Your dorm room is an expression of who you are (plus, who your roommate is), and you're smart. So, wouldn't it make sense that you'd have a smart dorm room? In addition to the benefit of self-expression, having a room full of smart devices can also be pretty convenient.
But is it possible to make your dorm room smart on a college budget? Indeed it is, thanks to the many affordable devices that are now on the market. Here are some of the essential smart dorm room items.
1. Get a Smart Speaker
The centerpiece of your smart dorm room is the smart speaker. While you could certainly splurge on one of these if you wanted to, there are also plenty of budget-friendly options. The Amazon Echo Dot sells for around $50, as does the Google Home Mini.
You can use your smart speaker to control any other smart devices you have, make calls, play music, set alarms and timers, and keep track of your schedule. You can even ask it questions if you need a little bit of help doing research for that big paper.
Students aren't the only ones who think smart speakers in the dorms are a good idea. Universities themselves are starting to come around too. St. Louis University in Missouri is installing an Echo Dot in each dorm room on campus.
The devices will connect to a central university system rather than individual students' accounts and will be able to answer questions about when university buildings close and what campus events are coming up.
2. Add a Streaming Stick
With a streaming stick, you can easily watch your favorite shows on any TV. There are plenty of affordable options that are much less expensive than buying a smart TV. You can get a Roku Express for $30, a Google Chromecast for as little as $35 or an Amazon Fire TV stick for $40.
In addition to chilling out and watching Netflix at the end of a long day of classes, you can also use your streaming stick to browse websites on your TV, which could be useful for getting assignments done.
There are browser apps available on Roku and Amazon Fire, while with Chromecast you can see exactly what's on your laptop screen on your TV.
3. Get a Tile
Losing your keys, purse or backpack in a messy dorm room is the last thing you want when you're running late for class. Luckily, there's a smart solution to this — Tile.
A Tile is a small, square device that you can attach to your keyring or throw in your backpack. If you ever lose the item your Tile is attached to, just open the Tile app on your phone, press a button and the Tile will make a loud noise until you find it as long as it's within 100 feet.
The app can also remember the last place you had your item, and you get access to the Tile community which you help you find lost items.
You can get the classic Tile Mate for just $20 or get a four-pack for $40.
4. Use a Smart Plug
With a smart plug or surge protector strip, you can essentially make any device smart. Say you want to level up your coffee maker. Just plug it into the smart plug, then plug the smart plug into a regular wall outlet, and you can control coffee maker with your phone.
You can use a smartphone app or your smart home speaker to turn the coffee maker off and on or put it on a schedule so that it starts brewing at the same time every morning. You can do the same thing with virtually any device.
A basic smart plug or power strip doesn't cost much either. The LeFun Surge Protector Strip features four individually controlled outlets and four USB ports and sells for $32.99. If you just need one plug, you can choose the PowerBear smart plug for $17.99.
This is far from an exhaustive list of budget-friendly smart home items, but just these few devices can create a relatively powerful connected dorm room.
They have a variety of practical and fun uses, plus the use of smart plugs gives you the flexibility to upgrade any device. Want to take your dorm room to the next level? Start with these smart items.
Please note as an Amazon Associate, Odyssey may earn a portion of qualifying sales.
