Dorm Room Essentials You Should Be Buying Early

College is exciting, stressful, and just a little chaotic. Between picking classes, arguing with financial aid, and pretending you’ll actually use that overpriced gym membership, the last thing you want to deal with is realizing Target sold out of every decent shower caddy in a 20-mile radius. Moving into a dorm is already overwhelming, so if you’re smart, you’ll start grabbing the dorm room essentials now—before you’re stuck with off-brand sheets that feel like sandpaper.

The Bed: Sheets, Comforters, and Mattress Toppers

Dorm mattresses are, to put it nicely, the worst thing you’ll ever sleep on. They’re thin, stiff, and feel like they’ve been through a few decades of abuse. This is why the mattress topper is a non-negotiable. Memory foam is the gold standard here, unless you enjoy waking up with a spine that feels like it’s been folded in half.

Sheets are another battleground. Most dorm beds are Twin XL, which means if you try to use your old twin set from home, it won’t fit. Twin XL bedding sells out fast once summer hits, so buy yours early unless you like the idea of fighting another panicked parent in a Walmart aisle at 10 p.m. for dorm room essentials.

And don’t forget a comforter. Sure, you could “rough it” with just a blanket, but between icy air conditioning and the occasional heat wave, you’ll want something solid that can handle both extremes.

Storage: Because Dorm Closets Are a Joke

If you think you’re moving into a spacious loft, think again. Dorms are designed to hold just enough furniture to make you question your life choices. Closet space? Basically nonexistent. This is why under-bed storage bins, hanging shelves, and over-the-door organizers are absolute lifesavers.

Buy them early. When the back-to-school rush hits, those bins disappear faster than free pizza on campus (another dorm room essential). Without them, you’ll be stuck with piles of clothes on the floor, and no one wants to be “that roommate.”

Tech Gear: Beyond the Laptop

Yes, you’ll need a laptop, but let’s not forget about the unsung heroes of dorm survival: extension cords and power strips. Outlets in dorms are few and far between, usually located in the most inconvenient spots possible—like behind your roommate’s bed. Grab a surge protector early, because everyone else will be thinking the same thing.

Noise-canceling headphones should also be on your list. Dorms are loud—people blasting music at 2 a.m., doors slamming, someone yelling about Mario Kart victories down the hall. Headphones will keep you sane when you actually need to study (or, let’s be honest, binge an entire season of something on Netflix).

Bathroom: The Reality of Communal Living

Let’s address the worst part of dorm life: communal bathrooms. Unless you’ve scored a private suite (lucky you), you’re going to be sharing showers with a lot of strangers. A shower caddy is essential. Get one that drains easily, not the cheap plastic kind that turns into a swamp after a week.

Shower shoes are another must-have. Do not—under any circumstances—step into a dorm shower barefoot. You will regret it. Pick up a pair of flip-flops now before every other freshman realizes the same horrifying truth.

Kitchen Basics: Even Without a Kitchen

Most dorms ban hot plates and toasters (something about fire hazards), but you’ll still need some basic kitchen gear. A mini fridge and microwave are usually allowed, and they’ll quickly become your best friends. Stocking up on reusable plates, bowls, and utensils is smart, too—because eating ramen straight out of the Styrofoam cup gets depressing fast.

Don’t wait too long to buy a mini fridge; they sell out quickly every summer. And nothing screams “rookie mistake” like realizing you can’t store leftovers from the dining hall.

Decor: Making the Cinderblock Less Miserable

No one wants to stare at bare cinderblock walls all semester. Posters, fairy lights, and throw pillows might sound like extra fluff, but they make a massive difference in turning a room from “institutional nightmare” into something that actually feels like yours, making them dorm room essentials.

Here’s the catch: the good stuff sells out fast. Those trendy LED strips and cozy blankets? Gone by August. Buy them now so you’re not left with whatever’s left in the clearance bin.

Why Early is Always Better

The thing about dorm room essentials is that everyone’s buying them at the same time. By mid-summer, stores look like they’ve been ransacked. Prices spike, choices dwindle, and you’re stuck with whatever scraps are left. Buying early saves you the stress, the awkward fights with strangers over Twin XL sheets, and the inevitable panic shopping spree right before move-in day.

College life is already going to test your patience, sleep schedule, and caffeine tolerance. Don’t make it harder on yourself by procrastinating. Secure your essentials now, and you’ll thank yourself when you’re sleeping on memory foam instead of the dorm-issued slab of misery.