School is about to start, which means all the dorm supplies are coming out at stores. It’s easy to get swept up and think you need all that stuff, especially if it’s your freshman year and you don’t know what to expect yet. So many people will say you need this or that, but in a dorm, you have limited space and you really want to maximize the functionality out of everything you put inside that room. Of course, there is all the obvious stuff you need like sheets and a comforter and all that, but there are other certain must-haves that you might not think of right away. Here is my shopping list of the most useful things I think freshmen should get before starting college:
1. Over-the-door hooks
They are so cheap and very useful for hanging up towels, jackets, a robe, or your backpack. They are such an easy storage solution. My advice is remember that metal is better than plastic.
2. Desk organization
It doesn't need to be anything fancy. Before my freshman year, I paid a dollar for a little set of plastic bowls to put office supplies in (paperclips, post-its, erasers, etc.). It’s an easy way to keep all of the small stuff organized and keep your desk looking neat and clean.
3. Durable laundry basket
Freshman year, I tried using a laundry bag but it broke the first time I ever tried to carry it downstairs to the laundry room. Traditional plastic laundry baskets are bulky and hard to carry around. I highly recommend a canvas laundry basket with rope handles. It’s easy to carry, durable, and collapsible if you need to store it.
4. Shower tote
My shower tote is easily one of the best things I’ve owned in college that I never would’ve thought of getting for myself. I got mine ad a graduation present, but I recommend getting one to any incoming freshmen! It’s useful to have all your shower stuff in one convenient location when you have to carry it back and forth between your room and the bathroom down the hall.
5. Nice water bottle
A water bottle with thick, durable sides and large volume is one of the most useful things I’ve owned in college. It’s great to have a big water to fill up when you have no water supply in your room. It’s nice to take it to class to have if you get thirsty, and it also saves you money by deferring you from buying drinks when you’re outside of your dorm. Personally, I have a Nalgene, and I love it.
6. Decent bowl
One medium-sized, ceramic bowl can be used to eat Campbell’s soup, cereal, salad, pasta, yogurt, or any other dorm friendly food. Make sure you get one that won’t break easily and is microwave safe.
7. Storage ottoman
I wouldn't necessarily call it an essential, but it is nice to have. They are relatively cheap, and they are nice because they have multiple functions. They are obviously great for storage, but they are also a good place to sit if you have friends over.
8. Warm blanket
It can get really cold in the dorms at night, especially in the winter. A thick fleece blanket can be really nice to ensure that you stay warm in the night, especially if your roommate prefers to keep the room colder than you do.
9. Body pillow
A body pillow adds comfort to your dorm bed, which can be kind of uncomfortable and can easily turn your bed into a couch by just putting the pillow against the wall.
10. Christmas lights
I know we have all seen those stereotypical pictures of dorm rooms with Christmas lights wound around everything. But seriously, having Christmas lights in your dorm can be really nice when you don’t want to use the overhead fluorescent lights, but you’d still like some soft light in your room. They also make for cheap, functional décor.
11. Power strip
Dorms usually don’t have many outlets and, often, it can be hard to get to them because all the furniture in your room takes up every inch of wall space. A power strip solves that problem by giving you extra outlets and can slightly extend the reach of the outlets beyond the walls.
