Top 10 Back to School Essentials for College Dorms

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See a list of the Top 5 College Dorm Rooms Essentials here –> Top 5 Dorm Room Essentials

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1.) Bedding

Comforters, sheets, and pillows are essential for college dorms. Ensure you find out the size of the beds from the college or university before you buy bedding. (My son’s dorm has extra long twin beds, and that was essential when shopping for a sheet set!). They are often called ‘Twin Extra Long”. We love these extra long bed skirts to hide all of your stuff under your dorm bed.

Image via: Etsy – Dorm Room Bed Skirts

2.) Bath Linen

Bath towels – Washcloths, hand towels, and bath sized towels are crucial in dormitories and they can never use enough. (Considering they probably will do laundry once a month). Ensure you buy quality towels that are absorbent and can withstand the abuse of a college student. Trust me they will be used for more than just drying off from the shower.

3.) Shower Tote for College Dorms

Whether the dorms have communal showers or individual showers connected to the rooms, having all of your shower tote essentials in a tote or caddy is essential. Opt for a mesh one or a material that can dry easily to prevent getting mildewed and gross from moisture.

4.) Over the door mirror for your College Room

Full length mirrors are often forgotten but are essential to see your ENTIRE body. (Many college students seem to think all you need to see is your face!) Whether you opt for a full-length mirror that can hang on the back of a closet door, or you buy a framed variety that can hang like a picture, a mirror is often forgotten but will be used by everyone on your dorm room floor.

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5.) College Dorms Alarm Clock

Waking up in the morning, or even at night will prove to be essential in college. Ensure you have a good alarm clock that plugs into the wall and not run solely on batteries is brought to college. Don’t depend on just your cell phone or your roommate to wake you. Alarm clocks with multiple alarms can prove to be helpful, so you don’t have to reset your alarm for each new time. See ways to personalize your dorm room here.

6.) Hanging Clothes Organizer

Make the best use of your small closet with a vertical hanging organizer for your shoes, sweaters and foldable clothes. The hanging clothes organizer will keep all your belongings orderly and will help you cram more into your closet than you first imagined. Need more ideas to get your dorm room organized for cheap?

7.) College Dorms Laundry Bag

Laundry is one of the most dreaded chores to do at college (at home too!) Make the chore easier with a good laundry bag – multiple ones is a good idea. Ensure they have sturdy handles and rolling varieties may prove to be handy if your laundromat is within your dormitory.

Image via: Etsy – Hen House Originals – Dorm Essentials Laundry Bag

8.) Coffee Maker

Coffee, Tea, and water may prove to be the best drinks to consume at college (we won’t mention the alcoholic beverages). A coffee maker that doubles as a tea maker could become a college student best friend, late at night or early in the morning. Opt for a variety that has an alarm or even a travel sidecup like the Hamilton Beach coffee maker.

9.) Portable Laptop Desk Holder

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College students spend a lot of time in the bed… not just sleeping, but studying, eating and everything else. A laptop desk for writing, resting a laptop, or just having a flat surface other than your desk can prove to be essential. Creating a productive study area can be hard. This desk will help make life easier. These can be found at most houseware stores in the back-to-school area.

10.) College Dorms Floor and Table Lamps

One of the most underrated essentials for a dorm room is table and floor lamps. Whether you are trying to study, or need an extra light near your bed or sitting area, the overhead fluorescent fixture in the room will not be sufficient, and it will wake up your roommate! Opt for a few lamps that are versatile and don’t require strangely sized bulbs!

For more college dorm ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Dorm Room Decor: The Do’s and Donts for College

Do’s – to remember when decorating your college dorm

Dorm Room Essentials:

Dorm rooms are limited for space since students share rooms. Leave your extra clothes and accessories at home or go for them at a later date. For example, you can leave your winter clothes at home and get them during thanksgiving break as you drop off the warm-weather clothes.

Bring along a cute dorm room laundry bag too!

