Beginner’s Guide to College Dorm Essentials

College Dorm Packing Guide for Freshman Year and Beyond!

If you think your kids heading off to college for the first time know what they need to pack for their college dorm – they don’t! 

Try asking an 18-year-old about what they want to pack for college and you’ll get something like this (at least from a boy): My Playstation, TV, maybe the old office chair, posters, headphones, football stuff, sheets.

Um, yeah this is exactly what my son said to me so I speak the truth LOL. You also likely won’t get very many real details from your child when you ask.

As a mom with four years of college packing and dorm room set-up, I’ve got some tried and true tips!

Here is your guide to helping your child prepare for college life. 

This is the reality my friends…not some pretty Instagram dorm room. 

There is very little space, so you need to create it. The furniture may be as old as you are, you may not have air conditioning, and your kid is going to take over the decor (so let them!).

By the time you part their dorm room, you just need to make sure the essentials are covered, they feel comfortable, and enjoy their space. 

Trust me…they will want to kick you out to go be with their friends and be FREE! Don’t get your feelings hurt. 

College Dorm Room Packing 101

After combing Pinterest, articles on the internet, talking to friends, referring to my son’s college website, plus 5 years of college experience – I’ve collected all of this packing information to share with you.

Plus I can tell you that this list WORKS because we were perfectly prepared his Freshman to Senior year and now LAW SCHOOL – it’s never ending education at our house.

Guess what? We’ve gotten it down to such an art…my son didn’t even need my help his last semester setting up his room or setting up his law school apartment (aside from Facetime check-ins). 

Even if your college student is living off campus in an apartment or house this is still a good list. It’s all the basics they need. 

Are you trying to scramble at the last minute to pull your child’s college dorm items together, no problem!

Post contains hand selected products, with some affiliate marketing links {full disclosure here} 

College Dorm Room Packing Categories

Let’s break this down into buckets shall we? 

That’s just how my mind works I “bucketize” complex thoughts into manageable pieces. I think I made up that word 🙂

Here are the key types of products you will need to plan to pack and send along with your college student. 

College Dorm Room Necessities

So you can do a more in depth search to find specific dorm room products in each category, I am adding direct links for you. 

Please check with your college to see what is allowed especially related to cooking.

Also, most colleges won’t allow things to be nailed or push pinned into the wall because it creates damage.

Click here for Command adhesive hooks and strips because they will be your best friend when in comes to hanging anything.

I’m also going to give you ideas around things they should have for getting to and from class plus other “love & comfort” products you may want to supply 🙂

Most colleges provide a mattress in the dorm. Many times in the freshman dorms it is a twin XL or a full.

So pay special attention, before you order any bedding!

To save money bring what you can from home, but especially their favorite pillow!

Some colleges in the cooler parts of the country may NOT HAVE AIR CONDITIONING!

You may want to consider multiple fans especially an app controlled tower fan.

Or maybe even a window AC unit. (my son has two in his law school apartment)

Shop sleep Essentials

Comforter | Sham | Boho Pillow | Weighted Blanket | Personal Fan | Sheet Set | Cozy Throw | Window AC | Call Your Mom Pillow | Foam Topper | Mattress Pad | Air Purifier | Pillow Set | Storage Platform Bed | Naps Fix Everything Pillow

Something that my son really appreciated that I bought for him was a memory foam mattress topper.

My son is a big football player and dorm mattresses usually are pretty institutional and hard.

Of course he didn’t think he needed one, but after his first night in the dorm thanked me profusely!

You DEFINITELY need a mattress pad and wrinkle free sheet set (that you pray they wash!)

Or if your child has a lofted bed, invest in a bed shelf to hold a cup, their headphones, and phone. 

Showering dorm essentials

1. Shower caddy
2. Shower shoes
3. Towel Set
4. Wash cloths (great for cleaning too!)

Usually a communal affair, so you have to think about the fact they have to walk to the shower with their toiletries and stand in a public shower.

Shop Shower Essentials

Women’s Shower Slides | Men’s Shower Slides | Plastic Shower Caddy | Mesh Shower Caddy | Towel Set | iPhone Waterproof Sleeve | Roll-Up Make Up Caddy | Bluetooth Speaker | Wash Cloths | Dude Bombs | Poo-Pourri

Choose an open or mesh shower caddy, so it dries out in between uses and can be cleaned.

