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For most people, entering college comes just as you’re turning 18 and entering adulthood for the first time. Suddenly, newly adult, you have your whole future laid out before you, a daunting number of decisions to make, and new levels of responsibility you’re still learning to navigate. But here’s something else you have if you’re moving into a college dorm: a new space, all your own, to decorate as you please.
Decorating your own college dorm room offers numerous benefits. For one, you can create the personal and relaxed environment that you need throughout your stay. With how busy academic studies and college life is, you deserve a well-decorated dorm room for your comfort that will help you rest, relax, and reduce the stress of the day.
So, with all these things being said, it’s indeed essential to decorate your dorm room as soon as you arrive. This is your chance to craft a dorm room look that not only fits your personal preferences and style, but also looks mature and put-together, the perfect welcome for your journey into adulthood. You want your dorm room to reflect your personality, but you also need high quality, durable dorm essentials that will get you through marathon study sessions, movie nights, finals season, and everything in between.
However, buying some dorm essentials can cost you a lot of money. Luckily, there are many online companies out there that offer students discounts. Whether you need electronics, clothing, or other essentials for your dorm, these companies provide you with an opportunity to avail exclusive discounts from various retailers online.
But if you haven’t decided yet which dorm room essentials you should buy, OCM is here to help. We've pulled together 87 of our top dorm room essentials for 2022-2023 that should be on every college student's list.
In a small space like a dorm room, the bed is a huge focal point. Because it’s such a large furniture item, the way you style it really sets the tone of your entire dorm. This year, we’re seeing lots of students take a minimalist approach to the color scheme of their dorm bedding, choosing simple black and white monochrome options and layering fun prints and textures to keep the space visually interesting.
It’s easy to see why this is such a popular look in 2022-2023. A soft, all-white comforter gives the room a clean and cozy vibe. A black comforter with a bold print makes a big statement in a sophisticated, mature way. Either way, keeping it simple with dorm bedding leaves plenty of room to experiment with fun accent items and decor.
Whether it’s late movie marathons or early morning study sessions, these neutral bedding options will keep you cozy all year long. It will also give you support and comfort as you rest, relax, and reduce the stress of the day. Plus, we know college students don’t want to dump money into replacing dorm bedding that just falls apart, so all of our comforters are guaranteed ’til graduation.
Want to go bold with the color palette in your dorm room? We say go for it!! Dorm rooms and college apartments are notorious for their boring white walls, so chances are you have a totally neutral backdrop to work with when deciding what colors fit the vibe you're going for.
Choosing blue or green bedding transforms a dorm room into a chill oasis, which can be just what you need after a long day of class. Warmer colors -- like red, or a sunny yellow -- can get you energized to take on anything college life throws at you.
Whether you use a little bit of color theory to hype yourself up for class or just throw together your favorite colors to create a space that's uniquely yours, colorful dorm bedding is a great way to add a big splash of color to your room.
When you’re styling a dorm room from scratch, there are lots of essentials to stock up on, but comfortable sheets are definitely at the top of the list. College life can be crazy and stressful. After a long day of classes, homework, and hanging out, nothing feels better than crawling in between the soft, cozy sheets on your bed.
It’s important to grab a couple sets of sheets so that you can switch them out throughout the year. Breathable cotton sheets are good all year round, but they’re particularly important when it’s warm out. Microfiber sheets are another great option because they’re soft and inexpensive. If you prefer your sheets with a little more luxury, consider investing in silky satin sheets as well.
Twin XL and Full XL sheet sets can be hard to find, which is why we offer dorm bed sheets in a variety of patterns, colors, and fabrics. Each set comes with a fitted sheet, flat sheet, and two matching pillowcases.
Picking out pillows is an important part of putting together a dorm room. Your dorm room is your home base at college, so of course you want it to be as comfortable as possible. Stocking up on different kinds of pillows is a great way to ensure that your dorm room is nice and cozy whether you’re hanging out with friends, studying in your bed, or catching up on some much-needed sleep.
Of course, you’ll need a few plushy standard-sized pillows for your bed. College is the perfect time to upgrade flat, worn-out pillows for ones that are fresh and fluffy. Adding a variety of accent pillows to the mix doesn’t just add comfort and style to your dorm room (although it does that too!) Body pillows, backrest pillows, and floor pillows make it easy to study comfortably wherever it is that you work best.
Dorms and residence halls can be chilly! Whether the AC is cranked up too high, winter is coming, or you’re just a fan of being extra snuggly while you study (🙋🏻♀️), having some extra blankets and throws around is never a bad idea. Not only are they practical, they can also bring a tasteful pop of color or add a fun texture to your room.
