Looking for the ultimate list of dorm essentials for college girls? You’ve come to the right place!

If you’re moving into your first dorm room and looking for all the essential things you need for your dorm room, then this is the post for you. After living in the dorms for four years, I’ve learned all the must-haves every girl needs to be ready for dorm life. Let’s jump in!

Disclosure: *This post contains affiliate links which means that I may receive a small commission at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through my link.

Dorm Room Bedding Essentials

1.   White Twin XL Sheets

Dorm beds typically come in the size Twin XL. If you’re going to be living on a tight budget, I highly recommend investing in white Twin XL sheets to outfit your bed. This is because most college girls only have a handful of white clothes, and find it hard to wash an itsy bitsy load when they are on a very, very small budget.

Having white sheets, however, makes the cost of washing white clothes more justifiable. You will finally have a full load!

Plus, with white sheets, you can mix and match more with different duvets/comforters.

2. Throw Blanket

Essential: It can get really cold in the dorms, and if you have a roommate who wants the AC to run all day and all night, it can get really cold!

So to save yourself the trouble, bring a throw blanket to wrap up with! It will be a huge lifesaver.

3. Bed Skirt

While dorm beds offer ample storage space underneath, leaving boxes and bins exposed can take away from your overall dorm aesthetic. As such, opt for this excellent bed skirt to discreetly conceal your clutter and maintain a tidy appearance.

4. Full Body Pillow

Lifesaver: The next dorm room essential is this full body pillow! Having a full body pillow is a major lifesaver.

When you’re not feeling well (i.e. a stomach ache) or you’re feeling homesick and alone, this full body pillow is a huge source of comfort and extremely soothing.

5. Mattress Pad

Dorm bed mattresses are known for being super hard. As such, adding a mattress pad to your dorm bed is a major must-have.

It’ll help you sleep way better and prevent you from waking up sore.

6. Area Rug

Another dorm essential is this area rug. It can get insanely cold in the dorms (especially at night) and as a result, floors turn to frigid ice!

Protect your feet and prevent yourself from catching a cold by adding an area rug beside your dorm bed.

Related: Check out these beautiful dorm room ideas to decorate your room!

Dorm Bathroom Essentials

Every single thing you need for your dorm room bathroom

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7. Shower Curtain

Another important dorm room essential is a shower curtain.

I’m super obsessed with this one because of how clever and cute it is. I literally have a “get naked” shower curtain for my bathroom and I always get a ton of compliments when friends come over.

8. Shower Liner

The next dorm room bathroom essential that you cannot forget is a shower liner.

This heavy duty water proof shower liner will keep the water in but stay matted to the bathroom tub so its never touching your skin while you shower.

9. Shower Caddy

Dorm Must Have: A shower caddy is definite dorm must have if you’re going to be living in a dorm with multiple women. Almost every college girl living in the dorms have one!

Dorm bathrooms are often very small and doesn’t allow for much storage space. So, you can pack your belonging in here and carry them with you to and from the bathroom.

Plus, it sucks to say, but some girls outright steal body wash and lotions. So having a shower caddy is a good way to protect your bathroom belongings.

You can pack your shower caddy away in your closet when you’re not using it.

10. Tooth Brush Cover

If you’ll be sharing the bathroom sink with a roommate, then make sure you purchase a toothbrush cover.

That way if you’re sharing toothbrush holders, your toothbrush is never touching hers and doesn’t get contaminated by elements in the air or sink.

11. Bathroom Rugs

The next thing you’ll need for your dorm room is a good bathroom rug.

I highly recommend this bathroom rug set because it will soak up the water really well without getting damp underneath. It also doesn’t shed.

12. Hair Stopper

A hair stopper is super essential if you are going to be sharing a bathroom with one or more girls.

With multiple girls to one bathroom, the shower drain can very quickly and easily get clogged up with hair and it is annoying to try to remove it.

