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20+ Dorm Room Essentials for Your First (or Fourth) Year on Campus

Turn your dorm house into a dorm home.

collage of a shoe, a standing desk adapter, and a portable a c unit Evapolar, Flexispot, Nordstrom

By Will Porter and Grace Cooper

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The end of summer marks an important milestone for hundreds of thousands of recent high school grads across the country: It’s the first semester of college. That means 2023’s high school grads will step onto campus for the first time and experience all that dorm life has to offer: springy twin beds, square-tiled communal bathrooms and late-night shenanigans, just to name a few.

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This checklist could probably go on forever about what to pack into the ’07 Camry you’re taking with you to school and what to leave in your childhood bedroom, but we think there are some dorm room essentials that every student has to have in order to make their itty-bitty living space feel less like a supervision-free, Red Bull-littered bat cave and more like home. From shower shoes and a bathroom caddy to noise-canceling headphones for endless Zoom seminars and studying, you will be glad you brought these things along.

8:00 AM classes still exist — don’t sleep through them after you forgot to charge your phone while you were up late studying. This is one of our favorite alarm clocks — it has all the features you need, including a companion app for easy alarm setting.

THESE ARE THE BEST SMART ALARM CLOCKS

Keep your desk comfortable, organized and protected with a desk mat. The Grovemade Desk Mat is topped with a durable fingerprint-resistant laminate and cushioned with a layer of cork for a comfortable workspace that keeps Cheeto-fingers and coffee spills at bay.

LEARN ABOUT THE BEST DESK PADS

Dorm air can be dry, especially during the winter. Save yourself the effort (and space) of a full-sized humidifier with this one that’s just powered by a standard-sized water bottle you can pick up at the convenience store on your way home from class.

READ ABOUT THE BEST HUMIDIFIERS

A college staple. The Bellroy Classic is one of our favorite backpacks for everyday use thanks to its minimal design and maximal features. It has a slew of pockets throughout and can easily fit your laptop.

HERE ARE OUR FAVORITE BACKPACKS FOR COLLEGE

If you’re lucky enough to have a kitchen, you’ll need some versatile cookware to make the most of the storage space you have, like Our Place’s nonstick, oven-safe mini Always Pan.

READ OUR REVIEW OF THE ALWAYS PAN 2.0

Save yourself some trouble lugging your shower essentials back and forth from the dorm bathroom and invest in a carryall caddy to ease your stress.

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Let’s face it, a dorm room mattress just probably isn’t that comfortable (or clean), so put something between it and your body when you sleep.

NEED TWIN XL SHEETS? THESE ARE THE BEST

Living in a dorm is all about maximizing the small space you have. Don’t have any floor or closet space left? Put your bed on risers, invest in a tall dresser or hang an organizer on the back of your door.

READ MORE ABOUT THE BEST STORAGE ORGANIZERS

There’s no denying it, this summer is hot. From the West Coast to East Coast and everywhere between, we’re sweating it out this year. The Evapolar evaChill is a personal air conditioner that stays cool for up to 9 hours and can be powered with a laptop or power bank in addition to a wall charger.

LEARN ABOUT THE BEST TOWER FANS

Your college years are probably the time when you’ll get hooked on coffee (if you’re not already). Save your money and skip the Starbucks in favor of this editor-approved machine from Nespresso.

WE FOUND THE BEST POD-BASED COFFEE MACHINES

In a room with little storage, you may need this next to your bed for books, your phone or a remote control. This one is super affordable and easy to pick up on Amazon. Plus, it can double as a shower caddy.

THESE ARE THE BEST STORAGE ORGANIZERS

It’ll be an uphill battle trying to stay hydrated over the next four years, but you can make it a little easier on yourself by investing in an emotional support water bottle now.

HERE ARE THE BEST TRAVEL MUGS FOR DRINKING COFFEE ON THE GO

Whether you want to stay warm or ease those Sunday scaries, this breathable weighted blanket from Luna has got you covered. (Literally.)

SLEEP BETTER WITH THE BEST WEIGHTED BLANKETS

No matter how much stuff you’re bringing to school, your dorm room will probably be a squeeze. Maximize your space with these easy-to-install bed risers.

LEARN ABOUT THE BEST FOOD AND PANTRY STORAGE CONTAINERS

Make laundry days a little easier with this comprehensive set from Brooklinen, including some good-smelling detergent, dryer balls, stain remover, fabric softener and more.

READ ABOUT OUR FAVORITE LAUNDRY DETERGENT

You probably won’t be getting a lot of sleep but that doesn’t mean you have to skimp on bedding. Marlow’s adjustable, cooling memory foam pillows will give you the rest you need.

THESE ARE THE BEST PILLOWS

Whether you’re headed to the big city or suffer from seasonal allergies, this affordable air purifier can do you a lot of good, especially when you’re sharing your space with a lot of new people.

LEARN ABOUT THE BEST AIR PURIFIERS

Unless you got lucky, you’ve probably got a long trek from your dorm to the laundry room. This backpack has room for your clothes and detergent, while also being a lot easier to carry than a laundry basket.

PLANNING AN IKEA HAUL? THESE ARE THE 50 BEST THINGS TO BUY

From heading to the showers to stopping by your friend’s room to doing laundry, these slides will come in handy.

WE FOUND THE BEST SLIDES FOR MEN

College means time for new bedding, and this cotton duvet cover set is affordable and chic.

HERE ARE OUR FAVORITE DUVET COVERS

You don’t want to be left with a dead phone battery. Keep this wireless charger and phone stand in your backpack for emergencies and late-night study sessions.

LEARN ABOUT THE BEST WIRELESS CHARGERS

Like a bean bag with a twist, the futuristic-looking Moon Pod claims to reduce anxiety by mimicking the feeling of floating.

READ MORE ABOUT THE BEST BEAN BAG CHAIRS

You’re probably stuck with an old desk provided by your dorm, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make it into a standing desk with a converter like this one.

UPGRADE YOUR DESK WITH THESE STANDING DESK CONVERTERS

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