11 dorm room essentials you actually need

Soon enough cars will be double-parked outside college dorms while parents and college freshmen haul most of their worldly belongings up to their new homes–a place with concrete floors, shared bathrooms and about 230 square feet to coexist with a perfect stranger. Sounds inviting, doesn’t it? Technically, you’ll only be able to call 115 square feet of that your own, as your roommate will also bring all of her worldly possessions to occupy the other side.

You’re in college now. So be smart! Unless your parents are selling the house and skipping town as soon as they unload you, your old bedroom or the attic will be the appropriate place to store off-season clothing, prom collectibles, stuffed animal collections, and old band instruments.

Be resourceful about what you do bring, how you save space in the dorm, and use the following list to help you downsize before you even approach the threshold of your new campus digs.

Clothing

1. One laundry bag. Save space by using the bag instead of a basket and use it to haul dirty clothes home on the weekend and down to the laundry.

2. Laundry detergent. You’re not doing laundry for a family of five, so one decent sized jug of detergent should last a while.

3. Hangers. Again, store the off-season clothing. What you’ll have is far from a walk-in closet. Bring only what you need.

Electronics

Coordinate with your new roommate to ensure you’re not duplicating these more expensive items.

4. Microwave. It should be small enough to zap a burrito- not prepare a holiday meal.

5. TV. Few walls in the dorm will support a 50″ flat screen. Something small will work, besides, you can’t afford cable anyway!

6. Mini Fridge. Mini is the key there and it will be necessary.

7. Computer. It comes down to what you can afford, but a laptop makes the most sense for saving space and toting to class, study groups or home.

Bed, Bath, Kitchen and Beyond

8. Towels. Two sets is probably all you’ll need. You can only use one at a time. “Borrowing” them from home is free and acceptable.

9. Bedding. One set should suffice. You can wash it while you’re not sleeping on it. Again, “borrow” from home, unless you need the dorm standard twin XL sheets.

10. Shower basket. A small hand-held tub will make toiletries portable and easily stored.

11. Dishes. No one is going to nag you to wash dishes– so don’t! One set with a plate, bowl, cup and utensils should work, especially since doing dishes in the bathroom sink is a pain. You’ll eat in the cafeteria or off of a pizza box most of the time anyway.

Your dorm room will come with plenty of light, a phone, a dresser and some shelving. By now you’ve hopefully been on a campus tour and know the size limitations of your dorm. By all means, take photos from home and your favorite blanket- just take into consideration the limited personal space of your roommate, and your own need to not be bogged down in clutter. Put it this way- imagine living in a hotel room with another person for a year.

An added bonus to less stuff? The elevators will be jam-packed with people, making the stairs a faster alternative!

If you’re a college freshman, you’ll find even more dorm room essentials and other advice to help you transition to college at EduInReview.com.

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