forget about this but there aren’t any mirrors in dorm rooms! If you want to do your makeup or simply know how you look before you head to your classes, you’ll definitely need a mirror.
Both my sister and I got a mirror our freshman year and we used it every day during our four years of college.
So definitely get a mirror!
5. Towel Wrap
Most dorm rooms don’t have their own bathrooms which means you’ll be sharing it with more girls. I know, this isn’t the most convenient thing, but there are ways you can make it more bearable.
For example, get a towel wrap to walk to your dorm room. You can wrap it around and secure it with velcro, so it’s basically impossible that it falls off.
6. Shower Caddy
Since you’ll be going in and out of your dorm room whenever you go to the bathroom, you’ll need a shower caddy to carry all your bathroom stuff. Honestly, this is the dorm room essential you can’t live without.
The best thing about shower caddies is you can hang them inside the shower and they won’t get soaked. Best invention ever!
7. Shower Shoes
Shower shoes are a must whenever you have to shower in public spaces. I honestly still use the ones I got for college and will never regret getting them.
Shower shoes or flip flops are super cheap and they last a lot, so the buy is definitely worth it.
8. Fan
If I had to choose only one item from this list, it would be a fan without a doubt. I honestly couldn’t have gotten through four years of college without it.
College dorm rooms are super HOT in the Summer and it’s impossible to sleep or focus on studying when you’re not even getting the tiniest bit of air breeze.
This is why a fan is one of the most important dorm essentials.
9. Desk Lamp
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The lighting in most dorm rooms is very poor and you’re going to need good light if you want to get work done. That’s what you are in college for!
A desk lamp will come in handy, especially during winter when it gets darker outside so much earlier.
10. Weighted Blanket
In the same way dorm rooms are super hot in the Summer, they are also cold during winter. This is why you should include a weighted blanket on your dorm essentials list.
You can put it on top of your bedding when you go to sleep and you can also wrap it around whenever you’re doing homework or chilling on your computer. I used mine all the time in college.
11. Laundry Basket
Here’s a reality check: you will have to do your own laundry in college. I know it’s not the most ideal situation, but it gets easier with time.
I had a laundry basket in my dorm room to avoid having all my dirty clothes laying around. That’s highly unhygienic and something you don’t want your roommate bringing up to you.
12. Mini Fridge
A mini-fridge is a really good investment that will save you tons of money in the long run. It’s so nice to have snacks and freshwater bottles in your dorm room, so you don’t have to be buying from cafeterias all the time.
If you share your dorm with a roommate, you can split the expenses and buy it together. I swear this is one of the dorm essentials that will make your college life easier!
13. Coffee Maker
Here’s another dorm essential that will save you a lot of money in coffee: a coffee maker!
If you need to drink some coffee every morning to function (same here) but don’t want to go to the dining hall every time, you can save yourself some time and put a coffee maker in your dorm.
I love this Keurig coffee maker because it’s small and easy to store and energy-efficient.
14. Power Strip
In dorm rooms, you’ll get a number of three or four outlets, at most. If you’re sharing your dorm room with a roommate, this number will be cut in half.
This is inconvenient these days because we all have so many electronic devices that need to be charged: your phone, tablet, computer… Hence why a power strip is going to be a very much-needed dorm essential.
15. First Aid Kit
Hopefully, you won’t need this, but I highly recommend getting a first aid kit just in case. It has the most basic things like band-aids, bandages, and items that may come in handy for minor cuts or burns.
If you live on your own, this is one of the dorm essentials you should never forget!
This post was all about dorm essentials!
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