With the TubShroom Tub Hair Catcher Protector, hair removal is easy and fast.

13. Shower Slippers

If you are a huge germaphobe who gets super icked out by the thought of touching the shower floor that multiple girls have used or will use with you, These bathroom shower slippers will ensure your feet never touch the floor!

These slippers will also prevent you from slipping on the floor.

14. Over the Door Towel Rack

If you are sharing a dorm room with more than one girl, another dorm room essential is an over-the-door towel rack. Most dorms (no matter the number of rooms) only provide one rack in the bathroom which typically isn’t enough for more than two girls. This rack, however, will make it possible for you all to keep your towels in the bathroom.

15. Squatty Potty

Because apparently there is scientific proof that the squatty potty makes pooping so much easier and when you’re living on your own for the first time and have the freedom to eat as much as you want, this will become a major lifesaver.

Dorm Kitchen Essentials

16. Microwave

Another dorm room essential that you will need is a microwave and this microwave is sooo cute!

17. Microwave Cover

I recommend getting a microwave cover so you prevent food from going all over the microwave.

18. Keurig Coffee Maker

Are you a coffee lover? If so, save yourself a Starbucks bill and get your own Keurig coffee maker. It’ll taste just as good.

19. Brita Water Pitcher

Dorm Desk Essentials

20. Pencil Holder

You should have a pencil holder to hold all your pens and pencils. This one from Target — gorgeous!!

21. Desk Lamp

A gold lamp just screams “super chic”.

22. Desk Organizer

The next dorm room desk essential is this desk organizer. The desk organizer will help you to keep all of your note pads and other stationary supplies together.

23. Seat cushion

As a college student, we are on our butts alllll day studying and can get quite sore and develop bad posture. As such, I highly recommend that you get this seat cushion. It will change your life.

24. Trash Bins

Another dorm room essential that is a must is a mini trash bin for your desk. You’ll be surprised how fast how much trash you’ll develop studying for or doing homework for class, and it’s annoying to have to get up every minute to throw it in the big trash bin.

So keep this trash bin under your desk so you can work uninterrupted.

Dorm Closet Essentials

25. Space Saving Hangers

If your hangers are old, bent out of shape, or broken, this is a good time to stalk up on hangers.

26. Over the Door Shoe Organizer

If you have a lot of shoes, then a shoe organizer will be a lifesaver!! Dorm closets are typically very small so this organizer will give you the space you need to store all of your shoes.

27. Hanging Fabric Storage Organizer

The same goes for clothes. If you’re a bringing a ton of clothes to school, then I highly recommend getting this hanging fabric organizer. You’ll be able to add a ton more pants and shirts to your closet using this!

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Dorm Furniture Essentials

28. Full Body Hanging Mirror

A full body long mirror is essential for getting ready in the morning. Mornings before class can often be a rushy one and when you’re getting ready in a rush, the mirror can save you from making a publicly embarrassing wardrobe malfunction.

29. Dorm Lounge Chair

Unfortunately, most dorms do not come with any extra seats. As such, I’ve always made sure to bring an extra chair for my friends to sit in when they visit me in the dorms and I recommend you do the same!

You’re friends will love hanging out in your dorm room with this chair.

Want to check out dorm chair options? I wrote a whole post on the best dorm chair options that you’ll love. Click here.

Dorm Storage Essentials

30. Storage Bins

Another dorm essential are storage bins. I was blessed enough to have two of these bins that carried all my favorite books from home and all the textbooks I collected over the years in college.

They can serve as wonderful storage for your items as well. When you’re done with the bins, you can keep them nice and hidden under the bed and/or in your closet. I highly recommend getting the clear storage bins as they do not only prevent forgetting what’s stored inside but also make it easier to find your belongings.

31. Storage Drawers

If you have tons of clothes or items, then this storage drawer will come in handy too. They are light enough to move around but strong enough to hold your most important items.

