Across America, college move-in dates are fast approaching, so it’s time to search for dorm essentials. These items can also double as gifts for that first apartment, an even more daunting task for this transitional time in a young adult’s life. We asked current college students and young adults what they needed and what helped them in college, so you can have as relaxing an experience as possible as the fall semester starts.
General Tips for Buying Dorm Essentials
Take a look at the space first before going on those big buying sprees. Storage items like plastic storage bins with lids and big IKEA bags are a great thing to have on hand both for what you already have and what you’re going to buy. If you have a roommate’s family’s contact information, you can also work with the roommate and family to share the buying. This saves some money and also helps to solidify the new friendship!
Also, for some items, consider looking into family hand-me-downs, since we all know people that have way too much random kitchenware in their homes. It can be very meaningful for a young adult to get a piece of kitchenware they’ll use forever from someone they trust.
Additionally, for general furniture items like rugs, sheets, and kitchenware, big box stores are your friend. Target has a Dorm Essentials set of sheets that make for a great first bedding set, as well as a whole host of other items under their Dorm Essentials line. Wayfair has excellent starter furniture items for a college student looking for their first rug, chair, or desk, all at an affordable price point. TJ Maxx’s cookware is another affordable but quality option for furnishing the kitchen for a student on a budget.
7 Dorm Essentials for a Smooth Move-In Day
Hot Water Kettle
This is an essential for easy dorm cooking. Dorm rules about toaster ovens and microwaves vary. As anyone who’s lived on campus knows, dining hall food is sometimes (often?) not great. Your student can use the kettle to boil water as a base for stand soups and oatmeals.
Shower Shoes
Being barefoot in a shared dorm shower is a recipe for disaster. The solution? A good pair of shower shoes. We suggest Adidas Adilette Shower Slides for the classic slide look that’ll also make your kid feel cool. But, you can also go for Crocs or another brand of waterproof sandals or clogs.
Shower Caddy
Another must-have for new showers is a shower caddy to hold things in. You don’t want your kid’s new roommate to accidentally use your kid’s toothbrush or deodorant. It also keeps important items from getting lost, which means fewer things for your kid to call you in a panic about.
Air Fryer
You can cook just about anything in an air fryer, including steak, baked potatoes, falafel, and even pizza…It’s a great gift for a culinarily inclined student, and a good way to make sure they get good meals.
Clorox Wipes
With Clorox wipes, your kid can clean their dorm up and pretend it was always that clean when you come to visit! But, seriously, they’re a lifesaver for cleaning up miscellaneous stains around the room.
Can Opener
A lot of dorm essential food is canned—beans, soup, et cetera. I am embarrassed to admit that, as a college student, I did not know how to use a can opener and it took me well into my twenties to figure it out. Your kid can be saved my struggles with one of their very own.
Lap Desk
A lap desk makes working on the go or in a dorm room a lot easier. Since so much schoolwork involves being on the computer, a lap desk makes it easier for college students to work in the comfort of their own room and sit with good posture instead of hunched over a desk. It’s all about creating healthy habits!
Story by Emma Riva / Photo courtesy of iSplash
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