As the Back To School Rush is approaching, many of us have children returning to school or even going off to college for the first time. It can seem very overwhelming trying to figure out just what is essential and not to be forgotten! I think back on my own dorm room experience fondly, and laugh with my former roommates about our first few days after moving in. Our dorm rooms were set up like mini apartments, and we all figured out quickly that we didn’t know much about cooking, cleaning, or caring for ourselves when we got sick 🙂 Back in those days, computers and internet access was very limited, we weren’t fortunate to have a Walmart Store Locator to help us figure out where the closest store to the University was located! NONE of us were local, nor could we read a map very well, so we spent some time getting to know one another and the local roads while we searched for a store to purchase some necessities!
Fortunately, Walmart has everything you need to put together the 10 Dorm Room Essentials, and at affordable prices! Here are the essentials I think you need, and I’d love for you to share in the comments, what things you think are important!
- Bedding: You will need sheets, pillows, comforters, and throw type pillows to lounge on while studying.
- Shower Kit: Depending on how the bathrooms are set up for your child’s dorm, they will likely need a carry case for their bathroom essentials. Most college dorm bathrooms aren’t large enough to leave things in there, students must carry them back and forth. Don’t forget Soap, Shampoo, Conditioner, Body Wash, Lotion, Razor, Shaving Cream, Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Floss, Mouthwash.
- Socks and Underwear: There will be a time when they run out of clean undergarments. Buy them more than you think they need to help keep that to a minimum 🙂
- Laundry Kit: Quarters, Laundry Soap, Woolite, Fabric Softener, Bleach. Kids will have to find machines to use if they live to far from home to bring it for you to wash 🙂 It takes A LOT of quarters! I used Woolite to wash delicates in the bathroom sink, and in a pinch it will come in handy! Bleach for sheets, towels, and undergarments that they may be tempted to use one too many times between washings. It’s college, they get busy and forget to do laundry. It happens.
- Sick Kit: Make sure they have plenty of Kleenex! They will likely catch a cold, and need to prevent the spread of germs. Make sure they have plenty of hand washing soap, fever/headache medication, cough syrup, cough drops, vitamins, tummy ailment medication, band aids, neosporin, chapstick, etc. You don’t want them to figure out how “easy” it can be to skip class because of a minor ailment. If they have items on hand, like Kleenex, to help prevent the spread of germs, that can keep it to a minimum. When they do get sick, if they have over the counter medications on hand, hopefully they can catch the issue early and avoid getting really sick.
- Healthy Snacks: Kids will have to learn new schedules, time management, etc. It can be challenging. Stock their dorm room with bottled water and healthy non-perishable snacks. They’ll have something handy when they get hungry and need to keep on studying, it’s less expensive and healthier than running to the snack machine, and if they don’t have to leave their room for a snack, they’re less likely to get sidetracked by social opportunities to distract their studying.
- School Supplies: Make sure they have plenty of folders, pens, pencils, chargers for computer/phone, anything specific to their major or area of study. Buy early when they are on sale for a very low price over the summer to save money.
- Decor: Bring pictures of friends and family from home, favorite books or movies, things that give the comfort of home. Additionally, they won’t want their room to be bare bones like the picture below. Help them decorate. Kleenex has made a concerted effort to design stylish oval boxes to fit with so many different styles!
- Mini-Fridge/Microwave: So they can prepare their own food and store perishables.
- Small Lamp: They may want to study when a roommate is sleeping, or just not want the bright overhead light on all the time. A small desk lamp is very helpful to have on desks and nightstands!
We had a long list ,I think they want cash and food more then any thing.
Deb P
r.d1@myfairpoint.net
Oddly, no one’s mentioned condoms. Being safe when having sex is important.
A nice cosmetic bag for girls.
slehan at juno dot com
you will need your own towels and Wash Rag and Sheets.
need a comfortable office chair to study on.
I think a hot pot to heat water is helpful.
slehan at juno dot com
It’s essential to have some flippers and flip flops
I think a good amount of minutes on your phone is essential to call mom or dad when you are homesick 😉
Warm, fuzzy socks.
For me, a comfy bed! That’s all I would really care about. long as I could get a good rest it’s alright with me! 🙂
I think it is essential to have a bed and desk.
I think a First Aid Kit and a hot water bottle
I think bedding is the most important thing. Without a comfortable bed and good sleep you are doomed!
a laptop computer and a printer
A comfy bed!
A safe of some kind came in handy ~ one that has a desk lock cable is best.
Bedding is essential in a dorm room.
a Mini Fridge is a must and a blow dryer.
Need to make sure that they have plenty of cold and flu medications and that they get their flu and pneumonia shots.
Great list and definitely the Microwave and Mini Fridge are the must haves.
I would think aside from a bed that a desk would be a good thing to have!
I think a fridge is most important. 🙂
the kids fridge and mirco for the room the bath and laundry a must
Laundry supplies are important ~ a good hamper too.
Having a Kuereg Coffee machine in the dorm room would save your college or Vocational school student the hassle of buying a cup of coffee in the cafeteria.
