These unexpected dorm room essentials will help make the transition to college super easy, or help you realize that living in a dorm can be a whole lot better than you originally thought. Instead of just living with the fact that your dorm room is what it is, use these unexpected dorm room essentials to create a space that truly feels like home.
Fake or not, a little bit of greenery goes a long way in making your house feel like home. You can get something super low maintenance like a pothos or a peace lily, or if your room is super sunny, you can get succulents and cacti. If a fake plant makes more sense for your situation, there are loads of options to choose from (Ikea has AMAZING quality faux plants for cheap). You can even find fake vines you can hang all over your walls!
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The gentle whir of a fan can help you drift off to sleep when your neighbors are partying hard, someone is hollering outside the window or you’re experiencing any number of loud annoyances at bedtime. In addition, if you’re feeling a little too warm, you can use it to cool down. Also, totally puts some wind in your hair in selfies.
If you are only interested in the noise-canceling part, you can also get a noise machine. Earplugs and noise-canceling headphones are fine, but do they really make you feel at home?
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To achieve a comfortable desk chair situation, you can either bring your own chair from home (a little extra, but worth it) or you can get some cute cushions to put on the chair your college or university provides. You will likely spend a lot of your time at your desk, even if you do most of your studying at the library, so being comfortable is necessary. Dorm room essentials should not only make you feel at home but also help you do better in school!
If you do end up bringing your own chair from home, you can stick yours in the closet for storage ‘shelves’ or in the corner for taking your shoes off. They never let you take furniture out of the rooms.
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Over the door mirrors are great and all, but most are boring and standard. If you have a little bit of extra wall space in your room, try getting a really beautiful full-length mirror, or even a decorative one to rest on your desk. A mirror is practical for when you want to check out your outfit, and it also helps to brighten the space by bouncing light around the room. Now that feels like home!
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If you have flooring in your dorm that is not carpet, you know that the cold, hard floor does not make you feel at home. A rug will keep your feet warmer, but also remind you that this is a place to relax and get comfortable. Plus, a cozy rug makes it easy to hang out on the floor and play drinking games. You don’t want to sit on a gross floor all night.
For those who have carpeting in their dorms, a rug is still a great solution for making your room seem less gross and cuter. Whatever the flooring in your dorm, a rug will totally change the aesthetic of your space!
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Backrest pillows are an invention the college student truly should not live without, but you can also substitute in a bunch of comfy, decorative pillows that will do the job just as well, but with much more style. Whether you like to do homework in bed like me (I know, not recommended, but it works), or you just need a comfortable way to watch Netflix, pillows are super necessary! They transform your bed into a private couch, which is really helpful when you don’t want to sit on Dorito dust and who knows what else in the common room. Enjoy your peace and quiet.
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Microwaving water just makes it taste bad. Sorry not sorry, it does! An electric water kettle is an extremely practical, yet unexpected addition to your dorm room essentials. Hot water means you can make tea, coffee, ramen noodles, instant oatmeal, hot chocolate, and spiked hot chocolate in no time in the comfort of your own home/room. Sure, you could microwave your water in the kitchen down the hall, but that’s honestly gross, and you have to put pants on. Don’t do it. Keurigs are also a great option!
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A foldable drying rack is one of those dorm room essentials that you can be sure your roommates will borrow. Using a foldable drying rack prevents you from having to hang your athletic fabrics, lace undies, and other delicates all around the room to dry, and it really frees up all your doorknobs. Your roommates will appreciate the free doorknobs, and they will also appreciate being able to hang their delicates as well. Sharing is caring!
If you adjusted your bed to the highest height, used bed risers, or have really tall shelves in your closet, a step stool will come in handy. A step stool also helps when you’re hanging things on your wall, changing a lightbulb on your string lights, and killing a fly on the ceiling. An unexpected addition to this dorm room essentials list, a step stool will be a lot more convenient than standing on chairs or your roommates’ shoulders. Extra points if your step stool is super cute or doubles as storage!
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Softening up your windows is a surefire way to make you feel much more at home. You can choose a pretty fabric and pattern that will make you happy every time you come home, and you can block out the light in the morning when you just want to sleep in on a Saturday. There are even special ‘room darkening’ curtains that will totally blackout your room: not the best idea for people who need to wake up early!
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