32. Bathroom Storage Organizers

If you’re OCD about cleaning or you’ve recently watched “The Edit” on Netflix and are feeling inspired to keep everything super organized, then consider buying a bathroom storage organizer.

It’s a great way to make sure you can easily find your belongings rather than sifting through products of your dorm mates stuff to find yours.

33. Over the Toilet Bathroom Storage Rack

Life-changing: I had one of these and it made sharing a dorm bathroom so much easier!!

Just slide this rack above the toilet and all of a sudden, you have three more shelves to hang towels, candles, hair supplies, or whatever else you desire.

Dorm Cleaning Essentials

As you know, cleaning supplies are important for keeping any room clean. Below, I’ve included some essential cleaning products to help you keep your dorm fresh and clean. And since you probably know most of these products, I won’t go into any detail about them. lol

34. Febreeze

35. Windex

36. Clorox Wipes

37. Swiffer

38. Cleaning Gloves

Dorm Tech Essentials

39. Outlet strip

Dorms are horrible when it comes to outlets because outlets are few in number and are located in the weirdest, most inconvenient places.

As such, it is sooo necessary that you get a multioutlet strip. That way you can plugin as much as you need to without moving to an awkward place of the room.

40. Noise canceller

I’ve never been a super sensitive sleeper but I’ve had dorm mates that need the AC running (no matter if its hot or cold), an open window, and/or the TV running in the background to fall asleep.

If that’s you’re that dorm mate, I recommend getting a noise canceller. That can solve your sleeping problem without bothering your other dorm mate too much.

41. Flashlight

You’ll never know when you might run into an emergency in the dorms, so I always recommend having one of these on hand.

42. Printer

During exam week, it was always tough to find an open printer on campus so I loved having my own printer to print from when it came time to print.

This was the printer I had in college. It’s super reliable and budget-friendly.

43. Light Therapy Lamp

Going away to a college where the town doesn’t get much sun? If so, then I highly recommend investing in a light therapy lamp.

As a student, you’ll already spend a ton of time inside studying and if you’re not getting vitamin D by sitting next to a sun-kissed window, then, then you’ll run the risk of becoming Vitamin D deficient.

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Dorm Decor Essentials

44. Wall art

I am absolutely obsessed with this wall art!! They easily take your room to the next level and brighten up the space making it really feel homey and more importantly…yours!

45. Tapestry

Instead of waking up to boring, white bare bone wall, you can wake up to a beautiful tapesty such as these.

46. Photo Clips w/Lights

47. Hanging Photo Display

Living away from home can be tough so having your friends and family on the wall is a great way to bring home closer to you.

48. Decorative Pillows

Another dorm decor essential that you should consider adding to your space is decorative pillows for your bed. Beds take up so much of the dorm space, so why not make it look like a star by adding some bright, fun pillows.

49. Headboard

 So, I didn’t even know this existed when I lived in the dorms but I wish I did. The front end of the bed isn’t very high so sitting up and against the bed when you want to work or relax from your bed is very uncomfortable. This headboard will support you anytime you want to do just that.

50. Large Area Rug

The next dorm decor essential is a large area rug. Dorm floors tend to be very cold, especially at night so having an area rug to keep your feet from touching the cold ground is very helpful. You won’t catch a cold as easily with one on the ground.

Dorm Medicine Cabinet Essentials

While you may never plan to get sick or hurt, its always good to plan for the days you get sick or injured. These are all the things that should be in your dorm medicine cabinet.

51. Emergency Kit

52. Nail Clip

53. Pepto Bismol

54. Tylenol

Want to know what else should go into your medicine cabinet? One of them are an absolute must if you’re a college freshman! Check out these dorm medicine cabinetmust haves here. 

Dorm Laundry Essentials

55. Laundry Basket on Wheels

Dorm essential must-have: It the dorm, its not uncommon for the laundry mat to be downstairs on the ground floor or across the courtyard from your building.