Image via: Etsy – Hen House Originals – Dorm Essentials Laundry Bag

Get Dorm Room Decor Ideas from our Burlap and Succulents Store:

Our Burlap and Succulents Zazzle store can give you ideas for bedding, pillows, blankets and throw blankets to make your dorm room look awesome!

Dorm Bedding – Choose fun patterns!

Buy bedding that will endure 4-5 years of college. You can get a synthetic down comforter which is perfect for all seasons and add style with a colorful duvet cover. Even when pulled up, a comforter makes a room look cleaner. Buy a machine-washable cover with a beautiful print that hides stains.

Dorm Room Decor Don’ts – Try not to do in your college dorm

Buy Small Accessories Immediately After Settling In

Don’t buy unnecessary accessories as soon as you move into your dorm room. While it can be tempting to buy cool items you may find that you don’t need some items after a while. Additionally, things go on sale sometime after school starts so it is advisable to buy then.

Dorm Wall Decor: Don’t Be Afraid of Color

There are many ways you can add color to your dorm room. You can use accent pillows, poufs, decals, or art. Even if bright colors aren’t your thing, try to choose accessories with happy tones that will brighten up your day when you’re missing your family or suffering from winter blues.

There are many things to consider as you go off to college and dorm room décor may be the last thing on your mind. However, it can make a big difference in your overall enjoyment of college life. Since you’ll be spending a lot of time in your dorm room, it is only fair that you make it a small haven. Follow the above decorating dos and don’ts and you’ll be sure to create a gorgeous room that impresses everyone who sees it. In fact, it will quickly become your pride and joy.

Can you share with us your dorm room decorating tips dos and don’ts?

How to Get Your College Dorm Room Organized

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Dorm room ideas: Double hanging racks

Closet space in dorm rooms is quite small and you really cannot install anything into this area. But, you can effectively double the space in your tiny closet with an hanging organizer. Simply, hook it onto the rack, and add a whole new row to store clothes. Also, be smart and put the unused space to work by hooking and over the door shoe rack. 

Organize your desk

A cluttered desk is uninviting and will constantly distract you from your work. So, invest in a filing cabinet to keep your important documents, papers, and receipts arranged.  Recycle old assignments, term and exam papers that are no longer required. Also, limiting the number of desk accessories you bring with you to college is a sensible way to maintain order. Finally, manage your book clutter by organizing them alphabetically or by color-coding them. For instance, put a blue label or covering on the books you use on Mondays, “Monday Blues.”

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Organized dorm ideas: Make your bed

When you live in a small area, the slightest visual disorder can make a huge impact on the appearance of your room. So, get into the habit of making your bed daily, even if it means only folding your quilt and arranging pillows. Try getting bed-in-a-bag sets that include sheets, comforter, matching pillowcases and more for a easier time making your bed.

Dorm Room Bedding Ideas

Don’t forget bedding and bed skirts for your dorm room bed! We love these dorm room dust ruffles that fit Twin XL beds and cover up all of your storage under your bed. Etsy Shop Dorm Room Bedding Ideas has patterns, colors, and different styles to choose from.

Image via: Etsy – Dorm Bedding Ideas – Dorm Room Bed Skirts

Get your Dorm Room Organized with Laundry bins

Don’t just throw your dirty clothes on the floor or drape it over the chair. Buy a lightweight, portable laundry basket or bag and toss it under your bed. Not only will it help you keep your dorm room uncluttered, it will make your laundry day much easier. Laundry bags are also a creative option. We like these laundry bags from Etsy Shop – Hen House Originals.

Image via: Etsy – Laundry Bag Ideas – Hen House Originals

Keeping your dorm space clean and tidy will make dorm life much more enjoyable for you and people around. So, follow these tips and get to work!

