All the dorm essentials you forgot to pack

Dorm move-in day went perfectly. You unpacked your cups and plates, wedged your apples and guac into the refrigerator and made your new bed. You’re patting yourself on the back because you brought all the essentials: mac and cheese, pens, a pillow and … Uh-oh. Your checklist didn’t include quite everything.

The basics are easy to remember, but to be really prepared, you might need to revise your dorm checklist a bit. Be sure to include these practical items you probably wouldn’t think of until you need them. 

Will you have everything you need in your college dorm?

Essentials for your dorm bedroom

Dorms and college apartments aren’t known for their aesthetic appeal, so your new home away from home can seem pretty cold and uninviting. You’ll feel a little less homesick if you have a space that feels more like your own.

Your room comes with a bed, a chair and a desk. And that’s about it. You’ll want somewhere to sit during downtime that isn’t where you sleep. Bring a beanbag or other comfy chair where you can kick back and relax, study or give friends a place to sit.

Storage space is pretty minimal in dorm rooms. Don’t squish all your T-shirts and sweaters into a drawer, never to be unwrinkled again. Use storage totes to hold items you won’t need for a while, and extra drawers for what you’ll use now. 

You may not be allowed to hang decor on the walls, but you can still make your room feel more like home. Cover up that drab, industrial carpet with a colorful rug. As a bonus, that extra layer on the hard floor will make jumping out of bed at 7 a.m. a little less jarring.

Browse secondhand furniture on KSL Classifieds

Make your dorm bed more comfortable

Dorm mattresses are notoriously firm and have a weird plastic coating. Not too cozy. We recommend a padded mattress topper, for comfort and so you don’t hear loud swishing every time you roll over. You can thank us later.

Most dorm beds at Utah colleges are also high off the ground. Really high. So unless you want to work on your vaulting skills, we suggest bringing a step stool. It’ll also come in handy for reaching top shelves in the kitchen.

All that underbed space does give you room for a mini fridge, which is ideal for keeping food and drinks you really, really don’t want to share.

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Dorm desk essentials

The junk drawer at home doesn’t exist in college, so you’ll need to pack your own randomly necessary supplies. You’ll want:

• Scissors

• Rubber bands

• Tape

• Stapler

• Glue stick

• Sharpie marker

• Safety pins

BYOL: Bring your own lamp

The single fluorescent light on your dorm ceiling may be less than ideal for studying. Bring a desk lamp to brighten your workspace on those dark winter nights. It’ll be more roommate friendly for any late-night reading too.

Be sure you have desk essentials, from scissors to tape.

Kitchen essentials for your dorm

Your dorm kitchen may look like it has plenty of cupboards, but you’ll only get one or two of them (if you’re lucky) for all your food and dishes. Fortunately, you can expand your limited shelving with organizers.

An extendable wire shelf gives you extra room for stacking pots and pans or food items. Use small storage baskets to keep your shelves organized, so you can find the curry powder you know you bought.

You remembered eating utensils and a frying pan, but what about food prep? You’ll also need a cheese grater for taco Tuesday, a can opener for chili night, and a mixing bowl and baking dish for late-night brownie baking. A covered ice cube tray comes in handy when filling your water bottle for the day.

While it’s not one of the essentials, you may want to bring a shelf liner to protect your dishes from … whatever that stain is.

Dorm bathroom move-in must-haves

Think of how crowded the shelves are in your shower at home. Now multiply that by three to five more people. Yeah, you’re gonna need some more shelf space. Hang a shower caddy or bring a tote to hold your soaps and poufs. If you’re sharing a bathroom, get some shower shoes too, because eww!

You can’t bring along mom’s medicine cabinet, so you’ll need your own first aid kit. It should include basics such as bandages, antibiotic ointment, cold medicine and ibuprofen/acetaminophen. Remember other self-care essentials such as tweezers and nail clippers.

Bring cleaning supplies, including a vacuum.

Household essentials for your dorm

Dorm floors get dirty fast, especially with so many people tracking in dirt from daily campus crossings. You could sweep, but trust us, you’d rather use a vacuum. Yes, there’s usually one available for the entire floor (or building) to use, but who knows when you’ll get a turn or how well it will work.

Depending on the age of your dorm building, electrical outlets could be sparse. Bring your own surge protector power strip and an extension cord so you can easily plug in your computer, chargers and other devices.

Dorm rooms can quickly get stuffy or cold. Bring a fan and space heater to keep your room comfortable, regardless of who’s controlling the thermostat.

Find affordable dorm essentials

You’re already spending enough on tuition and housing, you don’t need to spend a lot on your dorm prep. Shop secondhand marketplaces such as KSL Classifieds to furnish your dorm for less.

Explore local listings for everything you need, from desks and chairs to mini fridges and storage solutions. Your planning and organization now will save you time, money and last-minute stress on move-in day.

Browse college essentials on KSL Classifieds

Sell last year’s college items

Moving to a new, better-furnished place this year? Don’t need three air fryers in your apartment? Sell your unneeded stuff on KSL Classifieds. You’ll be saving the Earth and helping another student-to-be. Maybe you could pass on some of your newly earned college wisdom too.

It’s free to list and just takes a few minutes. Use the new AI-assist feature on the KSL Classifieds app and it’s even easier. 

Create a listing on KSL Classifieds

Dorm checklist: Move-in essentials you’ll wish you’d packed

For the bedroom

• Beanbag or other comfortable seat

• Storage bins and baskets

• Rug

• Mattress topper

• Step stool

• Mini fridge

• Desk supplies: scissors, rubber bands, tape, stapler, glue stick, Sharpie marker, safety pins

• Desk lamp

• Headphones

For the kitchen

• Wire shelf

• Cheese grater

• Can opener

• Mixing bowl

• Baking dish

• Ice cube tray

• Shelf liner

For the bathroom

• Shower caddy or tote

• First aid kit: bandages, antibiotic ointment, cold medicine, ibuprofen or acetaminophen, tweezers, nail clippers

General household

• Vacuum

• Power strip

• Extension cord

• Fan

• Space heater