To all the incoming freshmen getting ready to move into their college dorms, you’re about to experience the best years of your life. Never before have you experienced such freedom. You can go to bed whenever you want. (Ever heard of an all-nighter? You won’t have time for sleep anyway.) You can eat whatever you want. (Miss mom’s baked ziti? How’s microwaved ramen sound instead?) You can hang out with whoever you want. (Say goodbye to your privacy. I wonder if your roommate snores.) Okay, to be honest, there will definitely be challenges along the way. But you’ll have an easier time acclimating to college life if you arrive prepared with the proper dorm room necessities.
Just because these are essentials doesn’t mean they have to lack personality. In fact, all of the items you’ll see here are available in an endless variety of print designs that allow you to express your uniqueness, whether you’re an anime nerd or sci-fi horror junkie. Now let’s get started…
Add character to your room with ready-to-hang art.
Worried about making new friends? Chances are you’ll have a lot of visitors coming in and out of your room during your first few days on campus. Wall decorations not only set the vibe of your new living space, but they’re also conversation starters that might catch the attention of floor mates with similar interests.
Our gallery-quality Fine Art Prints, Canvases, and Tapestries are more durable than the average poster and will add a touch of sophistication to your room. Look at you, acting all grown up now. *Sheds a tear.*
Featured Designs: “Burgerman” Fine Art Print by zackOlantern | “Your Mind’s Eye” Framed Fine Art Print by Steven Rhodes | “If Not Now Venn” Tapestry by Nathan W. Pyle | “Fungi Forest” Stretched Canvas by episodicDrawing
Don’t think about how gross the floor is. Just cover it.
Like a grizzled veteran, your dorm-room floor has seen some shit over the years. Whether it’s carpet, tile, or hardwood, cover as much of it as you can, especially if you plan to walk around barefoot. Available in a variety of sizes, our Premium Rugs will help take your mind away from the grossness lurking underneath. They also have a coated backing that prevents them from bunching up and sliding around.
Featured Design: “Modern Day Banana Leaf” by mmartabc
Make your room guest-friendly.
If you plan to have groups of people over for study sessions or impromptu hangouts, show your visitors some good ol’ hospitality with Throw Pillows. Toss them on your futon for comfortable back support. Or, if your room is too tiny for a futon, use them as floor seats. If you choose the latter, the bigger the pillow the better.
Featured Designs: “Nap Time, All the Time” by Nan Lawson | “Let That Shit Go” by Estef Azevedo | “Retro Radio” by Bully and Bunny | “Make a Smile” by digitalcarbine | “Color Bomb!” by badbugs_art | “Margarita Reading” by sagepizza | “Quiet Night” by Steven Rhodes | “Birds of a Feather” by arzie13 | “Arcade Expressionism” by Laser Bread
Sneak in naps whenever you can.
Have you ever stayed up to watch the sun rise? It’s such a wonderful sight, except when you’re running on fumes after a whole night of cramming for a test, writing a 10-page report, and prepping for a class presentation. When you finally have time to spare, cocoon yourself in a Fleece Blanket and take a power nap, even if it’s only for 15 minutes. Heck, bring it to the library if you have to.
Featured Design: “A Cloudy Night” by spookylili
For goodness sake, protect your feet!
Word to the wise, don’t put your trust in other people’s feet. We’ll leave it up to your imagination to figure out why. If you have to shower in a communal bathroom, wear flip-flops to be safe. If you’re lucky enough to have your own bathroom for you and your roommates (whoa, is your dorm a Ritz-Carlton?), make sure you at least have a Bath Mat.
Featured Design: “Ahhhhh. Time to Relax.” by HabbyArt
Keep your laundry in check.
Piles of dirty clothes have this strange tendency to keep growing and growing. Space is pretty limited in a dorm room, so it won’t take long for your dirty laundry to look like an eyesore. Your best solution is to get one or two Laundry Bags to prevent your unmentionables from encroaching on your roomie’s half of the room. That’s just being a good roommate!
Featured Design: “Glossary” by A Tarrisse
Write it down so you don’t forget.
Have you been taking notes? NO? Well now we’re certain you need one of these! Our Spiral Notebooks each contain 120 pages of ruled paper where you can jot down notes or doodle while you’re procrastinating. If you prefer a notebook with a sturdier cover, try our hardcover Lined Journals.
Featured Design: “Pencil Butt” Lined Journal by Brian Cook
Organize your life with assorted bags.
Keep your gym essentials in a Drawstring Bag and use Totes to store your loose items, like your toiletries or the secret stash of snacks you keep at your desk. This will help minimize clutter and make your room look nice and neat. You know, as if a teenager doesn’t live there.
And of course, we can’t talk about dorm room necessities without mentioning the most essential of them all—your book bag. Carry your textbooks around campus in a flashy Backpack with padded shoulder straps and an interior laptop pocket.
Featured Designs: “I Am a Beacon of Joy” Tote by Nathan W. Pyle | “Street Cats” Weekender Bag by Hillary White Rabbit | “Sushi Persian Cat” Backpack by huebucket | “I Am Trying, Okay?” Drawstring Bag by -TRUFFLEPIG- and FoxShiver
Personalize your stuff with stickers, magnets, and buttons.
Adding a personal touch to your belongings will make them unmistakably yours. This will help prevent any unfortunate mix ups when you and your roommates pick up and go. Plus, it’ll infuse style and personality into the things you use every day. Put Stickers all over your laptop. Deck out your cabinets with Magnets. Pin Buttons to your backpack for extra flair.
Featured Designs: “Coffee Reading” Sticker by sagepizza | “Hi!” Sticker by upso | “Wander” Button by lxromero | “I’m Here to Pet All the Dogs” Sticker by Roam-and-Roots | “Not Nice” Button by 5EyeStudio | “Their Rage Brings Me Joy” Sticker by Nathan W. Pyle | “Yin Yang Cat” Button by vo maria | “Iconic” Magnet by Ego Rodriguez | “Aquatic Rainbow” Magnet by waynem
Balance your mind, body, and spirit.
Between classes, extracurricular activities, and flippy cup, you’ll most certainly have a jam-packed schedule. No matter how busy you get, make sure you carve out time to take care of yourself. If you’re into the yoga lifestyle, our natural rubber Yoga Mats are easy to roll up and take to the quad for a good stretch out in the sun. Breathe deep, clear your mind, and get ready to tackle the rest of your day. There’s so much to accomplish!
Featured Designs: “Periwinkle Plant” by rlthull
It might take some time to get used to being away from home, but in the end, college should be a fruitful experience that teaches you about yourself and the world around you. With these dorm room necessities, you’re setting yourself up for success right out of the gate. Just remember to have some fun every now and then. (But not too much. You get what we mean!)
The designs featured at the top of this post are “Hail Pizza” by robotboot, “Pizza & Beer” by Evan Luza, “Hiding Place” by Benjimoji, and “Cut & Paste” by adam antium.