To me a microwave and mini fridge are most essential so that food and drinks can be kept and cooked in the room.
jweezie43[at]gmail[dot]com
Flip flops for the shower and a robe are essentials I wouldn’t want to forget. My room was often cold and I felt like even there the floor was just disgusting
Duct tape is something that comes in SO handy that no one ever thinks to pack! You can use it for everything!
great list. they are all so important. I think nice bedding would be the top pick for me
Def a laptop.. I work at a university and many times the student has work to do and the labs are closed, or the student is sick and does not want to go out. Plus with many courses being online, it is a necessity!
I also think that a really good power surge strip, several actually, for the electronics is a must have!
I think the most essential dorm item is a laptop.
Definitely a coffee maker!
A mini fridge is very helpful as is a microwave if they don’t have one.
A shower caddy to hold all your bathroom supplies is necessary
I think the most essential item is an alarm clock lol 🙂
I think you have included everything needed for life in a dorm. I still think the most important thing is the laptop and the coffeemaker/coffee.
I think a flashlight is also super thing to have.
A fire extinguisher is an essential..
It is essential to have a desk in a dorm
A laptop and a desk
I agree with all of these. I think it is extremely important to have some healthy snacks on hand for there late night studying sessions.
good bedding for comfort and good headphones!!!
The laundry kit is def important. I think detergent, softener, etc is important and especially for when you are sick. You need to have enough to wash your bedsheets and clothes. So this way the Sick kit is very important. Great ideas!!
Most important essential is a desk to study and a comfortable bed to sleep.
I think a desk with everything you need for your school/classes…….and a picture of your family!!!
There are so many essentials but for me Clorox wipes and Lysol are at the top because dorms always seem so dirty
microwave and toaster oven is a must
the most important thing to my Son was food and coffee! 🙂
The Mini Fridge was a big life saver for my Son at college!
I honestly remember SNACKS being my most important dorm room essential! lol
The most important dorm room essential is a super secret stash of cash for emergencies. You just never know when an emergency might arise.
I think the most important dorm room essential is a computer/laptop
They need to make sure they have winter accessories for walking the campus.
Make sure it’s a pillow that the student already knows is comfortable. And a sit-up-in-bed pillow is nice.
slehan at juno dot com
Perhaps some gear to secure laptops, petty cash, etc.
I THINK HAVING A REFRIGERATOR IS A MUST 🙂
Such a great, thorough list! I think a must for dorm rooms is framed pictures so they have something from home for when they get homesick. It makes the small space more their own.
Nice list for dorm essentials. The laundry kit is very essential!
8/17/14 daily comment: I think the most important dorm room essential is underwear. I shudder to think of a life without clean underwear. Thanks for sharing!
Aside from the super obvious (like a bed, chair, clothes, etc.) I would say some of the most useful items for me were hand sanitizer, a little fridge, flipflops, and a robe and slippers
Microwave and Mini fridge.
My son’s dorm room would not have been complete without his Bible.
Great list- I would only add gift cards for fast food places nearby!
A comfy place to sleep. If they supply the mattress and is uncomfortable it might be to the students advantage to purchas
one that is
The shower kit with flip-flops is so important.
slehan at juno dot com
8/16/14 daily comment: I think the most important dorm room essential is underwear. I shudder to think of a life without clean underwear. Thanks for sharing!
I got my son a battery operated smoke alarm. I just don’t trust the hard wired ones alone.
I would say the sick kit is really essential. Other things are needful, but when you have a cold you really need to keep it to yourself.
8/15/14 daily comment: I think the most important dorm room essential is underwear. I shudder to think of a life without clean underwear. Thanks for sharing!
I would say a laptop and cute bedding.
A good First Aid/I’m Sick kit is a def essential!
The fridge/microwave were essential for me.
For me it was my pillow from home. It just reminded me of home so much and made me feel close to those I loved. I also could not have done nothing without my laptop.
The sick kit is such a great idea and not one I would have thought of.
Show shoes with a shower caddy to bring in your shampoo and soap is important and essential too.
teenagers and young adults going to college don’t think about what necessities they really need. A good thing to do is to provide them with a good supply of toilet paper and toiletries so they don’t run out.
I think the sick kit is a pretty good idea most people would forget about.
i would think it would decoration such as beddong and matching room decor
Flip flops and shower kit 🙂
Good list. It’s been 40 years since I needed to make this list. Like the new kleenex ovals.
slehan at juno dot com
I think the most essential part is bath products. No one will want to be around you or help you if you smell like you haven’t had a bath in forever.
I think th emost essential in a dorm is a refrigator
I believe a dorm room essential is definitely family pictures in small frames so the student can always feel like family and home is close by even though they are away at college
Great list! You cover a lot of the essentials. I would ad an electric coffee maker or kettle and a desk lamp.
Great list but I would probably add a shelf and a lockbox for stuff 🙂
my daughter says the most important item is snacks lol, as a mother I think it’s comfy pj’s lol
8/13/14 daily comment: I think the most important dorm room essential is underwear. I shudder to think of a life without clean underwear. Thanks for sharing!