In 2020-2021, we’re seeing faux fur everywhere. Fluffy rugs and shaggy throw pillows are trending as well, but soft, textured blankets are really stealing the show. Fur not your thing? Consider a chunky knit blanket instead — they’re just as warm and soft, but a little easier to maintain. A calming weighted blanket is always nice to have around for unwinding during exam season, but with the extra stress of online classes, social restrictions, and all of the other pandemic concerns in the world right now, adding one to your dorm blanket stockpile is truly a must.
Going beyond dorm room basics doesn’t have to break the bank. Headboards are an inexpensive, out-of-the-box solution to cover up some of that boring standard-issue dorm furniture. Upgrading your bed with a headboard can bring your whole room together, transforming your dorm into the room of your dreams.
Headboard are available in a few different colors and fabrics to elevate your dorm bed without stealing the show. Made from stylish faux leather or comfy faux linen, these headboards can easily be incorporated into almost any room with a Twin XL college bed. The tufted design gives any room a hint of luxury... and let's be honest, most dorm rooms could use all the help they can get!
Cramming a whole year’s worth of clothes, shoes, and supplies into a dorm room isn’t always easy. Luckily, there are things savvy students can do to maximize the minimal storage space in even the tiniest dorm room.
Storage trunks are a great way to keep extra clothes, linens, and other gear from cluttering up your dorm room while you’re trying to study or relax. Available in a variety of colors and sizes, storage trunks can easily double as subtle or statement dorm room furniture — just check out our new bedside cube trunk.
Plus, these armored trunks are built to protect your stuff, which means you never have to worry about your items getting damaged. With wheels available as an add-on, these storage trunks can go right from your dorm room to the car when it’s time to head home.
One of the great mysteries of college life: how is it so easy to lose things in a space as small as a dorm room?! Whether it’s your student ID, your notes and school supplies, or the candy stash from your last care package (thanks Mom!), never waste time searching your dorm room high and low for it again.
Organizational tools like caddies and hooks don’t just save your sanity — they also save space. Organizers that hang on your wall with Command hooks or get simply be hung up in your closet help you get the most out of your dorm room by maximizing your vertical space.
Some organization essentials even double as decor — check out our creative wall hooks, like this minimalist city skyline.
Bathrooms in college can be weird, to say the least. If you’re used to rinsing off in your own private bathroom where you can leave all your things in the shower, toting all of your stuff back and forth to a communal bathroom is certainly an adjustment.
Comfortable towels are obviously a necessity — for many students, college is the first chance they have to pick out their own bath linens, so have fun with it! Grab towels in your favorite color or a fun design. Shower caddies and totes take the struggle out of carrying your soaps and shampoos to the bathroom, an a pair of flip flops keeps you safe from any foot funk that might be lurking on well-trafficked bathroom floors.
Throw a cozy bathrobe or wrap into the mix, and you’ll be set to survive anything college bathrooms can throw at you.
Comforter? Check. Pillows? Check. Even your bedding and storage taken care of, a dorm room with blank walls doesn’t feel quite complete. When it comes to decorating your dorm room walls, the possibilities are endless, so it’s a great opportunity to get creative and really make the room your own!
Photos are an essential element in any dorm room because they allow you to keep loved ones close even when they’re far away. From frames to clips, there are endless ways to display your favorite photos. Consider covering up a bigger patch of your dorm room wall with a poster, tapestry, or some peel and stick wallpaper — all of these are inexpensive ways to bring your dorm to life. Not only that, but it can help ward off homesickness, especially during the initial days of your college life. By adding personal moments from your old bedroom, such as plenty of family pictures and your friends, you’ll begin feeling emotionally attached to the room.
There’s no doubt that life on campus has looked differently than it has in the past.Pandemic precautions have changed what we can do and how we can interact with one another, and staying safe and healthy as a college student requires some extra gear.
Although restrictions are lifting in many areas, students spending the 2022-2023 school year on campus may want to stock up on personal protective equipment like washable or disposable face masks as well as personal care products like hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes in case infection rates spike again.
If you’re concerned about staying in the dorms, consider picking up an air purifier and CleanseBot to eliminate germs in the air and on the surfaces in your room.
Being away from friends and family is definitely one of the most challenging parts of the college experience. College life can be stressful, especially when you're far away from the friends and family who would usually be there to cheer you on.
Luckily no matter where your favorite college student may be -- whether it's the other side of town or the other side of the country -- care packages are an easy way to share in special moments and show that you care.
Between classes, homework, extracurriculars, and friends, college students are busy! It's not always easy to find time for a little self care.
That's why dorm-friendly workout and wellness routines are a must, whether that means sipping tea from your favorite mug after a long day of class, incorporating inspirational quotes into your dorm decor, or finding dorm-friendly ways to get active and cut down on college stress.
Yoga is one of our favorite dorm workouts -- not only is it a great way to get moving, it's also a great way to lower stress and even improve academic performance. Plus, you don't need a ton of space or equipment to get started, making it perfect for college students on a budget.
