Most colleges are back in full swing, or about to start. After freshman year, there’s definitely some items that I brought and didn’t use and those that I used all of the time. You can research all you want, but everyone is different. From my experiences, these are some of the items I actually used during my freshman year, and those that never saw use.
What I Used
Command Hooks & Strips
Command hooks and strips were such an essential for me freshman year. I used them for everything imaginable! From hanging up pictures and towels to a hook for my keys and other essentials. If you’re a college student, these are a must!
Bedside Shelf
I absolutely loved my bedside shelf! It was perfect for setting little things on and gave me a place to put my phone so I could charge it at night and still have it close to me for my alarm and as a clock in bed. I also stored my newfound sleep essentials for having a roommate there, my sleep mask and earplugs. It didn’t take up much space but was the perfect bedside sidekick. Mine was white so it was aesthetic too!
Plastic Three Drawer rollers
In a college dorm, having space to store things is a must. If you raise your bed, you won’t regret having some three drawer rollers to use as organization and storage under your bed. I even set stuff on top of mine, like my K-cup holder and lap desk.
Drawer Organizers
Another organizational must! You need to be able to make the best use of your drawer space and be able to find things easily. What’s the point of having your most coveted set of washi tape or whatever it may be if you can’t find it?
What I Didn’t Need
Extra Sheets
Ok, to be honest here, I’m not sure why so many dorm lists say to bring an extra set of sheets! If we’re being completely real, college students don’t wash their bedding as much as they should, nor do they need an extra set of bedding. If you need to wash your bedding, just do it at a time when you know it will be ready by the time you’re ready to go to bed. You’ll save space, money, and so much more.
Extra Towels
Same story as the sheets. You really don’t need an extra set of towels. You won’t wash them as much as you should and you just need to plan ahead so you have them when you need to. It’s not that hard.
Steamer/Iron & Ironing Board
So many people swear by these, but let’s be honest. You’re never going to use one. An iron for sure. A steamer, maybe. But do you really care that much? Most of the time you just want to throw your clothes on and go. Especially during your first year, it’s really not necessary.
Printer
This one’s debatable. I wanted to get a printer for the convenience of it for the longest time the summer before my freshman year. I decided not to get one. Why? My school gives us printing money that accumulates every quarter and there’s printers in basically every building on campus. If your school already pays for it and you don’t need to do it out of your pocket, there’s no reason to get one for yourself as long as you can easily get to a printer. Plus, in this day in age, you really don’t have that much to print. I have SO much printing money that’s accumulated. Most of what you do is submitted online–rarely is a hard copy necessary.
And there’s 4 things I used and 4 I didn’t need! I hope this helped in your college and dorm endeavors, and happy back to school season!
