College Dorm Items: Overrated or Underrated?

College move-in is just two short months away. No need to start packing yet, but it is an excellent time to think about shopping for your dorm room. A simple Google search, "best items for college dorm," yields over 34 million results. Everyone has an opinion on what you should bring with you to college. "You absolutely NEED…" "This is a MUST…" "I can't live without…"

What items do you actually need? And which ones will collect dust and take up precious space in your room? 

Allow me to step in. I am a rising Sophomore at Duke University, and I had this exact experience last year when packing for college. After one year, I realized that a lot of the "absolutely essential" items that I purchased were, in reality, quite overrated. On the other hand, some items made my transition to college living much much easier. In this blog, I will list 20 common college dorm purchases and discern if they are overrated or underrated so you don't have to make the same mistakes that I did.

‍

Bed Shelfie

Overrated. The name: 10/10. So cute. Practically speaking, however, beds are typically located near windowsills or desks in small college dorm rooms. Thus, having an additional shelf hanging from the side of your bed is probably not necessary for most. It depends on your dorm, though, so if you're considering purchasing this, I recommend waiting until you get there and see the setup before deciding.

‍

Mattress Topper

Underrated. This single-handedly transformed my three-inch thick mattress that lacked all comfort into an incredibly cozy bed. These mattress toppers are no joke and genuinely make a huge difference.

‍

‍Roomba Vacuum

Underrated. It's simple. Dorm rooms get messy. There are shoes going in and out. There are crumbs. There is garbage. A messy floor is unavoidable. In most cases, college students do not want to pick up the vacuum every day. Flipping the switch on the robot vacuum is a different story. The roomba was used nearly every day in my room, and the look was pristine.

‍

Brita Water Filter Pitcher

Overrated. Most students are too lazy to visit the water fountain to fill the Brita constantly. Water bottles are usually more efficient.

‍

‍Electric Kettle

Underrated. Having boiling water available to you at any time is so helpful. Tea. Matcha. Hot chocolate. Oatmeal. Instant noodles. Cleaning. The list goes on.

‍

‍Multi-Plug Outlet

Properly rated. These are handy for plugging many cords into one outlet, especially if your dorm room has limited accessible outlets.

‍

Plug In Air Freshener

Underrated. A good scent is a simple way to upgrade your space. Many dorms don't allow you to open your windows and may have funky odors, makingan air freshener come in handy.

‍

Alarm Clock

Overrated. Do whatever serves you best, but most people find their phone works fine for alarms and telling time.

‍

Mini Trash Can

Overrated. Wait until you arrive to purchase this because many dorm rooms already have mini garbage cans.

‍

Business Wear

Underrated. This might not fit the typical dorm room category, but bringing business wear to college is very important. Some student organizations and clubs require interviews to join or hold special events – all instances when business wear will be helpful. You never know what the dress code will be.

‍

Laundry Drying Rack

Overrated. In many scenarios, a drying rack will take up a huge amount of space in a small room. Instead, you can DIY your hang dry clothes with hooks, chairs, windowsills, and other surfaces that may double as a drying rack.

‍

Cleaning Supplies

Underrated. Windex. Paper towels. Dish soap. Plenty more. You will need them.

‍

Desk Chair

Overrated. Again, it is likely that your dorm room will come with a desk and chair, so wait to buy one until you move in.

‍

Hanging Closet Storage

Underrated. This is a fabulous space to capitalize on storage. If you have a long hanging rod in your closet but don't have enough hanging clothes to fill it up, I recommend purchasing hanging shelves to make the most of this space.

‍

Personal Items & Decor

Underrated. So many students focus on the items that fill their room but miss out on personalizing it to make it their own. Creating a space that feels like home is just as important as making it serve your needs. My favorite picks are photo walls, flags, and art pieces.

‍

Desktop Shelves or Organizers

Underrated. A desk is a great spot to store items vertically. I recommend setting up shelves or organizers on your desk for anything you might want easily accessible— makeup, school supplies, toiletries, etc.

‍

Candles

Overrated. As much as I love the ambiance that a good candle creates, many schools do not allow students to burn candles in dorm rooms.

‍

Emergency Kit

Underrated. First aid. Tools. Sewing. It is an excellent idea to stock up on these items in case of any emergency.

‍

Shower Shoes

Properly rated. These are essential, and most people agree. Make sure you have flip-flops or slides that you can easily access when taking a shower to protect your feet. 

‍

Slippers

Underrated. Having shoes you can slip on quickly is extremely helpful in college. You never know when a fire drill will occur or a friend down the hall will want to show you something. You can even wear them to the library or dining hall.

‍

That's it for overrated or underrated college dorm items! I hope I saved you the trouble of buying unnecessary space-filling things. And remember— Storage Scholars can help you move in this semester with our Ship to School service. If you order items for school in advance and ship them to us, we will have them waiting in your dorm room when you arrive. Check out our "Home" page to learn all about our Ship to School service.