Dorm Room Checklist

This college dorm room checklist has ideas when shopping for items that won’t break the bank. I’m sharing tips on how to navigate and fine tune a suggested supply list. 

If your child is going away to college this year, you probably have been shopping all summer in preparation. When shopping for dorm items, many stores will add many things to your suggested supply list. 

Before you start buying things, take a hard look at the list and the items that your student will use and appreciate. You do not want to overspend on things that won’t get use.

For example, if you can send your student with a cell phone, most likely it has an alarm on it so you do not need to purchase an alarm clock. Most computers and cell phones also have calculators on them, so they probably do not need to take a calculator.  (Unless of course, your child needs a specialty financial or scientific calculator).

Having a couple of kids go through the dorm experience, I wanted to share my checklist for dorm rooms.

Checklist for Dorm Rooms

Bedding

• Sheets (usually extra long)
• comforter
• pillow
• mattress pad
• blanket
• bedside organizer

Personal Items

• shower caddy
• towels (bath and beach)
• toiletries
• medications (incl OTC cold, fever medicine)
• first aid kit
• earphones
• sanitizer and face masks
• collapsible laundry bag
• clothing
• jackets/sweaters
• swim suit
• underwear
• shoes/flip flops
• cell phone

Household

• shoe bag
• tall mirror
• hangers (the thin fuzzy kind will maximize space)
• laundry bag
• small plastic stackable bins/drawers
• paper towels
• plastic plates, cups
• trash bas
• spray cleaners
• clothes hangers
• Simple tool kit & extension cord

School Supplies 

• laptop or computer 
• printer
• printer ink
• power cord
• lock for computer
• pens/highlighters/pencils
• lined/printer paper
• dry erase board or clipboard
• binders/file folders
• desktop storage
• backpack
• desk lamp/light bulbs
• spirit wear

Cutting the College Dorm Room Checklist  

Nowadays, so many TV shows and movies are available on line.  They can use their computer for those things and really do not need a TV. Besides, if they live in a dorm, there are lots of TV rooms on campus.

Similarly, you likely do not need to send a stereo or radio with your student. With music available on cell phones and computers,

Refrigerators and microwaves are usually available to rent on campus. It is easier to rent them and not have to haul them around after the school year ends. It is especially nice if one roommate rents the microwave and another rents the refrigerator.  

Toasters, hot plates etc, are usually not allowed in most dorms so check before you plan to buy any of these items.

Dorm Room Food Items

Snacks and sodas or juices are nice, but they will be more likely to get something from the school cafes.

They might enjoy these items:

• bottled water/drinks
• ramen noodles
• cer
• soup packets
• granola bars
• oatmeal
• cookies
• food delivery gift card
• grocery store gift card
• 5 Ingredient College Cookbook

As far as decorations, consider bringing a bulletin board and maybe some photos.  Your student will be getting freebies as a freshman with the college logo and will soon fill their dorm room with souvenirs from their new life. Trust me, it may look sparse to start out with, but that will change once school starts.

They do not need to bring lots of decorative items from home. Those items will stay with you long after they move out of their dorm, maybe even forever if you let them.

Once you see their dorm space, it can be fun to send them holiday care packages from time to time. My kids loved receiving these in the mail.

I hope this dorm room essentials list is helpful. We bought a lot of stuff when our son went to college and I know that you want to send your child with all the comforts of home, but the truth is, they do not need as much as you think. 

There will meet so many people and will be too busy studying and socializing to notice that they are not without the excess things. Besides, there is a student store that carries just about anything they might need, in case they forget something.

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