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Editor's note: All colleges have different dorm regulations (and room sizes, for that matter!) and might not allow all of the products in this list, so make sure to read up on yours before proceeding!
1. A space-saving over-the-door organizer to stuff (in an orderly fashion) all your shoes and random knickknacks in, because the last thing you want to deal with is tripping over your sneakers after stumbling in from studying/partying/etc.
2. A mini handheld steamer that'll transform all of your stuffed-into-dresser clothes (because those darn closets are TINY) into smooth, wrinkle-free, and presentable as heck outfits of splendor! Especially come internship interviewing season.
3. A clear, waterproof shower curtain with mesh storage pockets if you're lucky enough to share a bathroom with just one or a few people* and want to maximize storage room, because there's only so much counter or shelf space in/outside the shower to house everyone's extensive personal care routines.
4. A BPA-free, dishwasher-safe microwave ramen cooker so you can make a ~filling~ midnight snack when you're up late studying, instead of having to put on real clothes and run to Subway — and no boiling water required!
5. A contoured eye mask to give your weary peepers the total blackout they need and deserve for a well-rested night of sleep even when *cough cough* your roommates are night owls and keep the lights on way past your bedtime.
6. A small tabletop/window or floor fan can save your sweaty bod/existence when you find out your dorm doesn't have AC. The small one barely takes up any space, but is still super powerful! Plus, both provide a lil' ~ambient noise~.
7. A pair of noise-cancelling Bose QuietComfort 35 Headphones II because you need quiet time but roommates, friends of roommates, partners of roommates, and random classmates in the hallway don't quite respect that need.
8. Or comfortable foam earplugs if you need a little (inexpensive and compact) respite from literally any source of noise in or outside your room while you snooze or study away! Repeat after me: no more 4 a.m. wakeup calls!
9. And, if you're lucky enough to be in a single, a white noise machine that'll do even heavier lifting and completely cut off all noise, and lull you right to sleep.
10. A 140-piece first-aid kit filled with bandaids, ointments, and basic OTC meds to tackle any aches and "oops" situations at all hours of the day or night, because you don't have your parents' fully stocked medicine cabinet to rely on anymore. And knocking on your RA's door at 3 a.m. probably isn't ideal.
11. Despite what you might be told about not needing one, a wireless printer because racing to the nearest library in a mad dash to print out an assignment you finished after an all-nighter and need to turn in 20 minutes is a level of stress you should never have to face. Ever.
12. A stapler. Yes, a stapler — because some professors straight-up won't accept your assignments if they're not stapled (and no, paper clips won't cut it). Besides, think about it — they get a whole motherload stack of papers all at once, and you don't wanna risk getting your pages lost in the shuffle.
13. A cordless electric kettle to make hot snacks (ramen, Easy Mac, etc.) and drinks (tea, instant coffee, hot chocolate) a reality *right* when you need 'em — aka when you're bordering on hangry-ness or dozing off while studying for an important test that's worth 50% of your semester grade.
14. A foldable/collapsible metal drying rack to avoid involuntary shrinking of your favorite (and sometimes pricey!) clothes, involuntary (and highly rude) stealing of your favorite clothes that especially might look like many of your classmates', and *not* having a place to put your hand-washed delicates after their bath.
15. A compact storage ottoman, if you have the space, to be a catchall for **everything** that doesn't have a rightful home, but still nonetheless needs one — we're talking remotes, lightbulbs, batteries, or even just your ~good~ snacks that you don't want hanging out in the open. And, of course, it doubles as a seat for your lovely visitors!
16. And if you have the space *and* budget, a mini fridge, because a cold drink is always refreshing, the dining hall isn't open at all hours of the day (rude), you might not always have time to grab something from there, and sometimes *gasp* you might want something a little healthier or just plain different than the same ol' stuff.
17. A seat cushion made with comfy memory foam and orthopedic gel, so all of those long hours of finals studying don't put ~too much~ of a strain on your lower back or butt — and it might even help you improve your posture!
18. An adjustable lap desk, so you can use your computer while snuggled up in your bed and propped up against your pillows or chilling on your common room couch — no muscle straining required!
19. A set of adjustable bed risers for three, five, or eight extra inches of sweet, sweet space, because when room is tight, sometimes cleaning/organizing really is just sliding all of your belongings under your bed! *brushes shoulder*
20. And a simple, rayon and microfiber bed skirt to hide said troves of stuff underneath your bed, because your roommate doesn't really need to peep all of your precious belongings (including that stuffed animal you brought for emotional support during orientation week).
21. A personal utility cart to tote your dirty clothes to the laundry room (if you have elevator access, of course) without having to actually lift anything, because a month's procrastinated worth can get really heavy — and when not in use, it folds up and stores flat.
