The thought of living in a room that averages 12 by 19 feet may seem like a sheer impossibility to both you and your new college student.
As they start to settle in to the idea of college life, it can become stressful narrowing down the list of must-have items to feel organized and comfortable in a dorm room. Besides the no-brainers like sheets and pillows, these not-so-obvious necessities will make both your and your undergrad’s lives easier come move-in day.
His
1. Noise Canceling Headphones, Beats Studio Wireless
Get in the zone and ignore noisy distractions in the library or residence hall by grabbing these wireless, noise canceling headphones by Beats by Dre. $380, Beats by Dre
2. Food and Drink Essentials: OXO 7 Piece Clips and a Keurig K10 Mini
Keep snacks fresh with chip clips! And get up and out the door with a quick cup of coffee with this dorm compatible mini Keurig. Clips $12 | Keurig $50, Target
3. Activity Tracker, Fitbit Charge
Don’t have a car on campus? Feel good about long walks to and from class with the Fitbit Charge Activity Tracker. $130, Wal-Mart
4. NCAA Fan Gear
Be prepared for class and for fun with NCAA fan gear, with more than 600 schools to choose from. Prices Vary, Fanatics.com
5. LED Motion Sensor Nightlight, GE
Roommate’s already asleep? Don’t scramble for the light switch; trust this nightlight to get you from your door to your bed safely. $16, Staples
6. Single Collapsible Ottoman, Dormify
Add storage and seating to your small space with this collapsible ottoman, which can fold completely flat when not in use. $39, Dormify
7. Laundry Staples: Tide Pods, Gain Dryer Sheets, Spray n Wash Laundry Stain Remover
Mom’s not doing your laundry anymore; time to step up your game. Get the essentials including Mom’s secret weapon: stain remover. Pods $27 | Dryer Sheets $12 | Stain Remover $4, Amazon
8. Cabledrop Multipurpose Cable Clips Organizer, Zicome
Laptop, cellphone, iPad, Fitbit… so many cords with little organization. Fix it with these cable clips. $9, Amazon
9. HDMI/AUX Cords, Aftermarket
Stream music, movies and YouTube videos from a laptop onto the TV. Neighbors will definitely be impressed by this tech-savvy set up. $5, Amazon
10. Pivot Power Surge Protector, Quirky
Never run out of outlets again—and make sure all electronics are charged before class. This flexible surge protector bends to fit more plugs and reach behind hard-to-get-to places. $25, Best Buy
Hers
1. Added Height Bed Risers
Give the bed an extra boost off the ground with these must-have risers. For less than $20, they give the doom room a heck of a lot more storage, and a place to store under-bed bins packed with cold-weather clothes for the next polar vortex. $18, Dorm Co
2. Gem Speaker, Dormify
Save space and liven up your room by placing this stylish speaker system on a desk or side table. $40, Dormify
3. Comfort Essentials: Mattress Pad and Soft Throw
Feel right at home with extra comfort essentials to kick back and relax after a long day of finals. Topper $100, Bed Bath and Beyond | Throw $80, Pottery Barn
4. Eraser Board Fridge, Igloo
Two-in-one eraser board and fridge helps you keep track of groceries, tests and pressing tasks while keep food fresh and cool. $107, Wal-Mart
5. All Day Backpack, Lululemon
Get away from the same old boring backpack and find a backpack that will support you all day. $128, Lululemon
6. 3-Tier Shoe Rack, Seville Classics
Placed under your bed or in the closet, a shoe rack like this one can be used to organize heels, flats, flip-flops and beyond. If all of the shelves aren’t in use, it can double as extra storage for stacking sweatshirts or towels. $35, Target
7. Over the Door Vanity – Jewelry and Cosmetic Organizer
Forget the over the door mirror. This vanity includes a mirror, as well as a jewelry and cosmetic organizer, all in one. Save space with this dorm friendly tool. $30, Overstock
8. Small Photo Printer, Epson
College will become a flood of memories in no time; be sure to keep track of them all with this space saving photo printer. $90, Staples
9. Long String Light Set, Dormify
Brighten up any drab dorm room with these whimsical lights; the space will instantly feel warmer and more welcoming. $14, Dormify
10. Water Bottle, S’Well
No time to get back to your dorm between class and intramurals? Keep 25 ounces of water cool all day with the latest in S’Well technology. $45, S’Well
Updated May 27, 2016.
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