For more organization ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

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Freshman College Dorm Room Essentials Checklists

College Dorm Room Essentials

As space is at premium at college dorm rooms, resist the urge to carry all your favorite clothes. Few pairs of bottoms, twice the number of tops, a jacket or a sweatshirt and few pairs of shoes should be enough. In order to carry weather appropriate clothes, it’s wise to find out the average climate for each season and pack accordingly. You will also have limited desk and counter space, so make sure to limit items like picture frames and anything else that requires a place to sit. Most likely you will be going back home during the holidays or your parents will pay you a visit, so you will have an opportunity to exchange items for the changing season.

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Comfort items

Comfort items make you feel like at home. While it’s advised to carry such items, you must limit them to the ones you use most often. Share the responsibility with your roommate of bringing stuff like television, fridge, dvd player, stereo and more. Before packing any item, think twice if you really need it. For instance, if you can set an alarm on your mobile, perhaps you don’t need an alarm clock.

College Checklist items:

Bedding

Mattress Pad – Twin XL for College Dorm Rooms

Laundry Bag

Shower Caddy

Desk lamp

Flash drive

Headphones can be a great help when studying and writing papers.

Moreover, if possible try getting a look at your dorm room or call the college authorities to find how big the room is and what all comes with it.

Ultimate College Checklist

When preparing for a life’s new journey, it’s highly possible to forget stuff like medications, first aid box, and important documents and papers. If you are planning to take your car along, do remember to carry your driving license, car insurance, and auto registration.

While you should try to create a comfortable living space, unnecessary items will only clutter your room and will eventually lead to a stressful environment. So, instead of trying to replicate your room at home, pack light and smart.

For more college dorm room ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

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Simple College Dorm Organization Tricks

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De-clutter your dorm room work area

As dorm rooms are quite small, it’s easy for clutter to take up a lot of work space. So, make sure it’s clean and tidy by using desk organizers and limiting the amount of items on it. Not only will it help to keep your desk organized, but you will be less likely to lose important assignments. Another way to maximize your work space is by keeping electronic cords organized. You can either purchase cord organizers or simply put metal clips on the sides of the desk.

Take a look at our desk organizer in our Burlap and Succulents shop.

For more Best Dorm Room Organization Tips – check out this post on Stagetecture!

Dorm room organization: Utilize the wasted space

Windowsills, doors, and under the bed are just a few places in the dorm room that have the potential to store those extras. If your bed is too low, consider investing in a set of bed risers to make space for extra shoes or out-of season items. You could also use a towel hanger on the back of the doors for purses and jackets. Your windowsill is another great place to keep items like picture frames, alarm clock, or other small stuff.

Limit the dorm room decor decorations

Sure you want to make your dorm feel like home, but while doing so you can easily run the risk of over doing it-making what is already small even smaller. So a good rule of thumb is to bring everything that you need into the room first and then add decorative touches. For instance, if it means putting a desk lamp in place before making space for your favorite plant, do so. The idea here is to simplifying your space by adding small personal touches without going impractical.

These dorm organization tips will help to start the school year off right. Unlike your home, just make sure to focus more on practicality here. You will be thankful for it in the long run. Have more ideas to make the most of the limited space? Let us know.

Looking for more dorm room ideas, visit us on Burlap and Succulents online shop!

Round Up: 4 Best Dorm Room Organization Tips

1. Maximize Storage

All dorm rooms the world over have one thing in common: limited space. You probably have many books, clothes, and accessories but not enough storage. This post on organizing your dorm room will help you to make the most of storage so you can enjoy your room all the more.

Image credit: Dormify

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2. Create Space for Desks

If there’s one thing you’ll be doing a lot of, it’s reading. And to read comfortably, you need a chair and a desk. Most dorm rooms have chairs and desks but they take up precious space. This post gives you tips on how to create space for desks so you can have more room. You can rearrange furniture to create the optimal space for reading!

3. Get Rid of the Mess

You’ll be amazed at how decluttering can transform your room. Create space for useful items and put away those you don’t use often. Remember that the bed is the largest piece of furniture so it must be clutter-free at all times. Use the tips found in this post – How to Organize your Room for Less to create a dorm room that is the envy of your friends.

