Dorm Room Must Haves
College is an exciting time for young adults, but it can be bittersweet for parents. Before you get to those painful good-byes, it’s important to ensure that your college-bound student has everything she needs to succeed. We’re going to share 15 dorm room essentials for girls that should be on every student’s list.
15 Dorm Room Essentials for Girls
1. Bedding – Mainstays 11-Piece Bed in a Bag Value Set
Bedding is an absolute essential for a dorm room. The right bedding will add comfort and style to her space. The 11-piece value set from Mainstays has everything she needs to make her dorm room bed as comfy and functional as possible, including a comforter, shams, sheets, pillowcases, throw blanket, body pillow, wall tapestry, storage bag and even a bedside caddy.
Plus, you can choose from fun colors like coral, teal, gray and black and white. But, of course, each color has its own tapestry design, too.
2. Shower Caddy – Mainstays Mesh Shower Tote
Unfortunately, most dorms don’t have their own private bathrooms, and even if they do, students will still be sharing with at least one or two other people. This mesh shower tote from Mainstays will hold all of her products. And because it’s mesh, she can bring it right into the shower with her. It dries quickly, and it’s loaded with pockets to keep her essentials organized.
3. Mattress Topper – Linenspa 3” Down Alternative Mattress Topper
When you think about how many other students have slept on her dorm mattress, a mattress topper will be the first thing you add to your must-have list. This mattress topper from Linenspa is filled with luxurious down alternative fiber to make her bed extra-cozy. The elastic corner straps keep the topper in place, and it’s machine-washable for easy care.
With this mattress topper, her dorm bed will be even more comfortable than her bed at home.
4. Laundry Bag – Mainstays Backpack Laundry Bag
At college, she’ll be spending plenty of time on studying, doing homework and having fun. But she’ll also be spending plenty of time on mundane things – like laundry.
A laundry bag is one of the top dorm room essentials for girls. For those weekend trips to the laundry room, this backpack-style laundry bag from Mainstays will make her life easier. It’s big enough to hold a load or two of laundry, and it even has pockets for your detergent, fabric softener or other small items.
Related: 8 Trendy Gift Ideas for College Girls
5. Over-the-Door Storage – GISSAR Over-the-Door Storage Cabinet
If her dorm room has a closet, don’t let this valuable space go to waste. GISSAR’s over-the-door storage cabinet will keep all of her essentials organized. Plus, it’s lockable to keep her items safe. The door doubles as a mirror to save even more space.
Along with jewelry (there’s space to hang earrings, rings and necklaces), this storage cabinet has a built-in bag, multiple storage shelves (to hold things like beauty products, perfumes, makeup, etc.) and an interior mirror with a little pull-down shelf. There are even hooks on the side to hang sunglasses, scarves or lightweight bags.
6. Bedside Storage – EROMMY Bedside Tabel with Swivel Desk
Bedside storage helps maximize dorm room space. The EROMMY bedside table can swivel 360-degrees for easy, comfortable use. The desk surface can be adjusted vertically, too, so she can study and even do her homework comfortably in bed. Two drawers give her space to store essentials, and the Q-style clips keep all of those cords organized.
If she wants more freedom in how she studies and works, this swiveling bedside table desk is a great investment.
7. Mini Fridge – Whirlpool Mini Refrigerator/Freezer
The campus cafeteria isn’t open 24/7. A mini fridge can keep her full and hydrated for those late nights or early mornings. Whirlpool’s mini fridge even has a freezer compartment, so she can store frozen foods and snacks. The stainless-steel design is sleek and will match any dorm décor.
The interior offers 3.1 cubic feet of space, and with a height of just 19.13,” she can easily squeeze this fridge in her dorm room. There’s enough space inside for cans and even two-liter bottles. The drawer gives her space to store fresh vegetables and fruit, and the shelves are ideal for storing other essentials.
