When I moved in I was constantly ordering and asking for my parents to bring things I had forgotten that I need. So here's a short list of things you might not realize you really want or need in your dorm.
1. Keurig
Whether you just use the hot water and don't use a K-cup, these things are amazing. I love the k-cups and my tea bags I keep that work just as well. The different sizes make it so you can pretty much get one to fit anywhere.
2. Brita
In order to fill the Keurig, or my assortment of water bottles, I keep my Brita pitcher around. Even though it doesn't fit in my fridge, it still works well. Faucet water on campus isn't always great, but using the Brita always helps
3. Wall decorations
Any amount of signs, flags, white boards, pictures, and even little sticky notes helps with the atmosphere of your dorm room. It makes it more homey if you have things that are important to you. I have my Twenty One Pilots flag along with lots of pictures. I also have string lights all over my room. It adds more light that you might not have had and it makes it simple.
4. 3M Hooks and Tape
These things are life savers. Everything I have in my room is hanging on 3M hooks. I use the tape for pictures and posters. Painters tape works well too, but 3M is made for this purpose.
5. Over the door/cabinet hangers
I use these for my towels, jackets, and purses on my wardrobe in my room. It adds more spots for you to put things and works well. It's space that would be wasted so you might as well put it to good use.
6. Storage
I have plenty of shelves and drawers in my room, and I would still love to have more. Because you have a small amount of space, it can be easy to make it messy. But if you have enough spots to store things, it gets a lot easier.
7. Ottoman
I have my bed risen up, and I use an ottoman to get up on my bed. It works as a stool, a chair when you have more people over, and if you get one like mine, it can store things inside of it. That's where I keep my cleaning supplies cause it works well and is always reachable.
8. Candles/Scent Plug-ins
Dorm rooms smell, so whether you get a plug in scent or just use a spraying bottle, have something to make your room smell decent. It again, makes it more homey. Candles might not be allowed and honestly can be forgotten when you're running in and out of your dorm, so be careful.
9. Hand Sanitizer/Clorox Wipes
You'll realize soon that illnesses spread around campus like crazy. I always keep a hand sanitizer right by my door so that the second I enter, it's there. Having Clorox wipes or Lysol around is nice to help decontaminate everything. Another nice thing to have to lessen a mess and space is Dawn/Bounty paper towels. They have dawn built in to wash dishes instead of you using a sponge and dish soap. It's easy and you just throw it away. I love them and always have them in my room. It's nice if you don't have a kitchen but still have plates and bowls, or whatever else.
Whether you end up finding your own things that you need in your dorm, this is mine. I hope everyone had a great first week of classes and just find a way to make your dorm your home for the rest of the year.
