Your Dorm Room Checklist: Essentials You Need to Buy

As a Type-A, I have revised my dorm room checklist countless times and am confident this is the only dorm room checklist you'll need to look at to guarantee you have everything you need when you move into your dorm!

Bedding 

Dorm Bedding Essentials

• Mattress topper & Mattress protector
• Twin XL sheets (2 sets)
• Duvet & duvet topper
• Pillow
• Decorative pillow (one is enough!)
• Throw blanket 
• Ottoman (if your bed is high up)

• Bed skirt
• Headboard
• Bed risers
• Hanging bed storage hooks or caddy
• Body pillow

I loved my college bed.

I know a lot of people hate their college bed, but I can confidently say that my bed at school was so much comfier than my bed at home, all thanks to my incredible mattress topper (and LOVED it). It's the cheapest and thickest mattress topper I could find, paired with a good mattress protector.

I also read a lot of recommendations that you should have two sets of sheets. In my opinion, that's a little overboard. When you clean your sheets, make sure you can do it in one day, and you'll be fine with just one set. I found a great set of sheets that come in various colors, and they worked perfectly with my bedding setup.

Pillowcases and a comforter are also key to a comfortable sleep. Accent pillows can make a big difference in your dorm room decor; I definitely recommend looking at HomeGoods for a variety of stylish pillows.

Lastly, if you are planning on bunking your bed, I highly recommend getting a small container to keep up there for random items instead of having them lay all over your bed and potentially falling off. Additionally, a clip-on fan can be a lifesaver for keeping cool, especially in the warmer months.

Bathroom

Dorm Bathroom Must-Haves

• Shower caddy
• Towels
• shower shoes
• Towel wrap
• Toothbrush & toothpaste
• Deodorant
• Shampoo and conditioner

•  Body wash and face soap
• Razor and shaving cream
• Face moisturizer & body lotion
• Tampons
• Hairbrush

If you have a bathroom suite:

• Trash can
• Bath mat
• Shower curtain & liner
• Hand soap
• Toilet paper

There are so many things to think about bringing to your college bathroom that it can get really overwhelming!

Promise me, unless you have something really random, you won't need anything extra than on this list.

Biggest tip from me: bring lotion. Dorm rooms are really freakin' dry.

I only brought one towel set and then had my towel wrap, but a lot of people bring two!Towel Wrap: This is the one thing I recommend the MOST for college. It's the best.

Beauty & Hair

Hair Care

• Straightener
• Hair curler
• Hairdryer
• Hair ties

Beauty

• Makeup wipes
• Makeup (mascara, bronzer, concealer, eyeshadow, blush, foundation, eyebrow gel)
• Eyelash curler
• Self-tan
• Self-tan mitt
• Body exfoliator (to get off old self-tan)
• Makeup mirror
• Tweezers
• Scissors
• Razors
• Nail polish and remover

Skincare and Health

• Cleanser
• Toner
• Acne medicine
• Moisturizer
• Vitamins
• Ibuprofen

Vision Care

• Contacts, case & solution
• Glasses

Hygiene and Personal Care

• Loofah
• Cotton balls
• Q-tips
• Mouthwash
• Floss

Dental Care

• Retainer, case, cleaner (tooth brush & toothpaste included above in the essentials section, but don't forget!)

Desk & Desk Supplies

Dorm Desk Essentials

• Desk lamp 
• Desk chair (some dorm rooms come with a desk chair!)

Desk Supply Essentials

• Backpack
• Planner
• Pens & Pencil
• Folder (everything is mostly online, but you'll still randomly get things you'll need a folder for)
• Notebook

• Desk organizer
• Calendar/bulletin board
• Scissors
• Paper clips
• Stapler & staples
• Ruler
• Sticky notes
• Highlighters
• Tape
• Rubber bands
• Index cards

Closet & Clothing

If you're debating whether to bring a piece of clothing to college, I always say: bring it. I promise you, if you don't, you won't stop thinking about how much you want that dang shirt (or whatever you decided to leave behind).

When I went to school, I completely forgot about bringing anything for when it was raining!

Dorm Closet Essentials

• Hangers
• Shoe rack

Clothing Essentials

• Bras (regular, bralettes, & sports), underwear, & socks
• Everyday outfits
• Going out clothing
• Workout clothes
• Pajamas
• Business-casual clothes
• Jacket
• Shoes

• Leggings
• Shorts
• Shirts
• Tank tops
• Cardigans
• Sweatshirts/hoodies
• Dresses
• Dress pants
• Swimsuits
• Rain jacket
• Winter coat
• Pajamas
• Sandals
• Tennis shoes
• Boots
• Heels
• Flats
• Scarf, hat & gloves (for cold weather)

Dorm Room Decor

•  Bulletin Board
• Photos
• Command Hooks
• Rug

Storage and Dorm Room Organization

Dorm Room Organization

• Storage bins
• Under-the-bed storage trays

• Normal hangers
• Space saving hangers
• Shoe rack
• Desk organizer
• Over-the-door hooks
• Three tier cart
• Drawer organizers
• Storage ottoman

School Supplies

• Backpack
• Pens and pencils
• Highlighters
• Notebook
• Planner

•  Binder(s)
• Tape
• Stapler
• Hole punch
• Scissors
• Ruler
• Paper clips
• Staples
• Sticky notes
• Index cards

Cleaning & Laundry

• Paper towels
• Multisurface cleaner
• Wet wipes
• Laundry bag or basket
• Laundry detergent
• Dryer sheets
• Vacuum
• Garbage bags

• Hand soap
• Stain remover
• Lint brush
• All-purpose cleaner
• Dryer sheets
• Scent boosters
• Dryer sheets
• Air freshener
• Small broom & dust pan

Household and Kitchen Items

• Paper towels
• Dish soap
• Bowl, plate, and cup
• Coffee mug
• Water bottle
• Silverware

• Food-storage containers
• Plastic storage bags

Food and Snacks

• Microwave (if allowed)
• Snacks (chips, granola bars)
• Bottled water

Electronics 

• Laptop & Charger
• Extension Cord
• Surge Protector
• Calculator & Charger
• Sound Machine- HIGHLY RECOMMEND!! It blocked out all noise so I could even if my roommates were still up and talking. Also, I can only study in quiet spots so this really helped. This is the sound machine I liked.
• 10FT Phone Charger
• USB Drive- Especially if you are an art major or majoring in art classes!

Important Docs

•  Birth certificate
• Driver's license
• Student ID
• Social security card
• Insurance cards

Shared Dorm Room Items with Roommates

•  Area rug
• Small fridge (if one isn't given)
• Microwave
• Wall art

Miscellaneous

• Weekender bag
• Umbrella 
• Keurig
• Pepperspray
• Laptop case
• Purses
• Blender

Sooner than we know it summer will be over and it'll be time to start thinking about what college essentials you'll need to bring to pack!

Deciding on everything you might need for a year can be overwhelming, and it's all too easy to overlook something crucial.

My college dorm room checklist goes through *everything you would need to bring to college in a way that is simple and easy to check off.

It skips the unnecessary extras that often end up collecting dust in drawers or closets throughout the year. Trust me, I've tried countless products, so if it didn't see use, chances are you won't need it either 😉

We went through everything you'll need to have at college and highlighted the SUPER important dorm room checklist items you'll need!

Planning everything you need for a dorm room can feel overwhelming, but a checklist can really simplify things.

If you're interested in downloading the PDF version of the college packing list, linked below. 

This post provides a college dorm room checklist to ensure you don't overlook anything as you prepare for school.