I was recently making a list of dorm items beyond the obvious linens/towels/toiletries/school supplies for a friend, and it turns out a lot of my senior photography clients and their parents were interested in seeing it, so I decided to write up a blog post that I can add to in the future!

My son Luke is on year three in the dorm - the first year as a resident in a shared room, and the next two as an RA in a private room. Between his personal experience and working with his residents, here are some things he found useful. Understand that you don’t have to go out and buy all of these things, but there might be some items in here that you didn’t think of!

Kitchen Station

These items were nice space savers/provided extra storage for sort of a mini kitchen station with paper towels/dishes/snacks (we got a small fridge/freezer and a small microwave):

• Fridge shelf magnet: https://amzn.to/4dnjCYc

• Fridge stand/drawers: https://amzn.to/3YxTDc9

• Single-cup Keurig: https://amzn.to/4frEXBv

Bedding

Many dorms have Twin XL beds - double check as regular twin bedding won’t work!

Place on bed in this order to make bed less gross and more comfortable:

• Mattress protector: https://amzn.to/3LUDYMA

• Foam topper: https://amzn.to/3LQpNrX

• Cushioned mattress topper: https://amzn.to/46x6vBn

then normal linens - some people suggested a full comforter instead of twin so we did that

Other miscellaneous suggestions:

• Desk lamp with pencil holder and charging port: https://amzn.to/4fqaqns

• Vacuum: https://amzn.to/4cdeQLJ (cheap and light and does what it needs to do)

• Bed Shelfie (Luke loved this thing - he raised his bed and had nowhere to set his phone/water/glasses in reach until he got this): https://amzn.to/4fzS4kc

• Over-door hooks for bathroom door/more storage

• Damp Rid bags in case there’s a musty smell  https://amzn.to/4dwLHMx

• Cheap area rug that you may want to throw in the garbage at the end of the year - not sure how often (or if?) those dorm rugs are cleaned, so this is a cleaner option but will definitely take a beating over the course of the year

• Brita pitcher for filtered water (and refillable water bottles) https://amzn.to/46y6XPO

• Zippered moving bags - these are so sturdy and hold a TON - we have’t had one rip yet after 2+ years of back-and-forth. They fold up small, which is great in the dorm where space is at a premium, and can be used for all kinds of things. https://amzn.to/3Yx8DqA

• Liquid IV - so helpful for hydration, especially in warmer climates 

• Earplugs - the dorm and the surrounding area can be so noisy and these can be a lifesaver when you’re trying to sleep or study

• Command Strips 

*Another note -Target does a back-to-college deal for 20% off an entire purchase - and if you’re strategic, using that coupon for a big Target run can be good savings! Definitely plan to make a store run once you unload/unpack and set up - just start a running list that day as you’ll start thinking of things you need!

Good luck with your move to college! Let me know if you find any of this helpful, or if you have other ideas that I can add to the list!

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