It’s easy to romanticize dorm life. Take it from me: On this day a mere two years ago, I was most likely scrolling through hundreds of TikTok videos flaunting over-the-top dorms in hopes of amassing the perfect decor before move-in day. Dorm life is a quintessential part of the college experience, and it’s crucial that freshmen curate a personalized space to ease into their new lives away from home. With this in mind, I prioritized posters, lights, trinkets and cute bedding — not the essentials.
But reality soon hit me like a truck. It turns out that living with four other girls, whom I had never met before, can get not just messy but … gross. And I was by no means a perfectly pristine roommate either. Stuck in the awkward interim of not quite fully “adulting” but no longer being watched like a hawk by our parents, college freshmen inevitably still possess remnants of juvenile disregard for basic hygiene, cleanliness and organization skills. But that’s what college is for — it’s a big game of trial and error or, in other words, the right and wrong products.
Naturally, I’ve become somewhat of an expert on the do’s and don’ts of dorm and small-space living. I went from the horrors of modern-day dorm life straight to your classic NYC shoebox room, so I can confidently say that I’ve accumulated a master list of nonnegotiable essentials that have helped me survive college life thus far. Here are the 22 items I can’t imagine having lived in a dorm or tiny apartment without and that you can add to your packing list for the upcoming school year.
Doubling as my nightstand, this dresser was quite literally my right-hand man. I’d stuff all my miscellaneous items in here for easy access right from the comfort of my bed. This is especially helpful if you’re like me and overstuff the provided storage that comes with the dorm.?
Rather than using Command strips, I actually found that regular painter's tape did a great job holding posters up and not peeling off paint at the end of the school year.
Kiss your slow Brita goodbye when you invest in this filter-as-you-pour model. Within seconds, I could fill up my Hydro Flask and rush out the door to class, or immediately quench my thirst after getting home from a long day. No more waiting in agony for some good ol' H2O.?
I can’t imagine what I would’ve done without this closet organizer. Simply hung from the rod in my closet, I easily folded up and stored my extra towels and bedding in these airborne shelves.??
In college, you’ll be charging lots of gadgets and gizmos every day, so these power strips are tantamount to your tech tools themselves. I was able to charge my phone, laptop and AirPods; plug in my moon light; and straighten my hair, all from the same power strip. A truly riveting invention.?
If you have the space in your dorm, I highly recommend purchasing a shoe rack. I found this helpful during those times when I’m normally scrambling to find my trusty pair of heels or my matching Adidas Samba. I’d simply turn to my neatly consolidated shoe collection here, et voilà — there they were.?
If there’s one cleaning tool that you absolutely need in college, it’s a pack of Clorox wipes. From desktops to bathroom sinks, their versatility allows you to clean every surface imaginable. I personally cannot stand the slight smell of bleach that still lingers in the lemon-scented kind, but thankfully, Target carries these refreshing coconut-scented wipes that leave your dorm smelling like a tropical vacation.?
While using those Clorox wipes, I protect my hands from bacteria in these disposable gloves in order to fearlessly clean even the dirtiest of surfaces.?
I’m settling the debate now: Mesh caddies reign supreme over plastic caddies. Though I had a mesh caddy, some of my suitemates did not, and let’s just say things got pretty moldy. Take my word for it — it was not a pretty sight to see or scent to smell every time I hopped in the shower.
While living in a dorm, you have to be wary of the stains you may leave on the provided wooden furniture. I used these cute coasters all year to avoid cup rings and more fees at the end of the year.
If you’re like me and had heaps of random makeup products and office supplies just lying around, definitely invest in some desk organizers. They make life easier when searching around for that specific pen or a trusty eyeliner.?
Real talk — your dorm will get smelly. Like, really smelly. After all, most dorm rooms are cramped and have little to no ventilation. You eat in there, come back all sweaty from running around campus and do your business a few feet away if you have an en suite bathroom. Luckily, my dorm only ever smelled like clean linen or lavender, thanks to this Glade plug-in air freshener. Simply plug it into an outlet, insert whichever essential oil you desire, twist the top knob to “open” and breathe in the delightful scent. You’re welcome.?????
Cleaning our dorm’s toilet was probably the number one most dreaded task among all my roommates. We thankfully made it a little less revolting with this toilet wand cleaning kit. To use it, attach the disposable sponge to the end of the toilet wand, clean as you normally would and press the button on the side to throw away the sponge once you’re done. Never reuse gross plungers again.??
Who knew a door could mean extra storage space? If your dorm closet has a normal door instead of a sliding one, take advantage of this privilege by purchasing this hanging shoe organizer. I use this in my apartment now and can confirm that it’s great for storing more than just shoes.??
I loved this mirror because not only is it cute but its double sides allow you to apply makeup and skin care products in both a wide and an up-close view.
I was probably more often sick than not during my freshman year and, unsurprisingly, so was everyone around me. I kept this pack of cough drops in the top drawer of my nightstand for instant relief from constant painful sore throats and unrelenting coughing spells.?
Imagine: It’s 2 a.m., you’re walking back from a party or a friend’s dorm and you’re starving. You know you have snacks and microwaveable meals in your dorm, but the last thing you want to do is wash dishes. That’s where this dinner set comes in. After finding myself in this exact instance one too many times, I decided that if I was going to halt late-night use of my reusable dishes, then I might as well do it sustainably. Compostable, microwaveable and freezer-safe, this kit comes with a full set of plates, bowls and utensils ready for use at any moment.?
I’m a firm believer in the healing powers of good mood lighting, or an “adult night-light” as I like to think of it. I’d turn on this cute crescent moon LED light instead of a harsh desk lamp every night as I read before bed to relax and take my mind off my daily workload.?
Not only does my throw blanket add an extra layer of warmth during those cold winter months, but it acts as a sheath of protection when I want to lie on my bed in what I call my “outside clothes” after a long day of classes. Call me a clean freak, but the thought of sitting on my actual bedding — that I typically sleep in freshly showered — still dressed in my OOTD makes my skin crawl. Adding an extra throw blanket to the top of my bed completely avoids my irrational fear.?
Though the walk from class to class may get old and mundane pretty fast, you always pick up new dirt and grime on the bottom of your shoes, which inevitably gets tracked back into your dorm room. To avoid stepping all over street dirt both in your room and the dorm building, I recommend investing in a good pair of slippers. I used this pair from Ugg and still do in my apartment to this day.???
I’m always on the go during the school year and often have little to no time to sit down and enjoy a proper meal, which is why I love these delicious GoMacro bars. Obviously, I don’t replace normal meals with them, but if I’m starving and in a crunch, I just whip out one of these protein-packed, 100% organic bars to temporarily subvert painful hunger cramps and noisy stomach growls during class.?
If you know, you know. Hydro Flasks have stood the test of the internet’s trending product timeline and are now a cult-classic water bottle for students and working adults alike. I’ve been using my ride-or-die Hydro Flask since high school. It never fails to amaze me how, after all these years, it still manages to keep my water ice cold for hours on end.?
