Moving is a stressful experience in any scenario. But there’s something uniquely paralyzing about figuring what to bring with you when you first move out of your home and into your first college dorm. It seems to be a rule of the universe that no matter how many times you go over the list, you’ll still manage to forget something you use all the time. It’s incredibly aggravating to only realize you forgot to pack something once you really need it and don’t have it. There are plenty of things you don’t want that to happen with. Like phone cords. Or toilet Paper. Or, most importantly for our purposes in this article, anything to do with bedding.

The stress of moving means that by the time you’re all moved in, you’ll likely be exhausted. And the absolute last thing you want when you’re tired is to realize you didn’t actually pack enough pillow cases, or your mattress feels like you’re sleeping on a slab of rock, or the random sheets you packed clash so much it’s actually giving you a headache. So how do you avoid ending up in that situation? Simple: you Build Your Own Value Pak with OCM. The pack has everything from bedding to bath towels to a mattress topper depending on the options you choose, meaning you’ll be all set with a few simple clicks of a button.

In this article, we're walking through all of the pieces you'll see when you build your own value pak so that you don't miss any of the essentials. In our value pad customizer, you’ll find options for:

• Budget-friendly value pack basics
• Unique and stylish bedding
• Various mattress toppers
• Cool and practical trunks
• Other essentials

Well Priced Value Packs

Get what you want for reasonable prices

OCM’s packs allow you to pick the price level that works for you, and means you get the most bang for your buck. There are four different price levels, all of which include 2 extra-long flat sheets, fitted sheets, and standard pillowcases, an extra-fluffy machine-washable pillow, an extra-long reversible comforter and extra-long microplush blanket, a mattress topper, and a set of at least 6 towels. Higher priced packs will also include things like laundry bags, bedside caddies, and fan and lamp clips.

Unique and Stylish Bedding

Express your style in comfort

Now comes the really fun part. OCM has over a dozen different options for bedding designs, each of which include matching pillows and blankets in a variety of materials and patterns. No matter what your style, OCM has something for you. Love a clean, black-and-white look? Try the Wonderland or Boone Black and Gray designs. Still feeling the neutrals theme but want a super soft blanket? The Kyla or Callum Gray designs are the ones for you. Looking for something with a bit more color? Check out Rae, a tie-dyed blue bedding set; Enza Floral, a blue and purple floral design; Stanford and Burgundy, a classy plaid design; or Parker Pink Medallion, an elegant pink bed spread.

Here’s a tip: although it’s not included in the pack, specific bedding designs are shown to look great with a specific accent pillow, which serves as excellent inspiration for making your dorm room look cohesive. If you’ve got your bedding all picked out, your next step to making sure your room looks perfectly put together is a cute accent pillow, depending on the design you choose.

Various Mattress Toppers

Trust us. You need it.

Here’s a fact of life: college dorm beds aren’t naturally comfortable. Chances are, your bare mattress is going to be something plastic that crinkles to the touch and feels like it needs to be disinfected no matter how clean it actually is. You don’t want to sleep on that. OCM’s bedding bundles offer three different kinds of mattress toppers depending on your price range to help provide you a good night's sleep every night.

The best part? Even the cheapest option, the Egg Crate Topper, which adds no extra charge to the pack, is high quality and high comfort. Like the product info says, “this high-quality piece is absolutely perfect for upgrading your dorm room mattress, adding support and comfort where you need it most. Perfectly sized to fit any twin XL mattress, this premium hypoallergenic pad will have you feeling perfectly comfortable every night and well rested every morning.”

Still want something even comfier? Check out the Gel Foam Toppers! You can choose either the 1.5 inch option or the 2.5 inch option for just that much extra inch of so or comfortable, durable, luxe antimicrobial polyurethane foam and fiber.

Cool and Practical Trunks

Sophisticated storage perfect for any dorm room

When you’re ready to finish up your Bedroom Bundle, you’ve got one final choice to make: do you want an aesthetically pleasing, well-made, highly practical storage container that can also double as an end table? The Fashion Armored Storage Trunk is accurately labeled the MVP (Most Valuable Product) in your bedroom, because as anyone in a small dorm will no, more storage space is absolutely priceless. Pick between Royal Blue, Red, Forest Green, and Purple and then choose whether or not you’d like to attach wheels for easy transport, and this trunk can be a part of your dorm room just like that. The wheels are durable to match the trunk, and have top-notch grip and control for ease of use.

The environment around you can be one of the main stressors of life, so anything that can help keep your dorm room neat and organized is an absolute must-have. This trunk is waterproof, dent proof, and scratch proof; it will last you all through college and then some. The lid is specifically designed to avoid slamming and stay propped open easily, and despite being 20% lighter than a steamer trunk, it’s just as durable - you can literally use this trunk as a stepstool, it’s load bearing capacity is so dependable. Plus, the metal edges on solid material make for a sleek and sophisticated design that’ll make an amazing statement in your dorm room.

Other Essentials

Make your list and check it twice… then check it again

While you’re looking at bedding, be sure to pay attention to other things you might need in a bedroom. A pretty good idea is to take a day before packing and pay specific attention to every common household item you use; you’ll be filling your own space, so you can no longer count on those items just being around without you or a roommate specifically buying and placing them. Do you like having a rug in your room? Do you have a specific place you put glasses or rings? Do you keep medicine, earplugs, or anything else by your bed for easy access? Make a list so you don’t forget, and while you’re at it, be sure to check out these other must have items.

Trash Can

It seems like a ridiculous thing to forget, but when was the last time you bought a trash can? Trash and recycling bins are so long lasting that you are likely to be able to count on one hand the amount of times you’ve had to get a new trash can since pretty much birth. This is another thing you really don’t want to be suddenly missing when you need it, because while a plastic bag in lieu of a garbage can does technically work, it’s not a good long term solution. While you’re already shopping for college, make sure to get a mini trash can for your room! You can get a lightweight and durable one right here for about $7, easy peasy.

Headboard

Is a headboard a must-have for a college dorm? Not really. But is it still nice to have? Absolutely yes. This is one of those things that will stop your dorm room from feeling like a temporary place to rest your head and start making it feel like your actual home for the year - because, go figure, that’s what it is. You can make your dorm room’s bed look like a sophisticated and mature fixture of the room with one simple purchase. And it’s not just about aesthetics; these things also help to stop your pillows from slipping off the end of the bed, sometimes even while you’re using them. The last thing you want to deal with as you’re trying to fall asleep is your pillows literally falling off the bed.

Fan and Lamp

OCM sells an incredibly convenient “Easy Clip Value Pak” that comes with some of the bedding bundles. But if you didn’t choose a bedding bundle that included this fan and lamp, you should seriously consider buying it anyway. Sometimes, the cooling offered in a dorm room simply isn’t enough. And often, you want or need a much smaller light, whether that’s because it’s really early or late and your eyes just aren’t up for bright light, or because your roommate doesn’t want the room lights on, or just because you’d prefer to have a lamp. Either which way, these are the perfect amenities for any dorm room. They’re useful, easy to set up, and reasonably priced!