Everything You Need to Outfit Your College Dorm

Most of the students I interviewed agreed on one thing — dorm-issued mattresses are incredibly uncomfortable. According to Elle Gardner, a recent graduate at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, the mattresses she and her roommate slept on were about six inches thick and “fully plastic so sheets slid off of them.” She recommends splurging on amemory-foam mattress topperon day one: “My roommate got one of the thinner mattress pads — they just have a slight extra cushion to it — and she ended up buying a memory foam one two days later just because [the dorm beds are] so uncomfortable.” This one, which our sleep writer named the very bestaffordable mattress topperafter sleeping on it herself, is three inches thick and made of high-density memory foam — enough extra padding for even the most princess-and-the-pea of sleepers. (Though if you’d like even more support, you can get the topper in a four-inch version, too.)

Then, I’d recommend using a mattress protector to keep themattress topperfrom sliding off the mattress and protecting the two from mysterious liquids. This one, which is reliably waterproof, comfortable to sleep on, and pretty affordable, is our top pick. (Plus, it doesn’t create any crinkly plastic noise under the sheets.)

If you’re looking for bedbug protection in addition to spill insurance, go for amattress coverinstead of a mattress protector. Compared to the protector, which goes over the mattress (and topper) like a fitted sheet, the cover will encase everything completely. Contrary to popular belief, the encasement doesn’t actually prevent bedbug infestations; rather, it provides a clean, white surface for detecting bedbug infestations as soon as possible and a barrier that blocks the bugs from getting into your mattress and mattress topper.

Though you should check with your school about the size of your dorm mattress, the industry standard is a twin XL, which is about five inches longer than your average twin bed. This means that no matter how much you love the twinsheetsyou’re sleeping on now, they’re not going to cut it on campus. I recommend starting your new sheet collection with a set from Quince, which makes themost crisp, light, breathable, and affordable sheets we’ve ever slept on. (This will come in handy if your dorm doesn’t have AC.) And if you’re not one for a top sheet, the sheet set is$20 cheaper when you buy a set without one.

For those on a tight budget, we recommend these silky-soft microfibersheetsthat are available in over 30 colors (meaning you’ll be sure to find a set that matches the color scheme of your dorm). They’re not made of cotton, but they’re soft enough for our bedding writer and made to last.

Most students I chatted with opted for a comforter to top it all off. Brooklinen’s down comforter (which isour favorite affordable one) comes in three weights — lightweight, all-season, and ultra-warm. Considering the typically nonexistent air-conditioning situation in freshman dorms, I’d recommend going for the lightweight comforter unless you sleep extra cold.

Of course, it’s perfectly fine to bring one of thepillowsyou’ve been sleeping on throughout high school to college. But if you’re looking to start fresh, I recommend this affordable pillow set that is so plush and pleasantly bouncy (especially for the price) it surpassed our sleep writer’s expectations. They come in two sizes, standard and king, and they can be machine-washed and dried, should you spill anything while studying late at night.

Beyond basic bedding, you’ll want to consider buying a few supplemental pillows, like thisbackrest pillow. Karis Yi, a student at University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has a similar one and says, “I use it every time I’m sitting anywhere in our room, whether it’s on the floor or in my bed.” (It’d make a greatgift for a college studenttoo.)

Body pillowsare another great option. “I ended up doing a lot of my schoolwork in my bed and so that was something I could lean on,” Gardner says about her body pillow. There’s another added benefit to body pillows: According to Sienna Leone, a recent Emerson College graduate, there’s usually a gap between the mattress and the wall, so she says, “I definitely recommend having a big pillow — like a body pillow — that that goes on the backside of the bed just to give you some extra support there.”

Multiple students I talked to mentioned throw blankets as an essential or an item currently on their wish list. One is integral to Leone’s bed setup: “I have a really good system right now where I don’t use a top sheet. I just use a comforter and then I put a throw blanket on top of that in case I want to have extra or not extra weight or warmth on my bed,” she says. This one made ourlist of best throw blanketsfor its luxurious feel.

If you’re a light sleeper, you’ll want to consider keeping a sound machine in your dorm room (just don’t forget to ask your roommate first). “It’s super helpful because the walls are really thin in dorms … and it’s just really hard to adjust to people stomping around and yelling,” says Lucy Harris, a student at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. This isour favorite.

