Hey guys! I recently moved into my freshman dorm and thought I would share some of my must haves with you guys! Every dorm is different, but these are just some essentials that I think everyone needs in their dorm!
- Bedside Tray
With dorm rooms often comes lofted beds. This tray just clips onto any bed and is perfect for setting anything on it, including an alarm clock, a phone, glasses, a water bottle, etc. I got mine from Bed Bath & Beyond, but they can be found at almost any home store.
Here is a link to one from Target for under $20!
2. Hanging Shoe Organizer
Most dorm rooms don’t have much closet space, so something that I recommend is a hanging shoe organizer that can fit in your closet. This takes up minimal space and stretches down the closet vertically, utilizing empty space. This can be found any where, but Target has them for $10!
Here is a link to one from Target for $10!
3. Dry Erase Calendar
The next must have dorm room item is a dry erase calendar! This is super helpful to have and easy enough to write down important dates for the according month. I got mine from Target and used command velcro strips to hang it on my wall. (My calendar came with some velcro strips as well, but added the command strips for extra support).
Here is the exact link to the one I got at Target for only $7.99!
4. Collapsible Hamper
Laundry baskets and hampers can take up a lot of space, which is why I recommend buying a collapsible hamper. This is super easy to store when I’m not using it and takes up little space!
Here is a similar one from Target!
5. Power Strip with and Extension Cord
Dorm rooms don’t have many outlets so having a power strip is essential! I made the mistake at first to buy one that only had a one foot cord and it didn’t work for me, which is why I recommend getting one with an extension cord attached. It doesn’t have to be super long, but it should be able to reach any outlet. I got mine for under $10!
Here is the exact link to the one I got from Walmart!
6. A Door Stop
This one is a little random, but a definite need for move in day. My dorm room didn’t have a door stop, so it was hard to move all of my stuff in without having to have someone hold the door. This is something super simple that I feel will come in handy and can even be made diy style with a small block of wood!
7. Fans
Most dorms don’t have air condition which is why it is a huge must to get fans! I got a small clip on fan to put on my bed, as well as a big box fan. I promise you the fans will go into good use! I got my clip on fan from Bed Bath & Beyond and my box fan from Walmart!
Here are the two links to the fans I got!
8. Pictures
Having pictures of your family and friends (and pets too) is a must! At some point, you are going to miss your family, so it is nice to have pictures to remind you of them! Moving into a dorm can be scary and adding familar pictures from home can help make the transition easier! They also add as extra decor for your dorm. I added multiple pictures with my family and friends on my desk and I love it! Hanging pictures or even polaroids on string is also a really cute idea!
9. String Lights
Nothing makes a room cozier than string lights! LED lights are super popular but you can also opt for some simple string or fairy lights. I got some string lights from Target and some fairy lights from Michaels! I have some LED lights that I have in my room back home and LOVE!
Here are the links to my fav lights!
10. Storage Shelves
Storage shelves can come in a lot of different forms, but one that I see a lot are these block shelves from Target. This is perfect because you can use it horizontally or vertically. My sister used this 6 block shelf to set her TV on and it worked really good!
Here is one for $30 from Target!
Moving into college can be scary, trust me I am finding that out right now! Hopefully these must have items can help you with moving into your dorm, apartment, or even just moving in general! As all of us at Sol Sisters Blog have now moved into college, we have plenty of tips and more dorm hacks to share with you guys, so let us know what else you would like to hear!!
Have a great day!
Macy 🙂