As such, its best to buy a laundry bag on wheels so you pulling, rather than carrying, your clothes.

56. Steamer

Have a ton of clothes that need to go to the dry cleaners but don’t have the budget to get them done professionally? Order this steamer.

I’ve used it many times to get out tough wrinkles and it gets them out in no time.

57. Tabletop iron board for dorm

The next dorm essential you’ll need is an iron and iron board.

I love that this iron board can sit comfortably and sturdy on your bed and then slide right under your bed when you’re done.

Miscellaneous Life-Saving Essentials

58. Bed Caddy

Dorm beds sit pretty high even at its lowest level and one thing I loathe the most is stretching and fishing forever for one simple item.

This caddy makes it so easy to keep your most wanted items close.

59. Bed Desk

Honestly, when I was in college, there were many days when I preferred to work in bed but it’s hard to when you don’t have the support you need for your work. That’s why I love the idea of getting a bed desk.

Have a bed desk can give you way more stamina to work.

60. Stepping Stool

The next dorm essential you’ll need is a stool. Dorm rooms are small and to fit your things, you may often need to stack things on top of each other, on top of the fridge, on the top shelf of your closet etc.

But getting to those things can be so annoying especially if you aren’t that tall. For those reasons, I always recommend having a stool so that things are easier to grab and store away.

61. Command Wall Hooks

Super super dorm room essential: If you desire to hang ANYTHING in your dorm room, then you’ll need these command wall hooks.

In most (if not ALL) dorms, you are not allowed to nail anything into the wall and so command hooks are a way around that.

It allows you to hang almost anything you want without leaving a mark, and it is super easy to come off when you’re ready to pull the hook back down.

62. Mini refrigerator

Have makeup that needs to be under a certain or controlled temperature or having snacks or drinks you don’t want to risk leaving out in the refrigerator you share with your dorm mates?

Then I highly recommend getting a mini-refrigerator. Most college girls are getting minis for their dorm this year and on Amazon, you can get one for as low as $37.

63. Patterned Tapestry

64. Mini Fan

If you get hot easily, then this fan is a down dorm room essential must-have!! You can set this fan on your desk or on your dresser, latch it onto your bed, and bring it to the library with you.

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65. Travel Bag

If you want a bag that doesn’t scream, “I’m going to the airport,” then you can go with this cute travel bag.

66. Sherpa Bed Rest Pillow

ESSENTIAL if you love working from the bed or you feel too lazy to walk to the library.

The Sherpa bed rest is designed to support your weight sitting up in bed and make it wayyyy more comfortable to work from the bed. I highly highly recommend.

College Clothing Must-Haves for Dorm Life

67. The Comfy

If you get cold easily and liked to be wrapped up, like me, then this is dorm room necessity.

The comfy will cover you from head to toe but still allow you to move about easily around the dorm or lounge comfortably on the couch.

I know I’ve said this 5x but the dorms get so cold (!!) so I honestly recommend every college student to pack one of these!!

68. Bed Slippers

VERY, VERY important dorm room essential:

I’m being dead honest when I say this but my feet has never (intentionally) touched the floor in my four years of living in the dorm.

I’ve always had a pair of bed slippers that I walked around with because the floors can get dirty fast when sharing a dorm room with multiple women.

In addition, most dorm rooms get insanely cold at night, so I used my dorm slippers every time I needed to use the restroom or walk about to avoid catching a cold.

If you hate black feet and/or catching colds, then make sure you get these bed slippers.

69. Fuzzy Socks

Last but not least, the next dorm room essential you should have is fuzzy socks.

Fuzzy socks will keep you feet warm under covers (since you can’t wear your bed slippers in bed) and another good alternative for walking about the dorm if you aren’t big on wearing bed slippers.

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This Post Was About Dorm Room Essentials

Learn more about Jessica, you’re go-to-girlfriend for college advice. Feel free to email her if you have a question or just want to say hello.

This post was about dorm room essentials for girls.

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