A weighted blanket is another helpful touch for those who may struggle to get some rest. This one (which happens to beour favorite affordable weighted blanket) is filled with glass beads that are distributed between two-inch-by-two-inch pockets. It’s available in a range of weights from from five to 30 pounds and, similar to the sheets above, comes in plenty of colors that’ll match the theme of your room.

Gardner, Harris, and Yi all recommended investing in a storage ottoman, especially if you’re planning on lofting your bed,since it doubles as a step stool. “If we had a friend come in the room, it acted as a seating option, too,” Gardner says. This nice-looking one from Target comes in a variety of solids and patterns.

A rolling cart like this one, which Yi recommends, is another affordable way to add some extra storage to your space. Jenny Duan, a recent Stanford University graduate, used a similar one and filled it with school supplies and makeup.

Then, you’ll want to consider grabbing a few extra bins to hold miscellaneous items that you won’t want cluttering your space. This one is a solid (and understated) option.

Charlie Halpin, a recent Miami University graduate, recommends using a shoe rack in your dorm room. This one, which madeour list of the best shoe organizers, can hold 12 pairs of shoes (or more if you don’t mind stacking). Conversely, to make do with his limited dorm storage, FIT studentHarper Robustoturned his rack into adenim bar.

“I only brought the amount of hangers that I needed for what I had, but then I found out you buy so much stuff in college,” Harris says, so she recommends bringing more hangers than you think you’ll need. These hangers are extra thin, so you’ll be able to fit more things in your closet. Plus, they’re velvet, so your clothes won’t fall off.

I’ve lost track of how many students I’ve interviewed who have used a variation of the large rectangularstorage bags popularized by Ikeaduring move-in and move-out. While most students go for the classic Ikea blue, there’s nothing stopping you from going for a set ofpinkortealbags.

Leone, who worked as a move-out assistant, also recommends using giant Ziploc vacuum-sealed bags for transporting clothes and bedding. I’ve been using these for the last two years to store out-of-season clothes. They’re easy to pack and vacuum seal with a no-frills hand pump.

While you’ll certainly see a fair share of shoulder bags on campuses nationwide, North Face’s Borealis is the most popularbackpackon college campuses right now. With lots of pockets (including two for water bottles), this pack can carry everything you need when you’re not in your dorm.

If you have a bedside table, you’ll appreciate having a table lamp. Yi and her roommate bought this matching set of lamps that provided cozy, warm lighting and have an outlet on the base “which was super helpful for our phones,” she says. Madison Fairley, a student at the University of Mississippi, shared a similar set of lamps with her roommate and says, “Having that light next to my bed helps if I decide I want to get on my computer or read a book right next to my bed. I have the light and if my roommate didn’t want hers on, I could just have mine on.”

Most college-age women I’ve chatted with in recent years recommend getting a light-upvanity mirrorto use while getting ready and, according to University of Arizona studentJasmine Simmons, avoid “blush blindness.” This trifold mirror comes with three magnification levels (regular, 2x, and 3x), three light temperatures (natural, warm, and cool), and a handy tray at the base to hold stray makeup.

If your college doesn’t provide you with a full-length mirror, I’d recommend adding one to your dorm setup.This one is available in a wide range of sizes — just make sure you know the measurements you’re working with.

Seoane and Yi both told me that their rug inspired the rest of their dorm decor (not to mention that it looksa lotbetter than dorm flooring). “I like carpet next to my bed way better than having to get off my bed in the morning and feel cold tile,” Fairley says. Thisshaggy optioncomes in fun colors such as chocolate brown and taffy pink. If you have longer hair, Yi and Gardner recommend grabbing a hair scraper — “We have to clean our rug so often because of how much hair just gets caught in it,” Yi says.

Since colleges will typically fine you if you leave holes in the wall, unframed posters are one of the easiest (damage-free) ways to decorate your walls. Halpin told me he chose posters featuring his favorite movies and music, which made his room feel “more homey” at the beginning of the year. “Now, I don’t really notice them, but definitely at the beginning of the year it was a big help just because you’re in a new place and it’s nice to see things that remind you of comfort,” he says. For me, it was a lot of food-related posters like this one.