22. Or just use a regular drawstring bag/tote if you're stuck with stairs and/or wouldn't mind a mini upper body workout on laundry day. 💪🔥
23. A classic (and compact-ish!) Brita water pitcher for keeping your thirst in check without resorting to buying water (especially loads of plastic bottles, eep), because this will make any ol' dorm-sourced water actually taste ~good~.
24. A 10-foot extension cord that'll keep your phone juiced up even if outlets are scarce/weirdly spaced apart (hello, very old dorm buildings!) or you're lounging in a lofted bed, and normal-length cords just won't cut it.
25. Or, if extension cords aren't allowed, a mighty surge-protected power strip with a six-foot-long cord to strategically place in more convenient locations than those darn outlets. Or to share with your roomies in common areas, so everyone is happy and their devices fully charged.
26. A clip-on reading light that'll attach very easily onto any headboard (or desk), so you don't disturb your roommate's sleep habits with intrusively bright lights — plus, two white and warm light settings and a dimmer means you can totally adjust to your (and your roommate's) preferences for a ~healthy compromise~.
27. A bedside caddy/organizer to tuck between your mattress and bed frame for an easy storage solution that barely takes up any room and situates your most-used items literally within arm's reach — because crawling out of bed to get something from across the room might just be a sleep-deprived student's worst nightmare.
28. A two-inch (or three-inch) gel mattress topper that'll transform your standard, too-hard dorm mattress into a comfy little nest, so you can get the deep zzz's you deserve...and good grades? Let's hope that relationship is very direct and linear. I believe in the power of great sleep!
29. Soft-to-the-touch bed sheets, so you can up the level of comfort that your measly twin bed provides, up the level of good sleep you get, up the level of jealous classmates who find out how soft your sheets are, up the level of general happiness you feel — ok, you get the point.
30. A pack of reliable, clean-removing Command hooks that'll hold up to five pounds each (💪), so you can free up some crowded closet space, air out your towels, and make sure your frequently used items are always in view.
31. Or Command strips to decorate your walls with posters 'n' prints galore...Without! Ruining! Your! Walls! And paying fines (ugh). Four of these bbs hold up to 12 pounds, so they can also secure dry erase boards, mirrors, picture frames, and whatever else to make your dorm more ~homey~.
32. Some good 'ol Squatty Potty Unicorn Gold Toilet Spray or Febreze for masking any unpleasant scents that come your nose's way — whether they're coming from you or your roommate(s). Great for covering up number twos, smelly shoes, and other unexpected smells I'd rather not get into.
33. Presentable PJs — in whatever form is most comfortable for you: dress, sweatpants, or matching set — you wouldn't mind other people seeing, in case you need to step outside in a flash (hello, fire alarms/drills!). And generally for your own benefit, 'cause it doesn't hurt to feel a little more put-together, even when you're furiously reading through 200 pages of reading in one night (oops).
34. A four-piece drawer organizing set because you bet your bottom dollar that the space you're working with is limited at best, and having your delicates organized (rather than scrambling to find a clean pair of underwear or socks) is a skill you'll want to have well past college and into so-called ~adulthood~.
35. A Good (yes, with a capital G) laptop backpack, so you don't have to run across campus back to your dorm to get that one dang notebook with your East Asian History notes, and not the one you are actually carrying because you didn't have enough space in your free orientation tote bag. Also, lessen the one-sided shoulder pain!
36. A personal, one-cup coffeemaker to not only have great (ok, at least decent) coffee whenever you want (closing time doesn't exist!), but also to save some $ on café expenditures — even if they're awesome and student-run and your best friend works there, so you're always stopping by.
37. A chic Paper Source 17-month planner that'll be much more portable than a dry-erase board stuck to your dorm room wall (as nice as those are) and will be a one-stop destination for all of the seemingly millions of classes, seminars, TA sessions, assignments, extracurriculars, and (fun!) dorm-wide events you have to keep track of. *takes deep breath*
38. A trusty suede and leather brush with gentle-but-effective nylon bristles to get any scuffs, stains, and salt lines off of your favorite shoes, bags, and coats after trudging around campus in extremely sucky weather — because you want your stuff to last, dammit! Oh, and did we mention there's no cleaner required? Easy peasy.
39. And, believe it or not, a rubber wedge doorstop can signal to passersby (and potential new friends!) that your room is open and welcome to chatting.
You to yourself after successfully moving in with all of these smart purchases:
Want more for your bedroom? Check out the best bedding you can get online, our favorite mattresses you can get on Amazon, the best bed frames to get on Amazon if you need somewhere to put that new mattress, and the best pillows on Amazon to finish off your new bedroom setup.
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