10 Dorm Room Essentials Under $50

Often times when decorating our dorms we tend to forget about the essentials. Here is a list of 10 dorm room essentials to get you through the semester.

Mini fridge

After a while, eating every meal at the dining hall will get a little boring. That’s why it’s essential to have your own space to store food! Buy a cheap mini fridge, which at places like Walmart, can go for as low as around $50, making it one of your dorm room essentials.

Husband pillow/Body pillow

With a small space like a dorm, it’s likely that you will only be able to lounge on your bed. That’s why it’s important to have a structured pillow to transform your bed into a piece of furniture to relax on. Your dorm will become the hub of socialization if you can seat multiple people on your bed.

Desk lamp

It’s important to have a well lit area to do work, especially when most dorms are equipped with dim fluorescent lights. Invest in a cute desk lamp to add some better lighting to your space, and it will have not only an effect on the ambiance, but also your mood!

Personal Items

Being far away from home is hard, so make sure you bring lots of personal items. These will make your new space feel like your new home! Some ideas range from old photos to stuffed animals, basically anything that reminds you of home.

Wall Art

The bleak walls of your dorm are not exactly comforting, so invest in some wall art to liven up your space! Whether it’s a movie poster or a tapestry, these colorful wall accessories will add something extra to your space.

Vacuum

Even if you don’t think you’ll need it, you will. A vacuum is necessary for cleaning up crumbs from midnight snacks and to maintain the sanitation of the room so you don’t get fined at the end of the year. Plus, your roommate will thank you for remembering this often forgotten item.

Shower Caddy

Sharing showers at college is gross. That’s why it’s important to bring a caddy to transport your stuff in a clean and organized way. Purchase a plastic one from Target or Bed Bath & Beyond to make sure it doesn’t get too icky (a lot of the times cloth ones do this).

Mattress Topper

Twin XL beds at college are not the most comfortable. The hard, plastic mattress is very hard to get used to, That’s why you should make sure you bring a memory foam topper. Your back will thank you greatly after a few weeks.

Christmas lights

As stated before, the fluorescent lights of a dorm room aren’t pleasant. That’s why I suggest bringing Christmas lights or another lighting alternative to liven up the place. Try hanging the lights in a pattern to make a exciting decoration.

Fan/heater

The temperature in a dorm building changes dramatically. You may be hot in the winter and freezing in the spring. It’s important to have a way to regulate your room, so invest in a heater and a fan to be able to have some control.

All of these items are important and under $50. Make sure to stock up before heading back to college this fall!

Do you have any other dorm room essentials that you recommend? Tell us in the comments!

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