4. Customize the Space

There are many things you can do to make your dorm room truly yours. You can add small touches to personalize the space. Don’t forget that it’s usually the smaller items that have a big impact on the overall look. This post shows you how to make your dorm room a home away from home.

If thinking of your ugly dorm room makes you dread going back to school, fret not. Use these tips to transform the place into one you love. For many people, college means leaving a comfy room at home and moving into one that’s similar to a shoebox. Turn your room into a comfort zone with these dorm room organization tips.

Need more inspiration to organize your dorm room, take a look at these posts on Stagetecture.

Kids Old Rooms Ideas: Giving it a New Purpose

Image via:  Bijuo Lovely

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For Your Recreational Purposes

Haven’t you or your spouse ever had plans or ideas on making your kid’s rooms to something you all wanted for yourselves? Such as, a home office that you get you work done in or a place you wanted to start your own business in. Perhaps, you even have hobbies and would like to make it a hobby room for enjoyment. Like a sewing room, a library for the house or even a man cave. The choices are endless. Some have gone as far as merging the room with the master room in order to create a master suite.

Image via: Homes

A Guest Room

Turn your old kid’s rooms into rooms for your guests. Friends and family love to visit one another and especially with the holidays around the corner it would be great to have a space designated for them. Just remove anything that was your kids, add in (if not already there) a full sized bed, a storage rack, dresser and clean/open closet space. Try having a neutral color palette, with mixture of white linens around this will help to create an organic and inviting feel to the space. This can also work both ways if the child is in college and comes home for the summer semester, they still have a place to sleep and it won’t have to be your sofa.

Image via:  Shelterness

Perhaps Juts a Simple Upgrade

Maybe, your child hasn’t moved out but rather grown out of the style of their old room and just wants an upgrade to fit their current style. Typically, if the child is bold enough to come to you about their room being to childish then they may have some ideas of their own. So like you would do with any renovation, remold or revamping- discuss the budget, the ideas and set the time frame. Let them show you which way they want to go and of course the choice is really yours about what will actually be ok for their room in your house. It could be a new paint job or just a new comforter set.

We love our kids dearly, but sometimes we may not be so gun-ho about all of their things they like to leave with us.  You don’t have to let those rooms fall by the wayside, now you have the opportunities to do what you want within your home.  So get creative and think out of the box.  Make your kid’s rooms your rooms again.  And above are some ways on how.

Also, Stagetecture readers do you happen to have any ideas on how you would or have revamped your kids’ rooms for the best?  We’d love to hear them!

For more room ideas click here.

Image Via: Babble

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Invest in a Planner:

As the school year gets underway, you’re going to get busy. Trying to juggle classes, homework, your new activity schedule, a part-time job, and fun with friends is difficult, especially when you’re in charge of managing your own time. Luckily there is a simple solution: Write EVERYTHING down in a planner. Buy one you like at the start of each school year and keep it with you at all times. If you’re diligent about using it, you’ll be able to easily track assignments and plan your day with just a quick glance.

Image Via: Savvysugar

Get Involved on Campus:

This is the simplest tip to help you start to feel at home in your new surroundings. College is full of opportunities to get involved and make new friends. Most schools offer an activity fair during orientation week. Go and sign up for all sorts of groups – both in and outside your comfort zone. You’ll have fun trying new activities while meeting new people. (They might even give you free food!) It’s a win-win situation. 

Use Your Campus’s Academic Resources:

Okay, so studying isn’t exactly the most exciting part of your college career, but it is an important one. You can make sure that the time you spend hitting the books has a huge impact by taking advantage of your school’s – often overlooked – academic resources. If you’re struggling in a particular class, visit your professor’s office hours. Odds are he’ll be glad to have the opportunity to help and may even take your extra effort into account when calculating your final grade. If you hate writing papers, check out the writing center. They can point you towards credible sources and lend an extra pair of eyes when editing.

