For most college students in the United States, shared bathrooms are the norm. College is the time to familiarize oneself with things like the shower caddy and faucets that shoot out water that is either ice cold or burning hot. If you’re lucky, however, your school may offer private bathrooms for yourself or your roommates to share, giving you a luxury that is unfamiliar to many students across the country.

When considering what your bathroom will need in college, the best place to start is at home. What items do you use on a daily or weekly basis within your own bathroom? Once you have figured out a general sense of what you will need — that is, what your bathroom at school will require to maintain the essential routines already established at home — you should then communicate with your roommate(s) to discuss who will bring what in order to prevent a bathroom cluttered with duplicate products that could ultimately be shared.

The best way to prepare for that fateful move-in day is to create a checklist of all of the things you need for your bathroom. This allows you to have a centralized method and site that compiles all of your necessities into one convenient location, making your life easier and more organized. Lucky for you, we’ve compiled a list of our own with the items that we’ve found are great for a college bathroom, whether that be for an on-campus dormitory or off-campus apartment. Looking for something more dorm related instead of apartment? Check out our dorm room essentials, shopable list.

Towels for… Do We Even Have to Explain this One?

It’s pretty obvious that towels are a necessity when it comes to a bathroom.

It’s hard to have a bathroom without towels. You may have had a situation in a rest stop restroom where you had to settle for using your pants as a substitute for them, but trust us when we tell you your jeans will not suffice for a towel after a shower in your bathroom. And anyways, a warm and freshly laundered towel after a hot shower is kind of an amazing luxury that many of us take for granted every time we step out of the bathroom. We should invest in our towels, think more about our towels, be grateful to be able to afford the luxury that is having towels!

You may be asking yourself, “How do I begin my journey toward towel appreciation?” First of all, start with the basics — get yourself the towels that you need, that means one for your hands, one for your body, and one for the shower (otherwise known as a washcloth). This towel set from Martex is a great place to start if you want to get your bathroom ready easily and with style. The set comes in a variety of colors to accent any bathroom decor scheme and is great for those looking for an easy way to get the towels for their bathroom.

For more towel options, check out OCM’s wide selection of bath towels!

A Fluffy Bath Mat for Wet Feet and Dry Floors

Nobody likes a bathroom with puddles all over it!

There is one situation that you never want to happen in your bathroom. What is this situation, you may be asking. Here it is: you take a nice shower after a long day and, upon stepping out, realize there is not a single thing to put your feet on. The floor gets wet, your feet slip, and the whole situation is no good. Future guests might slip on the water, your socks may get soaked from the wet spots dotting your bathroom floor. It’s a messy ordeal, but luckily it can be solved with an affordable and easy solution: a bath mat!

The Naples Bath Rug from OCM is a super affordable option for any college student on the market for a comfortable and absorbent bath mat. It comes in six different colors that will surely match any color scheme — the mat also is made of 100% cotton and features an anti-slip backing, so your bathroom will not only be more decorative and cozier but also safer!

For more bath rug options, check out OCM’s wide selection of bath mats!

Bathroom Accessories for an Organized Countertop

Accessories may not be at the top of your mind when it comes to planning your bathroom, but they are extremely functional and well-used pieces to add to your vanity.

Are you someone who likes to keep things in their respective places, giving even the smallest item a specific space to call its home? Even if this may not accurately describe you, most people can find satisfaction and enjoyment in a bit of organization within their homes. Especially for college students who are sharing a bathroom with roommates, organization is not only essential for keeping track of everyone’s different things but also to prevent arguments over clutter or messes.

To add a bit of organization — and consequently a mind free of worry over future squabbles — you should check out this 4-Piece Bath Accessory Set for your bathroom vanity. The set features a handy toothbrush holder, lotion/soap dispenser, soap dish, and even a tumbler for drinking or rinsing. Not only do the items in this set provide functionality into your space but they also add a polished and cohesive style to a typically overcrowded and cluttered counter space. The set comes in three fantastic, grayscale color options that will add charm and minimalist style into your bathroom!

Buy the 4-Piece Bath Accessory Set from OCM for $19.95.

Shower Accessories to Zhuzh Up Your Bathroom

A shower curtain offers privacy and a major opportunity for style. 

Most people will argue that the shower is the most important part of the bathroom. A nice shower curtain can elevate a bathroom with style and a pop of personal taste, and a stellar showerhead can take your bathroom experience to spa-like heights. To get started on creating a shower that boosts rather than lowers your bathroom’s style, you have to check out the 19-Piece Bathroom Shower Set from OCM. 

This set features a geometric pattern curtain that is an upgrade from a plain clear or white curtain hung in most apartment or dormitory bathrooms. You also will receive sponges and loofahs to use in the shower or tub, making your college bathroom more like a spa than a shared restroom. The accessories and items this set provides will instantly make your bathroom feel more personalized and homey, and the convenience of all the items being in one cohesive set takes the headache out of selecting from a bunch of items to find those that match.

A Comfy Robe for Coverage and Luxury

Robes may be considered a little bougie for some tastes, but they’re worth it for anyone living with roommates looking for coverage.

Look, we aren’t going to tell you that a robe is a necessity for your bathroom in the same way that a towel or shower curtain is. However, when living with roommates a robe offers an easy method of covering up (while still drying you) as you get ready. Robes also are just kind of the pinnacle article of clothing to make you feel like an established adult. You can throw one on right out of the shower and go about your morning or night without having to put on day clothes or pajamas while still being completely covered — they’re worth it!

The Martex Terry Bath Robe from OCM is a great option for any college student searching for the perfect bath robe — it’s affordable and extremely functional, what more could you ask for? The dark grey color is subtle and will not stain easily (or at all), so you don’t have to worry about care when you should just be entirely concerned about the next part of your busy schedule (finals, work, homework, you’re juggling a lot in college).