There are a million articles out there about what a college student needs for his/her dorm room; however, these lists seem to just be rewording of the same basic 50 or so items. They also focus more on the cute side on living on your own for the first time, and rarely acknowledge the practical side. So if you want to know some of the basic necessities of college life without having to make six trips to Walmart on move in day, this one's for you!
Move in day is an exciting and emotional time. It's a lovely beginning, but also a bittersweet close to a previous chapter. There are more people on campus than ever, and you need to be focused on being happy, calm, and prepared rather than wondering why your next door neighbor has 85 people helping her move in. Here are some of the unsung heroes of college life that you'll definitely need.
1. Surge protectors.
Dorm rooms are small and easily cramped. You don't the hassle of having wires everywhere that comes with regular extension cords; instead get surge protectors! This way you have a consolidated space where you can have several things plugged in instead of searching for an extension cord that doesn't have two things plugged into it. Fortunately, Walmart has cheap, functional surge protectors that are just what you need!
2. Hanging Shoe Organizer.
The shoe organizer is a pretty common thing to purchase for a dorm. If you get one with cubbies instead of bags for the shoes, it can become storage for much more than just shoes. The price range on these goes from about $5 to $50; it all depends on the functionality and look you decide on.
3. Spoons. Yes, Spoons.
Spoons are the most useful utensil for a dorm. You can purchase packs of the mixed cutlery, but I guarantee you, you will run out of spoons before you run out of anything else. They're great for coffee, tea, soup, ramen, and just about everything else! If you don't have a sink in your room, I would recommend plasticware. However, if you will be able to easily wash them, metals spoons are the way to go.
4. Clippable Fans (Well, fans in general).
The best purchase I made for my dorm was a clippable fan from Target. I kept it on my bed, but it could easily be moved anywhere. The temperature in dorms fluctuates easily, and even if you aren't hot, fans prevent the room from feeling stuffy. Make sure you get an oscillating fan as the main fan in your dorm, and DO NOT forget to dust them! They collect dust more than anything else, and you can't risk getting sick!
Some newer dorms don't allow command hooks, because they rip the paint off of the wall if removed incorrectly. Blue painter's tape safely hangs decorations on your wall, but be prepared to use it in large quantities. You can always do what I did, and just use the tape as decoration itself.
6. A Durable Laundry Hamper
The wire and mesh hampers seriously do not cut it. They cannot handle the stress of being carried to and from the laundry room. I actually had the handles of mine rip off after my first laundry trip in the dorms. You may have to compromise and give into some bulk in order to have a laundry bag that lasts.
7. Heavy Duty Plastic Cups
There always seems to be a shortage of cups in any dorm room. Disposable cups can get burdensome, and they take up lots of space in your small trash can. These industrial red solo cups are cheap, cute, and convenient. They usually keep an $0.88 bin of these cups near the party aisle of Walmart. They're also bright and colorful and they come in an incredible assortment of designs!
