Dorm room 'essentials' you actually don't need: Skip these items

Jan 13, 2024

Summer is winding down and students across the country are getting ready to journey to colleges and universities for the first time.

Students may have a good grasp of what "college essentials" they should bring for their dorm rooms, but there are also items that you can leave at home – either to save space or because they simply aren't useful.

With help from a university marketing director, a residential assistant, social media influencers, plus my own experience as a college student, here are items that you probably don't need to bring to your dorm room.

If you search for dorm room inspiration on Pinterest, dozens of pictures show beds littered with throw pillows. While having a lot of pillows may be your desired route, they take up valuable space on your bed and could make it harder to sleep at night.

Also, if you're in a lofted bed, the pillows could fall off in the middle of the night onto the floor or onto your roommate below if it is a bunk bed.

"Unless you make your bed every day, those throw pillows will be on the ground more often than they're on your bed," says one TikToker in a video posted on the account @dormessentials4everyone.

The closet in a college dorm might be smaller than a typical bedroom closet and you may have to share it with your roommate. Thus, bringing only clothes that you love and make you feel comfortable will help you maximize your space, instead of bringing clothes that you never end up wearing.

On the same note, try to pack only in-season clothes to save space, especially if you are able to switch out your wardrobe when the weather changes.

In one TikTok video, the creator advises viewers to not bring too many clothes to college because once you get there, "you start dressing like that school."

"You start dressing like the community around you," the creator said. "You are heading to college; your high school style is gone."

Along with leaving some non-essential clothing items behind, you might not have to bring all of your shoes to college. While having shoe wear options in different styles and colors may be helpful to some, it could also take up space in your closet or on your floor. And you may find you frequently wear the same pairs of shoes.

However, it can be smart to bring one pair of dress shoes, just in case you end up going to a ceremony or meeting that requires more professional attire.

Traditional irons and ironing boards can be a hassle, especially if you are trying to find a place to store it in a shared dorm room. Plus, you may not need to iron your clothes that often.

If you want to have a way to straighten out your clothes, some students bring wrinkle spray or a hand-held steamer that can be used quickly on clothing while taking up a small amount of space.

Sahaana Rajesh, a junior and residence assistant at Northwestern University, said another way to help straighten your clothes is to hang them up in the bathroom while you are showering, which is easier and safer than using an iron.

"Ironing is also can be dangerous if you leave the iron on the board," Rajesh said.

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Most of the time you can find necessary appliances like microwaves, toasters and coffee machines in the dining halls or common spaces of dorms and it's unnecessary to bring one yourself.

However, if you are living in an apartment-style dorm or want to have food and coffee at your disposal, a coffee maker or microwave might be necessary for your room. Just make sure to check what is allowed in your dorm before purchasing a machine.

The furniture in most rooms are space efficient, so appliances like mini fridges and TVs can take up space if they are big or if you and your roommate both get one, said Chris Axtman-Barker, associate director of communications and marketing at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

"We tell students as often as possible – coordinate with your roommate. That way, you only bring one TV, fridge, carpet, etc., which saves you both space," he said.

If you do end up bringing a microwave or coffee maker, try not to bring tons of plates and cups. Unless you are only eating in your dorm, you likely won't have to use them that often.

Bringing a lot of dishware means more dishes for you to wash, and if you don't have a sink in your room, you'll have to walk to the bathroom to wash the dishes.

"In a dorm, there's no room to keep a dirty dish," TikToker @jadejenson said, recommending to only bring one of each type of dishware. "You're probably just going to wash it every time after you use it, so you really only need one."

Also ensure your dishware is microwavable so that nothing will melt or break.

Candles are usually not allowed in dorm rooms due to the potential fire hazard. Bringing candles if they are not allowed could get you in trouble with your housing contract, so it's important to check your college's rules.

Axtman-Barker said that while the items vary from university to university, candles, hotplates, toasters and electric scooters/bicycles are things that cannot be kept in dorms at the University of Illinois.

"Heated surfaces, open flames, and personal vehicles can cause frequent problems in residence halls, so we don’t allow most items like that inside residence hall rooms," he said.

He added that some schools, like Illinois, provide prayer and reflection spaces for students who may need to light a candle for religious reasons.

If candles are outlawed but you still want your room to smell good, wax melt warmers and diffusers are sometimes allowed in dorm rooms because they do not need fire to work. Make sure to still check the policy at your school because some universities, like Rutgers, also outlaw those items.

Bringing a printer to college most likely will not be necessary and may not be allowed at some schools, such as the University of Oregon. Most colleges let you print items for a small fee, and printers can be found in many buildings across campus, including some residence halls.

Axtman-Barker agreed, saying that students can often access printers at various academic and residential buildings and adding that he's even seen the need for printing decrease over time.

Sometimes wireless printers can also interfere with the residence hall's Wifi connection, which is why some dorms ban them.

If you are able to return to your home after moving to college, it may be smart to leave items that have emotional significance to you there, where you know they can stay safe.

A lot of different people may be traveling in and out of your dorm room, especially between you and your roommate's various friends and acquaintances. Leaving items at home that are worth money or mean a lot to you may be good idea to ensure they aren't damaged, stolen or lost.

Rajesh said if students want to bring items that mean a lot to them, they should make sure to take care of them.

"I've got a snow globe and when I was packing it up, I forgot I put it in a certain towel and then I dropped the towel and it shattered. Be more mindful about what you really want to bring with you," she said.

Also, if an item is damaged or lost while you are living in the dorms, the university may not be responsible for it and have no way of helping you replace the item, even if you report it.

While you may be a book lover, space again becomes an issue. Bringing a couple of your favorite books and cycling them out during holiday breaks is the best way to continue your love for reading while keeping your room tidy and clutter-free.

Rajesh said she usually uses the Libby reading app or recommends people use a Kindle, or any digital library, as opposed to bringing physical books into your dorm.

As for other items, Axtman-Barker said sometimes students and families want to bring futons to sit on in a dorm, but these also take up space in a smaller room.

"While they do often fit under lofted beds, that really locks students in to how their room is laid out with little flexibility and reduced open space," he said.

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