Dorm room essentials
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The Essential First-Year College Dorm Checklist
Use this checklist to make sure you have everything you need for your first year at college. These are just suggestions; be sure to adjust this list as needed for your specific needs and residence hall setup. To save packing time and shipping charges, it might make sense to buy some of these items after you arrive. It might also make sense to pack for one season at a time and switch items when you go home during breaks.
Dorm Room Organization and Storage
- Bedside lamp
- Alarm clock/clock radio
- Mini trash can
- Storage bins
- Under-the-bed storage trays
- Desk lamp
- Fan
- Drying rack for laundry
- Bulletin board and pushpins
- Dry-erase wall calendar/board
- Mini toolkit (including screwdriver, hammer, wrench)
- Picture hangers (double-sided tape for concrete walls)
College Linens and Laundry Supplies
- Sheets and pillowcases (2 sets. Check with college for size needed — some college twin beds are extra long.)
- Towels (3 each of bath, hand and face)
- Pillows (2)
- Mattress pad (Check with college for size needed)
- Blankets (2)
- Comforter/bedspread
- Clothes hangers
- Laundry bag/basket
- Laundry detergent, fabric softener and stain remover
- Lint brush
- Mini sewing kit
Desk Supplies
- Electronic storage media such as memory cards and USB flash drives
- Stapler and staples
- Printer paper (if you decide to bring a printer)
- Pens and pencils
- Pencil holder and sharpener
- Notebooks
- Folder with pockets
- Labels of various sizes
- 3 × 5 index cards
- Sticky notes
- Paper clips and binder clips
- Rubber bands
- Tape
- Scissors
- Highlighter pens (multiple colors)
- Ruler
- Stackable desk trays (at least 4)
- Stamps and envelopes
- Extra print cartridges (if you take a printer)
- Notecards or stationery
Electronics and Technology for First-Year Student
- Laptop (printer is optional; there are usually computer labs where you can print)
- Portable speakers (if you want to play music from laptop/MP3 player)
- HDMI cord, Ethernet cord for computer (check if your room has wireless)
- Surge protector
- Extension cords
- 3-2 prong adapters
- MP3 player
- Headphones
- Camera
- Cell phone
- Charging cords
Shared-with-Roommate Items
- Audio equipment
- TV and DVD player
- Coffeemaker/hot pot/microwave, if allowed
- Small refrigerator (if one isn’t provided)
- Area rug
- Posters/art
Toiletries, Beauty, and Hygiene
- Antacid
- Aspirin or other pain relievers
- Vitamins
- Antidiarrheal medicine
- Adhesive bandages, antibiotic ointment
- Cough drops
- Shower caddy
- Shower shoes (flip-flops)
- Shampoo and conditioner
- Hairstyling products
- Bath and face soap
- Travel soap container(s)
- Toothpaste and toothbrush
- Dental floss
- Comb/brush
- Tweezers
- Nail clippers
- Hair dryer/straightener/curling iron
- Razor and shaving cream
- Lotion and/or facial moisturizer
- Cotton swabs
- Feminine hygiene products
- Contact lens supplies
Clothing
- Underwear
- Socks
- Pants/jeans/leggings
- T-shirts/blouses
- Sweats
- Pajamas
- Slippers and/or flip-flops
- Sweaters
- Light/heavy jackets
- Gloves/scarf/hat (and other foul-weather gear as needed)
- 1 pair of boots
- 2 pairs of sneakers or comfortable/walking shoes
- 1 set of business-casual clothes
- 1 pair of dress shoes
- 1 swimsuit
- Bathrobe
- Eye mask for sleeping
Household and Kitchen Items
- Paper towels
- Trash bags
- Lightbulbs
- All-purpose cleaner
- Plastic storage bags
- Food-storage containers
- Dish soap
- Wet wipes
- Tissues
- Bowl, plate and cup
- Coffee mug
- Water bottle
- Silverware
- Can/bottle opener
Miscellaneous
- Umbrella
- Backpack
- Sports equipment
- Backup pair of eyeglasses
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College
Ready for college move-in? We’ve got you covered—literally—with twin XL bedding . Find everything from extra-long twin bed sheets to twin bed comforters and twin XL duvet covers , plus other bedding must-haves: mattress covers , pillows , mattress toppers pillow covers and more. If you’ve upgraded from a twin XL bed, we’ve got duvet covers and comforters sets in all sizes too. Most college dorm rooms are pretty tight quarters, so you’re going to need small-space storage solutions like plastic storage bins that can slide right under your bed (even if it’s not a lofted bed). No air conditioner , no problem. Choose from window a/c units along with a variety of fans from tower fans to window fans. Dorm walls are like blank canvases and offer tons of opportunity to personalize your space and really make it you. Need some wall decor inspiration? We’ve got you, with peel-and-stick wall paper , wall decals , floating shelves , picture frames , wall art ; and don’t forget your wall mirror . Every big day should start with a cup of coffee, so why not have a coffee maker or espresso maker right in your dorm? Not into coffee? Power up your day with a blender (maybe a Ninja blender ) and have mini smoothie station—why not?! And don’t forget to keep your beverages cold with a mini fridge , and other dorm appliances . Maybe you’ve graduated from dorm life and decided to move off-campus into an apartment. Lucky for you, we have inexpensive apartment furniture and home decor like cozy throws and colorful throw pillows that will make your space feel just like home. Need a space to store all those textbooks? Try a bookshelf or a college backpack . Don’t forget to relax on a futon . Don’t forget a desk lamp for studying, and the important shower caddy .