Thoughoriginal AirPodswill do just fine, it’s worth considering upgrading to the AirPods Pro, especially if you have a roommate. Harris did just that after her first semester and says the AirPods Pro are “so much nicer because my roommate will be talking on the phone with her boyfriend or something and I just stick them in and I can study. I can focus.”

But when you’re not studying, you’ll want to have some fun and what better way to do that than with some music? Duan was one of the four students I spoke to who recommended bringing a speaker. “Sometimes my roommate and I listen to music together,” she says. “If I’m hosting people in my room, it’s nice to have something to brighten up the atmosphere for sure. And then sometimes I take it out and study on the grass.” This one is aStrategist favorite.

Whether or not you have an 8 a.m. class on your schedule, you’ll need some type of alarm to make sure you’re staying on top of your studies. Of course, you can use your phone’s alarm, but the Hatchsunrise alarm clock, which simulates the light of a sunrise to signal to your body that it’s time to wake up, came up with multiple students I interviewed. “Having a roommate with a really annoying alarm is frustrating, and this wakes you up so calmly and gently,” Harris says. “If my roommate had this alarm going off, I would not be mad.”

While trying to keep all her devices charged and lamps plugged in, recent Harvard graduate Abigail Mack was hard-pressed to find outlets, so she turned to extension cords andpower strips. This one has six smart outlets that you can control individually along with surge protection. However, each school has their own policy about power strips, so check there first before buying one.

Another great option for keeping your devices charged is a charging station like this one that our tech writer recommends. It can charge up to three devices — like an iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch — at once.

When Halpin returned to Oxford, Ohio, for his second year of college, he added a few things to his dorm room, including some LED light strips, a monitor, andmore fans(as I mentioned above, many dorm rooms lack in the A/C department). Fairley and Leone recommend this one, which is small enough to perch on a desk or shelf.

Gardner and Mack both use an oscillating tower fan, and this one is the best, according toStrategist testing.If you have a breezy window, Mack recommends placing it close by to pull cool air into the room.

An air purifier isn’t as essential as a floor fan, but I still recommend it for anyone who’s prone to seasonal allergies or easily catches a cold. Senior writer Michael Zhao named it our favorite affordable air purifier and says it’s solidly constructed and especially quiet for the price.

Nine of the students I chatted with recommended having a mini-fridge. While Vu says he’d stock his with ingredients for a quick meal — “As a freshman college student, you don’t really have the funds to go out and eat all the time” — Seoane would pack hers with snacks. This fridge has a separate freezer for ice-cream pints and Trader Joe’s frozen meals, butthis retro-style pink oneis one of the most popular ones I spotted onDormTok.

With a mini-fridge, you’ll be able to keep a Brita pitcher of cold water accessible at all times.

Nine of the students I chatted with also recommended having a microwave in your dorm room, and this one is aStrategist favorite. While Leone uses hers about every other day to warm up heat packs, pop popcorn, and cook college staples like macaroni and cheese and ramen, Seoane finds her microwave is especially helpful when she’s sick. “When you get sick and want to make soup that you bought from the store in your room and don’t go up to the dining hall, that’s really helpful,” she says.(Just note: Before buying a microwave, check your college’s rules to see if they’re allowed.)

Though Stanley and Owala have fought for the title, Hydro Flasks are still the water bottle of choice among college students, according to my reporting. (However, I expect Owala to take the lead soon.)

While anespresso machineisn’t quite a necessity, it is a nice addition to a dorm room.“Having a little Nespresso machine with ice, milk, and then some of those little syrups keeps me from spending too much money,” Mack adds. This one can make both espresso and hot coffee.

Alternatively, Duan and Peng both recommended setting up amatchastation instead. This beginner-friendly matcha kit includes everything you need to make the drink at home, including a ceramic matcha bowl, bamboo matcha whisk, and matcha scoop. (And for what it’s worth, Peng’s favorite matcha, Ito En, isour favorite affordable matcha powder, too.)

Shower caddies are one of those things that most college students have a strong opinion on, especially when it comes to the material: hard plastic or soft mesh? More often than not, students I interviewed prefer the hard plastic ones since they’re easy to clean and won’t get musty. While you’re at it, grabthis dish drying matthat Yi recommends for placing under your caddy. “I’ve used it all year, and I’ve never dealt with mold or any gross things from where I put my caddy down,” she says.