Your ideas and comments are straight to the point and simple. Bringing your own things does stop some of the homesickness (if they have any).
I also think a shower kit is an essential item.
Even though some unis rent linens, I think bringing your own bedding is important. Being able to snuggle down in familiar feeling and smelling covers is comforting when you are away from home.
I think the student would appreciate the microwave maybe more than anything else so they can have something to eat while studying.
Most essential is a shower caddy or bucket to carry your supplies to the bathroom and you must have shower shoes. Everything else are stuff you already use so you would have them with you anyway.
I think a tablet would be essiental!
A good desk and chair to study with a good lamp or other lighting is essential!
The room is not complete w/out a pc or laptop
There are so many things that I feel are important for a dorm room. I really think some family pictures would pick them up a little when they look at them
A couple of things that we forgot the first time were a broom, dustpan and a swiffer mop.
I think the most important dorm room essential is comfortable bedding. If nothing else, kids need a good nights sleep.
If you are allowed the best thing is a microwave! You need to eat, and not on university time all the time.
I think the laundry kit is really essential.
Going with a mircowave and a bed.
The biggest dorm essential is decor. Its important to feel comfortable in the place you will spend a lot of time away from home!
Sending my son off to college, this is my first! I am very nervous but I feel the most important items we have packed for him are the “sick kit” items, kleenex, cough drops, tylenol, nyquil, bandaids, neosporin, etc. Mom wont be there to help with that!
Microwave!
I think an important essential is a mini fridge/microwave (love the one in this pic where you can write on it, very handy) and someone else suggested a “sick kit”. What a fabulous idea, I totally agree. Will definitely be sending my son off next year with one of those.
the bed
8/11/14 comment: I think the most important dorm room essential is underwear. I shudder to think of a life without clean underwear. Thanks for sharing!
The thing I think is essential for a dorm room is a sick kit.
Storage and organization items are a must too!!
A quality multiple outlet surge protector to plug all those electronics into. The thought of having to replace a laptop, computer, etc is daunting enough but possible. Papers, research and other college work isn’t so easy to replace if it hasn’t been backed up recently.
Another dorm room essential is a laptop have to keep up on the studies
I think the most important dorm room essential is underwear. I shudder to think of a life without clean underwear. Thanks for sharing!
The most essential is portable storage that you can take with you when you move to a new dorm room next year
I think bedding is the most essential. Without a comfortable bed it is hard to feel relaxed and get the proper sleep you need.
When my kids went to school we had to get plug adapters for all their electronics. Dorm rooms were built before the electronic age and had few plugs.
Essential would be ear plugs or something to plug your ears if you need sleep and someone else doesn’t.
Another thing to include in the shower kit is a pair of flip flops that are just for the shower area!
I would have to say a laptop and a coffeemaker would be at the top of my list. Thank you for sharing.
A laptop computer would be essential for me.
I must add a Kuerig to your list for late night study sessions
I think the most essential dorm room item is a shower caddy, it is an absolute must for showering.
One of my must haves back in college was towels, towels and more towels and one of those funny little turban like towels for my hair. My mom even got me a little drying rack so I could hang up a few or quick drying when laundry wasn’t going to be happening and a very comfy absorbent bath robe. It was a life saver.
I think a comfortable study area with good lighting is very important. I also think a nice cheerful room with colorful decor is great
Dorm Room Lock Box – Although your room has a lock, there are many times when dorm rooms are left open with many visitors coming and going. And an assigned roommate or his friends are people of unknown character.
I definitely agree with the shower caddy with a good sturdy handle. When I was in college, almost everyone had a small tv too, although now you can use your laptop if you have one to watch movies and such.
definitely a microwave and toaster oven
the most essential dorm room item is definitely storage! cute storage boxes or cabinets are a must!
A microwave is a must have in a dorm.
Well everyone has good thoughts that I read above. I would have to have the fridge for my tea , this is a must!
I think the most essential item is their laptop so they can get all their work done and a desk, a place to sit.
I think that you included the Sick Kit is a great idea that probably most people wouldn’t even think of.
I think the most essential dorm room item is storage/organizer bins.
So true, I’m going to add that in!
I think bedding because you need a good night’s sleep to be able to handle the classes.
I think the microwave grab something quick to heat up and eat
Great list! Don’t forget towels and a sturdy backpack.
I agree with Holly, a pair of flip flops for the shower is essential. That was something my daughter definitely used.
I totally agree with the mini fridge and microwave! You need to be able to have some food on hand, especially on some campuses where there isn’t anywhere to go late at night 🙂
I agree with your list. I think the most essential is the microwave. Lol
i think a mini fridge/microwave is a must have.
I think the most important thing is shower shoes.
I agree that all the things you listed are important, but thinking about my own college experience, I’d say the shower caddy items would be the most important. I’d advise getting a sturdy but handy carrier, one not too large to take up all the room in the shower. I grew to not be surprised while I was in the shower to hear another girl yell out for someone to loan her shampoo, conditioner, something she either ran out of or forgot to put in the caddy.
I would say the most essential dorm room item would be a bed 😉
Good ldeas, we did a long list last year.