We are thinking about dorm life...from the AT:NY Dorm Room Contest to AT:Chicago's roundup of hot dorm room accessories, and now here, at AT:Nursery, we present our own entry into Dorm Living - our top 10 necessities for happy residence hall living.
• Folding Hand Truck, $99.99: The faster move-in goes, the happier everyone is.
• Jersey Sheets, $19.99. As warm as flannel in the winter, cool in the summer, and they only get softer with age. Make sure yours are XL Twin.
• Duvet Cover, $99.99: Make sure your Duvet cover is an XL Twin as well - dorm beds are typically longer than regular twin beds.
• Closet Doubler, $11.99: Use your tiny closet space wisely.
• Conceal Surge Protector, $58.99: Not just to protect your electronics - most dorm rooms have very few plugs. This one also hides your cords.
• File Folders, $9.95: Stylish and useful.
• Shark Hand Vac, $39.99: Surprise! Most dorms don't have vacuums for student use in them!
• Dropps Laundry Detergent, $4.99: So much easier than lugging a big bottle of detergent around.
• Hangers, $10.99: These are a little fancy, but most dorm rooms don't come with hangers.
• Noise-cancelling headphones, $99.99: Cancel out the background noise, and studying in your room will be a lot easier.
What would you add to this list to make a dorm room a more comfortable place to live? Or, what did you bring to college (yourself, or when moving your kids), that you wish you had left at home?
Bring a lock box to store your ID, cash, and wallet in. I was surprised to see that none of the drawers in the room had locks on them.
view nuni's profile
I've never heard of a dorm that didn't have a vacuum that students could borrow, and I've worked with about four schools. I say replace that with an ironing board. I had many occasions where I needed wrinkle free clothes, and ironing on my desk chair wasn't the easiest.
view lauralaylin's profile
I brought a ton of cooking supplies for our tiny communal kitchen. They laughed the first day at my spatulas, cheese graters, etc, but the rest of the year they happily ate my chocolate chip pancakes. It was always nice to at least pretend we were "home."
view traceywithanE's profile
Cheap neutral throw rugs to cover the multitude of stains left by previous inhabitants but nothing that you're going to be upset over wrecking or losing. Preferably something that is machine washable. I had four of them and they were invaluable to me and my roommates. I got them on sale at Kohl's for something like 5 bucks. Can't beat it. I also highly recommend splurging a little on your bed. Make it comfy! Get that foam memory topper and accessorize with lots of fluffy pillows. You spend a lot of time in college in/on your bed.
view Cjay's profile
This is more DIY than an accessory, but...this is in line with the lockbox idea.
If the dorm has two rooms with a shared ensuite bath, you can keep your crazy suitemates out with a borrowed power drill from the housekeeping staff and a lock/chain set--the most important thing I took to college.
Although there was a vacuum you could borrow as well, it was pretty gross.
And to second Cjay's idea, anything that makes an instutional mattress more comfy!
view Renee's profile
you know, i never got along with my very southern grandfather. he never understood why (a) being a woman, i'd want to go to college in the first place or (b) i'd be the type of woman to not wear dresses or date boys.
but when i did go to college he gave me a toolbox full of tools, nails, hooks, etc. it was oddly generous of him in many ways. but it also was the most well used item i brought with me. everything in those heavily used dorms needs repair. and no one else brings tools. you get to (a) fix things in your living space and (b) get to know everyone as you are suddenly the popular kid who has tools.
view karey's profile
If you're in an old-school primitive dorm room with no kitchen, an electric kettles is useful for making hot drinks and ramen noodles.
view wende in the twin cities's profile
Hamper
Iron/Ironing board
Minifridge & Microwave
Curtains
Contact paper (to line drawers which can be pretty funky)
Masonry screws or nails if you want to hang pictures and you live in a hall made of cinder blocks (like I did my first 2 years of college)
view tgray99's profile
Well let me see how I am handling this... I lack few of these dorm elements and frankly I never felt that I need more than I already as dorm necessity. In fact I intend to get a tempurpedic in the near future, it's something that I wanted for some time now... Thanks for the suggestions!
view gordman's profile