Girls Dorm Checklist! Everything you need.
The planning, packing, saying your goodbyes, leaving your childhood room behind, and packing again can be very overwhelming amidst trying to enjoy your last seconds of summer before the school year starts again in a completely new place. This list will make it super easy to ensure you won't be leaving anything behind! It will be split up into sections, so you can jump to any section to start! I will be linking things I bought for my freshman dorm as well as what I wish I had bought.
Bedding
Laundry
Bathroom
Kitchen
Toiletries
Cleaning
School Supplies
Decorations
Extras
BEDDING
After receiving your housing assignment, you’ll want to visit your school or university’s website to check out the size of the room, how much space you’ll have, what will be provided, and most importantly, the size of your bed. Typically, college dorm room beds range from Twin, Twin XL, or Full.
You’ll want to buy a mattress protector to protect your bed from spills, bugs, and cover the mattress that has been used by multiple college students.
You’ll also want to get a foam mattress topper to make the uncomfy college mattress comfortable and relaxing.
Getting a sheet set can be fun to match the color theme of your room or to get comfy satin sheets.
You’ll either want to search for a duvet and duvet insert or a comforter. I got my duvet from Bare Home and about halfway through the first semester I switched to a comforter. My duvet would always slip over the bed and onto the floor in the middle of the night no matter how well I tucked it into the wall. I will attach the options below
You’ll either want to bring some pillows from home or pick some up from your local Target or Walmart. I knew some people who waited till they got to their college town to run and get some pillows, but I brought some with me. Also, most sheet sets come with one pillowcase, so I would check to make sure it comes with two, because if not, you can purchase another one.
Now for the fun part, throw pillows and blankets! I purchased some throw pillows as well as brought some from home. Something I didn’t think about was bringing my weighted blanket. If you are used to sleeping with one and your college isn’t too far away from home, bring it! I borrowed my friends for a while to help me feel more comfortable sleeping in my dorm.
LAUNDRY
Doing your laundry in a dorm is a whole different experience. Having a laundry hamper, detergent, dryer sheets, an ironing board/steamer, lint roller, stain remover, and a sewing kit. During move-in, once everything was settled, I ran to the nearby Target to pick up some detergent, dryer seats, and color catchers.
BATHROOM
Depending on your dorm, you’ll either have a private bathroom shared with your roommates and/or suitemates or a communal bathroom. In terms of what you need to bring or buy, it varies based on which type of bathroom you’ll have. My first semester, I had a communal bathroom, and in my second semester, I had a private bathroom. Both had their benefits and doubts, but I will share what I recommend for each.
For a private bathroom, you’ll want a shower caddy to hold all of your shampoos, conditioners, soaps, body scrubs, razors, and loofahs. I purchased mine from Target, and be sure to coordinate with your roommate/suitemates to see if you should get one that sticks on the wall or one that hangs over the shower head.
Most of the showers will come with a shower curtain, but I recommend bringing one you have laying around at home so you can add a sense of decor as well as your own shower curtain that is cleaner and hasn’t been used as frequently.
A bathmat is great so you don’t get water all over the floor and don’t slip either. These can be easy to clean if you have a wet vacuum, or you can also throw them in the washers in your building. My particular dorm didn’t need a mat next to the toilet, but I know some of my friends' dorms in different buildings did. My bathmat was white, so it got dirty pretty quickly and you could see the dirt.
Getting a towel set is an affordable and great option that will include a couple of washcloths, hand towels, and bath towels. I purchased two from TJ Maxx and HomeGoods and haven’t had any problems.
3pc Textured Stripe Bath Towel Set
I got a ribbed glass bath collection from Target for my sink. It came with a canister that I filled with Q-tips, cotton balls, and cotton rounds. I didn’t use the sink pump as I had a cute bottle from Bath & Body Works that I wanted to use. It also came with a matching wastebasket, and my favorite part was the vanity tray. I used this all the time for my everyday jewelry when hopping in the shower, going to work out, and as a place it could sit while sleeping.
Ribbed Glass Bath Collection Clear - Threshold™ : Target
In terms of a communal bathroom, you really only need a shower bag, shower shoes, a towel set, and all your toiletries.
I got a shower bag that was relatively small, and I wish it was larger since I took a lot of things to the shower with me. I’ll attach a larger one that will provide more space.
I would never take a shower without my shower shoes. Even though the showers were cleaned frequently, you never know what is on the bottom of people’s feet. The ones I had worked great and dried super quickly.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D6CTDB3/ref=twister_B07Y4NKXQ1
You’ll also need bath towels, which can be found in the private bathroom section.
Extra tip: having a robe was very useful when walking from the shower to my room and using my towel for my hair.
I brought all my toiletries from home and just ran to the store or ordered on Amazon when I ran out of something. Be sure to bring some extra toothpaste and toothbrushes!
You will also want to coordinate with your roommates in terms of toilet paper and other bathroom necessitates you’ll want.
All in all, I preferred having a private bathroom more than a communal bathroom, but it all depends on how clean you are and what you’re looking for!
KITCHEN
You’ll want to discuss and divide the responsibilities of what to get between you and your roommates. Even though you won’t cook very often in college, it is nice to be able to cook every once in a while. My room had a communal cooking area down the hall as well as a mini kitchen area with a fridge, sink, and microwave.
Get some pots and pans for when you want to cook and boil water.
Once you get there, run to the store and pick up plastic silverware (you’ll need lots!), salt and pepper, and other spices if you’d like, plastic cups, bowls, plates, napkins, Ziploc bags, a garbage can, and trash bags.
Extra Tip: This microwavable pasta cooker was a lifesaver! It’s surprisingly really good and easy when I’m craving some pasta. Having an air fryer was also super nice; it was useful to make a lot of foods, and they tasted better than making them in the microwave. I’ll attach the pasta cooker below.
TOILETRIES
For me, I brought my toiletries from home to save money instead of buying all new things. My rule was that if I used it at least once a week then to bring it! Toiletries are easy because most of the time if you forget something you can get it at a nearby store.
CLEANING
One of the most important things is to keep a clean room and have a good environment. Being clean will make you feel more productive and comfortable. Here’s a list of everything you need.
Dish Soap
Clorox Wipes
Toilet Cleaner
Shower Cleaner
Paper Towels
Vacuum
Mop
Duster
Glass Cleaner
Sponges
SCHOOL SUPPLIES
Your school supplies are all pretty dependent on your major and what you plan on studying. If you need the supplies by the first day of class, they will email you over the summer with a list. Generally, gen-ed classes will require textbooks, but I would wait until classes start to see which textbooks you actually need to purchase. If you have a personal laptop, you should be good for the most part.
Extra Tip: I asked my older co-worker what her advice was on the best thing you can purchase for college, and she told me an iPad. I bought one and use it every day!
DECORATIONS
Now for the best part! You get to decorate your home! I chose to go with white, light gray, and sage green. A great way to decorate your dorm is to choose your favorite color or what color you want to decorate your room with and use white and gray. I’ll attach some of the decorations I bought for my room.
EXTRAS
I loved having an essential oil diffuser to make my room smell better, help with headaches and stress. A desk lamp for late-night studying or for when I didn’t want my main light on, neon signs above my bed to keep on when watching a movie in bed or reading, an air purifier, velvet no-slip hangers, and a dehumidifier since dorm rooms tend to be pretty humid.
I hope this list will help you pack and prepare for dorm life!
