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Dorm Essentials I Actually Use Senior Year
16
items I'm a senior and I've lived in the dorms all 4 years, this is not the cute stuff I bought freshman year and never touched. This is the stuff I use every single day and would buy again if I had to start over.
Sections
4
Bed & Sleep Essentials
Desk & Charging Essentials
Bathroom & Laundry Essentials
Storage & Organization
Bed & Sleep Essentials
The stuff that actually helps me sleep in a dorm. Comfy bed, fan going, and something to block out hallway noise.
Dorms get hot at random times even when it's cold outside. I clip this to my bed/desk and it's a lifesaver for sleeping.
Clip-On Fans for Dorms | Portable, Rechargeable Options
My hall gets loud at night and this is the only way I can fall asleep and stay asleep. It's small so it doesn't take up space, and it blocks out doors, talking, and building noises.
Dreamegg White Noise Machine for Baby Travel
Dorm beds are hard and uncomfortable without this. This made my bed actually feel like a real bed and I sleep so much better with it. If you get one thing for your dorm, get this.
Lucid 3 Inch Gel Memory Foam Topper Twin XL
This is the fan everybody in the dorms has. It's small but it's actually strong, it's quiet for sleeping, and it comes with a remote so I don't have to get out of bed to change it. Dorms get hot out of nowhere.
IRIS USA WOOZOO Air Circulator Fan, Remote
The overhead dorm light is so harsh. These make my room feel cozy and cute, and I can change the colors depending on my mood.
CHARKEE 130ft LED Strip Lights RGB Color Changing
You can't put a topper on a bare dorm mattress. These are Twin XL so they actually fit dorm beds, they're soft, and they don't pop off the corners in the middle of the night.
Bedsure Twin XL Dorm Bedding 3-Piece Set
Desk & Charging Essentials
Everything for long days of class, studying, and content. Stuff that keeps my phone and laptop actually charged and my desk usable.
You only get a couple outlets in a dorm and everything needs to be plugged in at once. This has regular plugs plus USB and USB-C so I can charge my phone, laptop, and everything else in one spot.
One Beat Surge Protector Power Strip 5Ft
I keep this in my backpack at all times. The built-in cable is the best part because I don't have to remember an extra cord, and it saves me when my phone is dying between class, work, and practice.
Anker Nano 10,000mAh 30W Power Bank
My desk is where I do homework and film content, so good light is everything. This one has a USB port built in so I can charge my phone right at my desk without using up another outlet.
Lepro LED Desk Lamp 700LM USB Port White
Bathroom & Laundry Essentials
Shared bathrooms and laundry rooms are just part of dorm life. These are the things that make both way less annoying.
Mesh is the way to go for dorm showers because it dries fast and doesn't get moldy like the plastic ones. It has pockets for everything and I just grab it and go to the bathroom.
EUDELE Mesh Shower Caddy with 9 Pockets
Carrying a regular hamper to the laundry room is the worst, especially on stairs. This is a backpack so your hands are free and it holds a ton. It also stands up in my room like a hamper.
Vorspack Extra Large Laundry Backpack, Black
Do NOT walk barefoot in a shared dorm shower, trust me. These dry fast, they don't slip, and I leave them by my door so I can grab them and go.
COZYAREA Quick Dry Non-Slip Shower Shoes
Storage & Organization
Dorm rooms are small, so if you don't have a system it gets messy fast. These keep everything in its place without taking up more space.
Dorm closets are tiny so I keep everything extra under my bed — clothes I'm not wearing, towels, snacks, all of it. The wheels make it easy to pull out and the clear top means I can actually see what's in there.
Under Bed Storage with Wheels, Dorm Organizer
You need a full length mirror in your dorm, the bathroom mirror is not enough. This just hangs over the door so there's no damage and no taking up wall space. I use it for fit checks, game day, everything.
ITSRG 48x14 Black Full Length Door Mirror
For the stuff you don't want just sitting out — cash, ID, jewelry, meds. It's small enough to hide in a drawer or closet and it has a combo lock so you don't have to keep up with a key.
Amazon Basics Portable Security Lock Box Safe
Dorm closets are tiny and mine was a mess before this. It hangs right in the closet and gives me shelves for sweaters, shoes, and all the random stuff that doesn't fit in my dresser.
Large Hanging Shoe Organizer 8-Shelf Black