“Shower shoes were probably the number one most important thing I brought, because the communal showers are super gross,” Duan says. I like this pair because it has holes in the sole and the strap that let the water through for a faster dry.

Before you arrive on campus, you’ll have to decide what you feel comfortable wearing when you’re walking down the hallway after a shower. If it’s a towel, consider a wrap towel like this one, which has velcro to prevent any wardrobe malfunctions.

A regulartowellike this one works, too. “At $16, it’s an incredible value for its absorbency, durability, and feel,” Strategist senior writer Lauren Ro says. It’s plush and dries quickly.

However, if you’d prefer an even more secure post-shower cover-up, consider grabbing yourself a robe. This one is comfortable, soft, and absorbent,according to Strategist writer Ambar Pardilla.

“If you have a clean room, you’re gonna feel better about everything and you’re going to be more productive and be less stressed,” says Halpin. If you had to only get one cleaning item, get these Lysol wipes, which Gardner told me were her go-to over cleaning sprays. “It was just easy to grab and go likeOh, I noticed my desk was dusty, let me just wipe it off,” she says.

That said, you’ll notice that dust builds up faster than you’d think in your dorm room, so I’d recommend grabbing some reinforcements for your wipes, like this disinfectant spray.

Considering you’ll likely be storing your towel and shower caddy in the same place that you sleep, study, and relax, you’ll want to prevent mustiness. Peng recommends sticking one of these moisture absorbers in your closet to get ahead of any stale smells. “I bought the pack of three and that lasted me the whole year,” she told me.

A Swiffer is an easy way to keep wood and tile dorm floors clean. This set has dry and wet pads that you can switch out depending on whether you’re targeting dust or a sticky mess.

To clean up crumbs and dust (and to avoid being the person on the floor who’s always asking for a vacuum), add this one to your shopping list. I used this model during my junior and senior years because you don’t need anything fancy (but it’s always nice if you do).

A handheld vacuum works, too, especially since you might not have space for a full-size vacuum in your closet. This one, which we’ve named thevery best handheld vacuum, is quieter than other vacuums we’ve tested and empties easily when you’re done cleaning.

Perhaps even more contentious than the shower-caddy debate is the laundry-bag debate. First, there’s the laundry backpack, ideal for those with a long trek to the laundry room. “I had a laundry sack at the beginning of the year, and I ended up getting a laundry backpack instead because it was easier to carry down to our laundry room,” Yi says (this is hers). Dormify also makes a nice one that you can personalize with your initials to avoid any laundry-room mixups.

There’s also the sturdy laundry baskets with a removable inner bag, such as this one that Harris used. These are best for those who like structure. “I’m just really lazy and just want to throw my stuff in the corner every night, so having a hard hamper helps me a lot,” says Harris. “It also has a removable bag inside of it, so when it’s time to do laundry, I just take that bag out and carry it to the laundry room.”

You’ll notice that I didn’t include any laundry baskets with wheels. That’s because in my experience, those have a tendency to break. As Gardner says, “I saw a lot of people with the laundry baskets with wheels, but I also saw a lot of people with broken laundry baskets with wheels.”

For times when all the dorm dryers are occupied or you have something you need to hang-dry, a drying rack will come in handy. My boyfriend used an older version ofour Best in Class pickto air-dry his clothes throughout college, and it’s doing just fine air-drying our clothes in our post-grad apartment now. While it’s large enough to fit an average load of laundry, it folds up narrowly enough to be wedged underneath, say, a lofted bed or against the wall.

Some students warned that not all laundry machines are capable of dissolving Tide Pods or certain liquid detergents, so it’s wise to ask upperclassmen about which laundry detergents works well with your college’s laundry machines. These laundry detergent sheets, which Leone recommends, are a generally safe option that also saves space.

Finally, if you’re considering pursuing an internship during your college years, you won’t want to forget about a steamer or iron for interviews. I’d recommend this compact steamer iron that I received as a gift a couple of years ago. It works like a hair strengthener but for your clothes, and is an easy, quick way to get wrinkles out of your clothes before a big interview and after a late night of studying in the library. Even in my post-grad life, I still bring it out every time I need to banish any wrinkles.