This fall, we packed up our wonderful first-born daughter for her first semester at an out-of-state university.
It was quite an undertaking to sort, organize, purchase, and pack up the needed items - but she responsibly started at least a month in advance and had meticulous checklists, which made the process pretty peaceful and seamless overall.
To assist you in the shopping season, I've put together an ultimate list of what your daughter may need for her first semester in the dorms. The first list includes what we considered to be essentials; the second list is items that we thought were nice to have. After that, I've highlighted recommendations for specific products in each category.
Instantly bring simple elegance and beauty to a dorm room with a set of Ball Mason Jars. The reflective glass adds light to small spaces and these jars have endless uses. Fill them with a cheery bouquet of wild flowers. Add hair ties or bobby pins for pretty storage. Or use them as chic, easy-to-clean drinking glasses.
The very first thing we put down in the dorm room when we arrived on campus was this cozy and colorful rug from Ruggable. The lovely William Morris-inspired run instantly added warmth to the room and the cheery design removed any boring industrialness that dorm rooms are so often prone to. If we had to go back in time and choose only one dorm decor piece, this area rug would definitely be it! As a bonus, Ruggable's area rugs are machine-washable, which make them perfect for dorm rooms, apartments, and other small spaces! At first, we were concerned that a 6x9 rug would be too large for the small space, but our worries were unfounded. If anything, the larger rug made the room seem even bigger.
Storage bins are a must in a small college dorm space. They keep things organized into categories, plus add a lovely aesthetic feel to any closet or shelf. SortJoy's sturdy Sculpted Bins are available in a variety of sizes and are delightfully durable. They are designed to not squish or lose their shape over time so there's a good chance your college student can use these all four years of their undergraduate experience (and beyond!).
A small storage cart is a very useful accessory for a dorm room. Your student can use it as a coffee cart, a place to store makeup and beauty products, or a night stand. The sky is really the limit when it comes to possible purposes. Umbra's Bellwood Bar and Storage Cart is a great option because it is lightweight and easy to assemble while also having a high-end, sophisticated look.
For pretty, classic bedding sets that will add a sense of home to her dorm room, check out the comforters, throw pillows, and bed skirts by Laura Ashley. The farmhouse fresh styles are fashionable and on-trend while also being warm and welcoming.
If you only buy one big-ticket item for your daughter's dorm room, make it a mattress topper. A mattress topper makes a world of difference in sleep quality. Our daughter could notice a measurable difference in her sleep within the first week of use. In fact, she called to say that she sleeps better than at home, thanks to the innovative bio-responsive bed topper by Paderna Therapeutics.
The patented infrared technology transforms rest into a healing experience by converting body heat Into infrared light that improves sleep, increases circulation and cellular oxygenation, and provides more energy for better athletic performance. Clinically validated in 10 peer reviewed studies, this topper promotes endurance, increases energy, and maintains ambient temperature for a comfortable sleep.
If your college student is heading to a city with a snowy, icy, or otherwise freezing climate, a solid winter coat will make the morning walk to class so much better when the temperatures drop. KÜHL's ÜKON™ Women's Down Parka is the best of the best with wind and water resistant materials, goose down insulation, and dual compartment hand pockets. You can tell it's quality because it's ultra-warm without being fluffy in appearance.
Pickleball is taking college campuses by storm - and for good reason! It's super fun, easy to learn, and relatively inexpensive. All you need is a pickleball paddle, a ball, and a few friends!
You'll also want to take a look at Pickleball Bella, the first labeled pickleball clothing in the world! Pickleball Bella's skorts are designed to be comfortable and figure-flattering with deep pockets for extra balls.
Pictured: Palms 1 Drop Pleat Pickleball Skort, Royal Blue Short Sleeve V-Neck, and Graffiti 3 A-Line Pickleball Skort.
Who knew that the words "work boots" and "adorable" could be synonymous? Xena Workwear has crafted the perfect safety boot for women - pairing stability, grip, arch support, and ankle support with style! The full-grain leather Spice Safety Boot has all of the features that a woman wants (easy-on, easy-off and optimal protection for a variety of work environments) while also being cute enough to wear to a business meeting or social function. Perfect for college students who will be working in construction, engineering, law enforcement, or delivery/warehouse jobs!
We almost didn't leave a filtering water pitcher for our daughter, but now she says it's one of her most-used dorm room products. Both she and her roommate think the water takes pretty terrible on-campus without filtering so they are grateful to have daily access to fresh, clean water in the mini fridge in their room. The Culligan ZeroWater pitcher "removes virtually all total dissolved solids (TDS), including metals and salts, providing peace of mind that every glass of water is healthier and cleaner."
Most parents worry about what will happen if their child gets sick at an out-of-state university, far from home. Thankfully, most colleges have excellent health clinics right on-campus. Still, it's nice to know that your student has access to basic first aid items if they are needed - and that's where DormDoc comes in! The kit includes cough drops, ibuprofen, antibiotic ointment, hydrocortisone cream, burn cream, bandages, a digital thermometer, and more! Designed by a pharmacist, this helpful kit includes all the first aid essentials that your college student might need in a compact pack.
If your daughter is a contact wearer who will be living in the dorms, a magnifying mirror is a huge asset. Fancii's Abigail Transformable Travel Mirror offers a plethora of features, including height-adjustability, three dimmable LED light settings, and 10x magnification. Plus, it's super slim, compact, and foldable for easy storage when traveling. Our daughter uses this mirror every single day! Her skin is also looking better than ever, thanks to the Isla Sonic Facial Cleansing Brush.
High-quality beauty and skincare products go a long way toward healthy, vibrant skin. YSE Beauty has won countless awards - exceptionally in the glow and pigmentation categories. Starting your college student off on the right foot with nutrient-rich skincare products that will moisturize and boost her skin is a gift that she may not fully appreciate until she is a bit older.
A well-designed alarm clock is a great gift for a college student. It's so helpful to be able to see the time (dorm rooms don't come with wall clocks) and to set alarms for early morning classes. The Restore 2 clock by Hatch has added-value features as well, including sleep sounds, a bedside light, a dimmable clock to keep your room dark after bedtime, and a sunrise alarm for gentler wake-ups. Although you can purchase a $4.99/month subscription to unlock added features, you can definitely use this alarm as-is for better sleep.
Electric guitars players: take a look at this! The Hush-I PRO by Donner has an ultra-cool and covetable design while also offering 18 effects, 8 classic guitar body tone simulations, and 20 IR slots - plus silent practice options. Perfect for dorm rooms!
What are your favorite dorm decor products and first year college necessities?
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Some of the products in the list below were sent to us by brands to try. Other products are ones that we purchased ourselves or were given by family members and friends. Know that I will always provide both the pros and cons of each featured product. You are welcome to send follow-up questions to me on X. (I’m @stephsheaffer)