5 Cheap(ish) Things for Every College Dorm

Before I started college four years ago, I spent months planning out my perfect dorm room. I scoured Pinterest boards and blogs searching for the best accessories to make my new home actually feel homey. I even sneaked into my residence hall the night before move-in day to check out my room and decide which bed and closet to claim before my roommate arrived.

Unfortunately, this taught me a tough lesson: There is such a thing as being over-prepared. I had so much stuff that I didn’t have any place to put it all. Dorm rooms are tiny, and my flower decorations, picture frames and inspirational quote plaques couldn’t fit.

- Advertisement -

If you’re about to begin your dorm life — or you have a family member who is — my best advice is to think through which items you will actually use on a daily basis. A refillable water bottle? Yes. Your entire shoe collection? No.

In collaboration with Wirecutter, a New York Times company that reviews and recommends products, here are five cheap(ish) things to help make dorm life more comfortable. (And please don’t be the freshman with a U-Haul.)

In my obsession with decorating my dorm, I didn’t think much about cleaning supplies. A good vacuum can make a huge difference, and so can choosing the right one that you’ll actually use Wirecutter has a lot of great picks. I especially like the hand-held ones — like this Black+Decker Dustbuster, Wirecutter’s pick for a hand-held — that can be stored in small spaces.

Water bottle

Depending on where you’re going to school, the first couple of months in the fall semester can be brutally hot. Carrying a refillable water bottle around helps remind you to hydrate and also prevents having to purchase pricey (and environmentally harmful) plastic bottles. Residence halls usually have water fountains, and you can fill up your water bottle when you’re hanging out in your room.

The top choice from Wirecutter is the Klean Kanteen. It’s made of stainless steel, but it’s almost as light as a plastic bottle, which is important when you have to carry it around campus all day.

Toiletry bag

Many dorms have hall-style bathrooms, so you might be sharing facilities with a group of your classmates. This means lugging your toiletry items around each day, and having a sturdy toiletry bag makes this easier. Even if you’re lucky enough to have a room with your own bathroom, these can still help keep your items organized.

Wirecutter recommends the Sea to Summit Traveling Light Hanging Toiletry Bag, which has a hook to hang it up.

Best of Smarter Living

Ghosts, Sea Gulls and Incompetents: How to Deal With Bad Bosses Having a bad boss can make you miserable, but there are ways to manage up.

What to Pack for a Trip to Chiang Mai An ancient city with a new art and food scene that’s growing up around its beautiful temples and natural beauty, Chiang Mai deserves a spot on your bucket list. Before you go, pack these items to make the most of your trip.

Source

- Advertisement -