Room Essentials for College Living
hether you're heading off to college or parenting a freshman student, it’s normal to feel a bit baffled when packing for college life. You don’t want to overpack, but you still want to be comfortable and make every inch of space count.
Every student is different, and so are their needs and packing checklists. However, there are some room essentials that all students need to make their space feel like home—whether it’s a dorm or an apartment.
Our college move-in checklist can make things easier for you.
Bedding
For college students, studying can be stressful—and stress makes good-quality sleep even more essential. Comfortable, high-quality bedding plays a major role in getting restful sleep.
You might feel tempted to splurge on the silkiest, cloud-soft bed sheets, but if you’re looking for affordable, comfortable, and fitted options, opt for natural materials such as organic cotton or bamboo.
Organic cotton and bamboo sheets are becoming increasingly popular, partly because of their environmental benefits. With proper care, these sheets last longer, hold dye better, and offer unbeatable durability, softness, and health benefits.
Here’s a list of recommended sleeping essentials to pack:
Bed Sheets
Colleges typically reuse the same mattresses year after year, so students are strongly advised to bring their own bed sheets. We recommend using natural materials such as bamboo, linen, cotton, or Tencel.
These fabrics are easy to care for and, as mentioned above, last longer with proper maintenance. Rather than caring for a bulky mattress, it’s much easier to clean and maintain quality sheets and duvet covers.
Duvet
Being able to snuggle up in bed with a soft, fluffy duvet is essential for a cozy dorm room—and it can even help relieve stress.
Duvet inserts come with various fills, such as cotton, feather down, polyester, silk, and bamboo fibers. We generally recommend choosing natural materials and selecting the filling based on your sleep habits. For example, if you tend to sleep hot, a bamboo-filled duvet can be a great option thanks to its temperature-regulating properties.
Duvet Cover
Laundry can be less convenient in a dorm or apartment than at home, which makes cleaning a duvet insert more difficult.
To maintain good hygiene, we highly recommend using a duvet cover to protect the insert. Compared to inserts, duvet covers are much easier to clean and maintain. If you choose a premium material for your duvet cover, it will add extra comfort to your sleep.
Sleep Pillows
Sleep pillows are another essential part of comfortable, high-quality bedding. When buying pillows and throws for your dorm room, pay attention to the filling materials.
Pillows can be made with different fills such as memory foam, silk, cotton, feather down, or polyester. The best choice depends on your sleep preferences. Our favorites include silk, feather down, and memory foam pillows.
In addition to standard sleep pillows, consider adding some decorative back pillows. They not only make your bed look more stylish but also add extra comfort. Decorative pillows come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and data-styles. Get creative—mix and match colors and textures to bring unique vibes to your space. Soft, silky velvet makes a great material for decorative pillows.
Desk Lamp
Dorms often have only overhead lighting, but students frequently need to study without disturbing their sleeping roommates.
A desk or reading lamp is a must-have for focused study sessions. The right lamp can enhance your productivity and reduce eye strain during late-night study hours—especially around finals.
Desk lamps come in a variety of sizes and data-styles. Choose a compact and portable lamp that offers bright, high-quality illumination. Bonus points if it has multi-functional features, such as a small shelf for holding cups, built-in USB ports, or wireless charging capabilities.
Wall Art
Imagine walking into a dorm room with dull, blank walls versus one with cozy, personalized décor. The difference is huge!
One of the easiest and most effective ways to bring life to your dorm room is by decorating with wall art. For example, if you love nature, consider hanging nature-inspired prints or minimalist botanical artwork.
Indoor Plants
Adding indoor plants is another wonderful way to add color and vibrancy to your dorm room. Not only do houseplants elevate your space, but they can also boost productivity and purify the air.
However, not all plants are well-suited for dorm life. College students often have busy schedules, so it’s best to choose low-maintenance houseplants that don’t require much attention.
Some great options include lucky bamboo, hoya, snake plant, pothos, heartleaf philodendron, aloe vera, and bromeliad. You can also try a money tree, succulent, or ZZ plant for an easy touch of greenery.
Wrapping Up
While your college move-in checklist might seem endless, the items listed above are true must-have room essentials. Pack smart, stay organized, and get ready to embark on an exciting new journey filled with learning, growth, and unforgettable memories.