Prevent athletes foot with shower shoes!

See if you can spare towels from home to save money. If not the towel set I linked is very affordable.

Girl’s may want to take their makeup with them to the bathroom, so a roll-up portable case can be helpful.

Buy the cheap wash cloths because the odds they will get stinky and end up in the trash.

Then if your child is like mine they have a Spotify account and love to listen to music while showering.

The waterproof phone sleeve means (great for water sports too!) they can take their phone INTO the shower and also have an inexpensive bluetooth waterproof speaker in the room too.

Shy in the bathroom, then the toilet additives to stop the stink may calm some nerves 🙂

Organization Dorm essentials

1. Space Saving Hangers
2. Shoe storage (2pk hanging)
3. Hooks and Strips (Command)
4. Rolling under bed storage
5. Lightweight dresser (doubles as a TV stand)
6. Full Length Mirror

They are always small, so the more creative you can get with shoe trees, hanging drawers, hooks, etc the better.

In this closet, we REALLY got creative with the space and added a shoe tower as well. 

Maybe there isn’t room for storing shoes in the closet. There is a great shoe storage option for under the bed instead!

My son wanted the dresser like this to act as a way to define the space and create a little privacy. I went with it 🙂 

Don’t forget to pack extra hangers and hooks. Plus you may want to add a full length mirror.

Try the solutions below to stack hangers for tops and pants to maximize closet space!

There are versions that easily hang over the door! Or attach one with Command adhesive. 

Shop organization Essentials

Space Saving Hangers | Command Hooks | Makeup Organizer | Wall Mirror and Jewelry Org | Dresser and TV Stand | Hanging Drawers | Small Dresser | Compact Pant Hangers | Under Bed Shoe and Boot Organizers | Foldable Totes | Storage Ottoman 2 PK | Dopp Kit | Utility Cart

Seriously, there is NEVER enough room in the closets so plan to get flat foldable under bed containers as well.

I like the fabric foldable under bed options because they are easier pack and to store when not in use, but plastic works too!

Because the university usually supplies a dresser you may wait to buy extra drawers, until after you move into the dorm. 

There are very affordable dresser storage units with foldable cubes, as a nice option. 

Since space is SO limited a place to hang wet towels was limited. 

Command hooks are a great option on the back of the door or on the wall for wet towels.

Think outside the box with utility carts that can hold toiletries, cleaning supplies, and food too!

Kitchen dorm essentials

1. Small refrigerator
2. Hot Water Kettle
3. Plastic plate and utensil set
4. Coffee cups
5. Coffee maker
6. Paper towels
7. Cleaning wipes
8. Storage shelf

Most likely your kids will be on a meal plan and cooking will be limited to heating things from a mini-refrigerator in a microwave.

They will however they need some essentials on hand, when they are hanging out and studying in their dorm rooms.

Shop Kitchen Essentials

Coffee Maker | Mini-Refrigerator | Over the Refrigerator Organizer | Coffee Maker Stand and Org | Cleaning Towels | Glass Storage Jar | Roll-Up Dish Rack | Uber Eats | Vacuum Dust Buster | Ceramic Bowls | Utensil Set | Command Storage Shelf

Remember space is limited, so a compact coffee maker is ideal. 

It may be worthwhile to get a K-cup organizer with drawers for their coffee supplies.

Or use airtight glass containers to keep things fresh.

We found having a little shelf helpful for essentials. My son’s roommate supplied the refrigerator and over the refrigerator organizer.

What a HUGE space saver to use the sides of the refrigerator for utensils, napkins, cups, and paper plates!

Study (you pray) dorm essentials

In this category is also the technology essentials because they NEED a laptop and will WANT a TV.

1. 3 in 1 Phone Charging Station
2. Desk lamp
3. Power tower (never enough plugs!)
4. Desk organizer
5. Laptop
6. Pens, pencils, notebook
7. Noise cancelling headphones
8. Message board or white board
9. Lap desk
10. Backpack
11. External back-up drive
12. Portable phone and watch charger
13. Small Smart TV

This area needs some organization for office supplies, maybe some extra shelves, and a white board to keep important deadlines, grocery lists, and to-dos front and center.

