It’s no secret that dorms start out as sterile spaces. For some, they stay that way, and for others, they transform into spaces that are both useful, as well as indicative of their personalities.

Dorm essentials include some obvious items, however there are some relatively unknown products that could help make a dorm room your new ‘home’.

Essentials:

• Lamp
• Laundry basket
• 2 towel sets
• 1 bedding set (pillow, pillowcases, sheets, comforter, blanket)
• Dish set including silverware
• 1 full length mirror
• 1 portable makeup mirror
• Storage totes (stores dishes, cords etc)
• Low-profile hangers
• Area rug
• Extension cord with plug strip
• Printer
• Makeup/school supply storage

Left to Right: storage bins ($12.99 Amazon Prime), acrylic storage unit ($13.95 Amazon Prime), 6 towel set ($17.99 Amazon Prime)

Fortunately, there are some new accessories that can supplement that list in order to make dorm living more pleasant.

Nice to haves:

• Coffee maker
• Oven/microwave/fridge
• Memory foam mattress topper
• Bed-rising feet
• Shower caddy (communal showers only)

Left to Right: Pizzazz rotating oven ($49.95 Amazon Prime), Keurig coffee maker ($96.70 Amazon Prime), Bed-risers ($16.99 Amazon Prime)

There are some obvious things that every college student should have, especially since their parents are no longer around to serve as their nurses. One of those is a first-aid kit that includes scissors and matches.

1st Aid kit (stored in plastic pencil box):

• 25 adhesive bandages of assorted sizes
• 5 antibiotic ointment packets
• 10 alcohol wipes
• 20 aspirin pills
• 10 benadryl pills
• 10 antacid pills
• 1 bottle cough suppressant/decongestant combo
• 1 roll of adhesive tape
• 1 instant ice pack
• 1 pair of tweezers
• 1 thermometer
• 1 pair of blunt-blade scissors
• 1 book of matches
• 1 pair latex gloves
• 1 pack of moleskin for blisters