Image Via: American Libraries Magazine

Score Discounts With Your Student ID:

A lot of college students operate on a shoestring budget. Did you know that your ID can help you save some cash? Many restaurants, theaters, attractions, and events make a practice of offering discounts to current students who can show an ID. Go to a cheap movie during their college matinee hours or pick up a few student rush tickets to a show for date night. Just be sure to call the venue in advance to check there pricing and to keep your ID on hand. You’ll be living large while sticking to your budget.

Your first year of college is an experience. It’s exciting, overwhelming, and one-of-a-kind all at the same time. With any luck, it will be the foundation for a fantastic four years. Follow these tips to make the most of your first year. We aim to help you cross “nervousness” off your college checklist.

Readers, what advice do you have for the incoming class? What do you wish you knew during your freshman college year?

College Apartments: How to Choose Off-Campus Housing

Image via:  Tiffany Farhad Design

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Make a Wish List

Think about your needs when making a wish list. Such as do you need to be close to public transportation, how far is it from the school, what’s the distance from the grocery stores, banks, and library or mall, or perhaps you have a part-time job how far will it be from there. If you want pets think about that, how many rooms, perhaps you may want a roommate. This will help you to narrow which places work for you.

Create a Budget of Monthly Items

Set a budget of monthly expenses. Try looking for apartments with utilities included or that are having specials for students or first-time apartment renters. Then think about, if the apartment does not have utilities included, about the, water, electric and internet and work them into the budget. Also, factor in groceries and any extras like school supplies for the year or semester. Most apartments will ask for a down payment so to hold it for you. Reflect over your budgeting expenses for your college apartment that way you will be better prepared before and during the process.

Image via:  Allen Kilcoyne

Check College Classifieds

One great way to find great off-campus housing is by looking in your schools classifieds section. The school’s classified section is built around the needs of the students. So you will be able to find off-campus housing that should be more fit to what you may want and need. From the location, to the budget, to the safety of the student; so take a look around at the classifieds and see if something jumps out at you. There should be contact information for each classified so you can email or call about whichever one you are interested in.

Finding your first apartment can be a great process however, there are some things you should be practical and aware of when making this decision. Having a wish list, budgeting and taking advantage of your schools resources will all help you when you go through the process much smoothly. So what’s stopping you now, Stagetecture readers? Also, do you have any other tips about finding the perfect college apartments?  We’d love to hear about them.

For more college tips on Stagetecture, click here.

Simple Ways to Decorate Your Dorm Room 

Image via: Pottery Barn

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Add Impromptu Seating

There are many ways to add seating without bringing in extra chairs or a couch. You can get mats, poufs, and floor cushions. Stack them in a corner or place them at the foot of your bed to make them easily accessible but away from high traffic areas. Even if you don’t plan to do a lot of entertaining, the pieces offer relief from sitting in a chair or lying on a bed

Image via: Flickr

Get Creative with Storage

The most important word you should remember when creating storage in your dorm room is stacking. Turn every hidden space and nook into a storage area. For example, you can put your laptop in your desk drawer, fill the floor of your closet, and slide empty suitcases under your bed. If horizontal space isn’t enough, make use of vertical space.

Light Up

Dorm lighting isn’t the best in the world. Add different light sources to brighten up your room. Since you don’t have to pay for utilities, you can add as many fixtures as you want. However, be careful not to go overboard. Lights that look good in dorm rooms include desk lamps, pendant lamps, floor lamps, and rope lights.

Image via: Flickr

Many college students see dorm rooms as unavoidable realities of the higher learning experience. However, a dorm room doesn’t have to be dull and lifeless; it can be a warm and inviting place everyone wants to spend time in. Since you don’t have to abide by your parents rules, you can make it the area of your dreams. Use these dorm room décor ideas to make your dorm room a small heaven on earth. You’ll be sure to stand out from the crowd with these ideas to decorate your dorm room.

What creative ways do you know to decorate your dorm room?