Plus a desk lamp, so they can study late into the evening 🙂 

My advice (take it or leave it) is to allow your child who games to take their system with them.

Kids bond over video games in college dorms. It’s a social activity. Send them with their systems and take it away if their grades suffer.

Porch Daydreamer

This is how kids socialize in school and they each want their own system and TV monitor.

I watched my son bond over group game evenings and I’ve talked to friends who ended up sending the gaming unit because their child was feeling left out or lonely.

Another splurge is noise cancelling headphones because who knows what their roommate will be like right?

Also, think power and charging things like an iPhone, laptop, running a fan, game stations, TVs, etc.

Shop Study Essentials

Lap Desk | Desk Lamp and Charging Station | Tower Fan | Backpack with Cooler | Charging Tower | Desk Organizer | Noise Cancelling Headphones | Bedside Shelf | Laptop | Backpack

All of that equipment gets hot, so keep the room cool with a tower fan while studying!

Plus a small table to act as a TV or game stand or for a microwave.

Seriously, the BEST purchase we made was a power tower for the dorm room. 

A storage ottoman was used for not only storing stuff, but to sit on and used as a step stool. It really came in handy!

We created a whole gaming center with storage for my son and his roommate. The storage ottoman was a great option in this space. 

Here is a really affordable TV stand if you want something even sturdier. In hindsight, I wish we would have invested in a proper TV stand. 

Yes, I know they need to be studying but playing video games is a big social event for boys especially.

My son graduated with honors and got a full ride to law school, so it all worked out my fellow parents who are concerned 🙂 

Laundry DorM Essentials

1. Laundry Hamper (rolling)
2. Laundry detergent, softener, bleach, stain remover
3. Steamer
4. Iron
5. Collapsible drying rack
6. Supply caddy

This can be a big leap for some kids, so make sure they have done laundry at home and are armed with supplies so there are NO excuses to not wash their things.

I made sure to supply the full range of laundry supplies plus a hamper to motivate him and eliminate excuses

You hope they do it!

Make sure the hamper is easily portable and has a handle or turns into a back pack, since they typically will have to travel to another floor in their building.

A caddy for just laundry supplies will also come in handy and can be used for cleaning items too.

The roller hamper is slim and also had a bag that can be removed, so it could be a good choice for inside of their closet.

Shop Laundry Essentials

Laundry Hamper | Laundry Supply Set | Travel Steamer | Rolling Slim Hamper | Drying Rack | Oxi-Clean | Wrinkle Release | Backpack Hamper | Iron | Detergent Caddy

MAYBE a steamer and an or an iron, if they will use it.

My son actually does his OWN laundry now and hasn’t ruined anything (to my knowledge)!

Walking or Biking to Class

Getting to class takes on a huge importance and comfort is key.

Plan for every type of weather. Of course a packable umbrella will be key and possibly ponchos for outdoor concerts or sporting events.

1. Lightweight jacket
2. Rain jacket
3. Umbrella that fits in a back pack
4. Winter jacket
5. Gloves
6. Snow boots
7. Scarf

Make sure they have comfy shoes and if they are going to a colder climate heavier jackets, gloves, hats and snow boots.

We ran into this issue going from NC to OH and had to invest in winter gear!

During Thanksgiving break have them bring home summer things and send them back with cold weather gear to save closet space.

Love & Comfort

This is really up to you, but I’m thinking about sending a few framed photos, rug, posters, a throw blanket for comfort.

Reminders of home and items to make the room “cozier”.

If you think your kids will enjoy it send scented room plugs or a small handheld vacuum. 

We ended up with multiple fans. Think about a small fan to clip on the bed and one for the room.

It keeps the air moving and helps to drown out noise when sleeping too. 

Dorm Room Decorating 101

Feeling like you have the basic packing items down and are ready to decorate?

I’m here to help with that too! Click here for Affordable Dorm Room Style.

Not on the list, but definitely a necessity is tissue. 

Pack some tissue for happy and sad tears that I know will flow. Off to enjoy the empty nest again!

Good luck to you and your college student!

Until next time…

Porch Daydreamer

Tracey

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