17 Essentials For Any College Dorm Room

It’s that time of the year when newly graduated high school seniors and their parents are scouring the stores in person and online. They are looking to gather all of the things they need or think they will need, for college campus living.

Here is an ultimate shopping list of essentials for any college dorm room. This is perfect if you’re one of those parents or even a family member looking to gift something to the college student in your family.

(This post includes affiliate links for which I will receive a commission if you click and make a purchase.)

Some things to think about before you start shopping. There are some things you’ll want to consider.

The type of bathroom. Is the bathroom attached to their room and shared with two or three other students? Or is it out in the hallway and shared with all of the students in that hall?
The dorm decorating rules. Are there some things that are or aren’t allowed? What’s already in the room? Some dorm rooms may have things in them already, like a small refrigerator, a microwave, desks, and desk chairs.
The size of the room. Is it small or large enough so that they can have their own separate space from their roommate?

Knowing the answers to those questions can help with figuring out what makes sense to buy, and even if you get the small or large size of that item.

Related read: The Ultimate High School And College Graduation Gift Guide

Dorm room decor

Most dorm rooms are small, so there usually isn’t much room to bring in a lot of decor items. This means you need to be strategic about what you bring. I like decor items that can serve multiple purposes, if possible.

Floor lamp

I’ve found floor lamps to be the easiest type of lamp for a college dorm room. You can easily move it around the room, and you don’t need anything to stand it on except the floor.

Rug

These are nice to have near your bed so your feet don’t hit the cold ground before you find your slippers. Plus, they can add some color and flair to the room.

Wall decor

Not everything for your dorm room needs to be practical. Hanging decor on the wall can brighten and liven up a dorm room. Plus, it can be a great way to bring some reminders from home. Some things you can hang on the wall are

A chalkboard for leaving notes for your roommate or making reminder lists
A magnetic dry-erase calendar board to plan out your month and keep track of college assignments
Nice wall art that fits your decor style

Dorm room bathroom essentials

Unless your college student is blessed and has a semi-private bathroom attached to their room, they are most likely sharing a bathroom and thereby shower and counter with multiple other students. This means they won’t have a ton of privacy, little say in the decor, and may not want to keep their toiletries in what feels like a public bathroom. All of these items can help and were helpful for me when I was living in a college dorm.

Toiletry holder or caddy

These are plastic carrying cases where you can store your toiletries, but also easily carry them into the bathroom when needed. They get and look better every year.

You can find these toiletry holders in many different sizes and colors. Some with multiple sections. And somewhere you can remove or add

Bathroom towels

When I say 'bath towels,' I mean bath and hand towels, as well as washcloths. It can be tempting to get two of each, but it’s probably safer to have at least four of each.

I’ve been seeing more and more dermatologists advise changing out your towels at least once a week.

BrylaneHome Bath Towel set that includes 2 hand towels, 2 washcloths, and 2 bath towels
American Soft Linen Luxury 6 Piece Towel Set with two bath towels, hand towels, and washcloths
Utopia Towels 8-Piece Premium Towel Set includes 2 bath towels, 2 hand towels, and 4 washcloths

Shower shoes

These are a must if you’re sharing a bathroom with other people. I even wear shower shoes in hotel bathrooms. I don’t want to get any type of fungus from other people’s poor hygiene or poor cleaning.

Trashcan

Not all dorm rooms include a trash can is something I discovered during my college years. And if there is one, it’s only one per room. So you may want to bring one of your own.

One thing to look for is a trash can with a slim design so it doesn’t take up too much space.

Related read: 7 Tips For Saving Money As A Broke College Student

Dorm room bed essentials

Most of what a dorm room is used for is to study and sleep. So it’s important to have some good items to make your bed not only look good but feel good when you lie in it.

Bedsheets

It was best to have three or four sets of sheets for your bed. That allowed me to not have to do laundry that frequently.

Here’s another tip for buying college dorm room sheets. Buy the Twin XL sets. It’s better to have sheets that are a little too long than too short.

Pillows

This includes the pillows you sleep on and also bedrests that are helpful when you want to sit on your bed like it’s a couch.

Mattress protector

Considering other people have used the mattress before you. And you don’t know how well it’s been cleaned, using an allergy relief mattress protector can help keep it as nice as possible while you’re using it.

Bed risers

Unless the bed is a bunk bed, you’ll want to raise the bed up a few inches from the floor. It will provide more storage space underneath the bed.

Dorm room laundry

Having laundry solutions is so important for a small living space like a college dorm room. This is where you really have to start thinking outside of the box.

Hangers

Regular hangers won’t do as space is at a premium in dorm rooms. So, having individual hangers can take up too much space.

Laundry bag or hamper

I’ve heard this is one thing that seems to get forgotten. It is pretty important. I had a foldable laundry bag that also doubled as a hamper. So I could use it for my dirty laundry and carry my laundry down to the laundry room.

This particular hamper looks really cool as it has a lid, it folds up when not in use to save space, and it has an inner washable mesh bag that can be removed for easy transport of your laundry to the washing machine. I wish I had this in college.

Collapsible laundry rack

Sometimes you can’t dry everything in the laundry room. Other things you want to wash by hand or even air dry. Whatever the reason, having a small laundry rack would be perfect. Especially a collapsible one, since you could easily fold it up and stick it in the corner or underneath the bed when not in use.

Clothes steamer

I hated and still hate ironing clothes, so I use a clothes steamer instead. This would have been helpful in a college dorm room, as this takes up less space than a traditional iron and ironing board, and you can get pretty similar results. Especially if you are only trying to get the wrinkles out of your clothes.

BEAUTURAL Foldable Steamer for Clothes
BEAUTURAL Travel Steamer for Clothes with Dual Voltage for Worldwide Use

Storage containers

In a dorm room, you want to create as much storage space as you can. You can do that by storing items in fabric organizers or in plastic containers that sit in your closet, in a corner, or under the bed.

Dorm room technology

If you’re like most of us, you probably have several devices that need to be charged at least once a day. Having the right technology and charging stations can help with that.

Dorm room kitchen essentials

You may want to eat in your dorm room even with a meal plan. It’s easier and sometimes cheaper. Or you may want to bring food from home during breaks.

Having food storage containers and utensils in your dorm room can make keeping and eating those leftovers easier. Especially when food storage containers can double as a plate or bowl.