8. Roku Streaming Stick+
Yes, even in college, she’ll still have some downtime to relax and unwind. With a Roku Streaming Stick+, she can watch all of her favorite content from dozens of streaming platforms. The Roku stick plugs right into her TV’s HDMI port for easy use and connects to the campus’s Wi-Fi network. It even comes with a convenient remote that also controls the TV’s functions (like power and volume).
The Roku Streaming Stick+ lets her watch content in 4K and HDR, so she’ll get the best picture quality.
9. Underbed Storage – Squared Away Underbed Bags (Set of 2)
Don’t forget to include under-bed storage on your list of dorm room essentials for girls. Squared Away’s underbed bags give her plenty of space to store clothes, blankets or other items. Each set comes with two bags, each with a set of handles and zippered top.
The handles make it easy to move these bags around, and the clear top allows you to see what’s stored inside at a glance. Each bag is 18” L x 30” x 6” H, making it easy to stow away under the bed.
Both bags fold flat for easy storage when they’re not in use.
Related: How To Graduate College Debt Free Without Having Rich Parents
10. Vacuum – BISSELL 3-in-1 Lightweight Vacuum
A simple, lightweight vacuum will keep her dorm room clean all semester long. BISSELL’s 3-in-1 vacuum is lightweight, compact and easy to stow away. It works on carpeting, throw rugs and even hard flooring. Both the handle and foot can be removed to turn this into a handheld vacuum.
The entire unit weighs less than four pounds. With dimensions of 42.5” x 10.7” x 8.3,” she can easily tuck it away in the corner or her closet.
11. Desk Lamp – LED Desk Lamp with Wireless Charging
A desk lamp is another essential for any dorm room. Having a personal lamp means that she can work whenever she wants without disturbing her roommates. This 800-lumen LED desk lamp has multiple lighting colors and a dimming function. The light has a moveable arm, so she can position it however she wants.
A built-in pen holder and wireless phone charger allow her to stay organized and keep her devices charged. With its portable design, she can take it with her anywhere she goes.
12. Headphones – Koss Porta Pro On-Ear Headphones
Let’s face it – dorms can be noisy, and that can make it hard to stay focused when studying. However, with a pair of quality headphones, she can listen to her favorite music without disturbing her roommates and study in peace.
The Koss Porta Pro on-ear headphones are comfortable and deliver clear, crisp audio. The built-in temporal pads are adjustable to alleviate pressure on the ears. And when she’s done using them, these headphones will collapse into a more compact form for easy, protective storage.
13. Mini Coffee Maker – Keurig K-Express
With the Keurig K-Express, she can brew a single cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate anytime she wants. Like other Keurig models, this brewer uses K-cup pods. Choose from 6, 8 or 10-ounce cups with the touch of a button. This model can accommodate travel mugs up to 7” tall, so she can keep her coffee warm all morning long.
The K-Express comes in fun retro colors, like teal, red and black. The compact size makes it perfect for dorms. The machine weighs just over 4 lbs. and is just 16.8” tall. There’s even a descale feature to help keep the pot clean.
14. Reusable Food Storage Bags – Reusable Food Bags
Kick single-use plastic to the curb with reusable silicone food storage bags. This six-piece set has reusable bags in a variety of sizes, and they stand upright. They’re dishwasher safe, microwave safe and even freezer safe. It’s BPA-free and heat resistant up to 426 degrees Fahrenheit. She can even store liquids in this bag.
Each pack has one bag, and you can find other sizes or styles from this brand. They can be used over and over again, so you’ll be saving money in the long run.
15. Bathrobe and Slippers – Body Candy Plush Robe and Slippers Set
A comfy, plush robe and a pair of slippers will make trips to the dorm showers more comfortable. Body Candy’s robe and slipper set is ultra-soft and has an easy-tie closure. The fun star pattern adds a touch of personality, too. The set comes in purple, navy and gray. Size up for a more comfortable fit (the slippers run a little small).
Final Thoughts
These are the top dorm room essentials for girls this year. From bedding to coffee makers and study aids, these essentials will make her dorm feel more like home and help her succeed in her college career.