The Best Dorm Room Essentials For Girls 2024

Going to college soon and looking for some dorm room essentials for girls? Here is the best college packing list for girls.

This post contains affiliate links. Read my full disclosure here.

If you’re going to college soon, you might be looking for the best dorm room essentials for girls. It can be really hard to know what you should pack for college, and the best things to buy for your dorm when shopping for college.

I remember how confused I was when I was dorm shopping because I had no idea what I needed. I ended up forgetting so many things that would’ve really made my life living in the dorms easier. So, I’ve created this college dorm checklist for freshman girls to help you know what you should get for your dorm room.

These are things I used in my own freshman dorm, along with things I wish I’d had, so I know you’ll need them too! Here is what girls need for college dorms.

This post is all about dorm room essentials for girls.

The Best Dorm Room Essentials For Girls

Table of Contents

Top Dorm Room Essentials For Girls

Here are the top things you absolutely NEED for the dorms. A lot of the stuff on this list isn’t absolutely essential (although it’d all be good to have), but these are the things you really need. If I was only able to buy a few things for the dorms, here’s what I’d get:

1. Thick Twin XL Memory Foam Mattress Topper

Dorm beds are SO uncomfortable. Getting a good quality mattress topper is so important to make sure you’re getting good sleep in the dorms.

When I first went to college I got a really cheap mattress topper, but I had to switch to a 4 inch memory foam one because it was still just so uncomfy. So I recommend just spending the money on a nice thick one in the first place so you don’t waste money trying to use a cheaper one like I did.

2. Shower Shoes

If you’re going to be sharing a shower with people, you’ll need some shower shoes to avoid getting bacteria, fungus, etc on your feet. These shoes are super popular. I’ve heard they’re insanely comfy, and they’re really cute! You could wear them outside of the shower as well.

3. Laundry Backpack

This is something I’ve recently discovered that I WISH I would’ve known about when I was living in the dorms. It’s a backpack that you can carry your laundry and laundry cleaning stuff in!

This would’ve been such a lifesaver for me having to haul my handle-less laundry basket to and from the campus laundry room.

4. Extra Long Phone Charger

You’ll definitely want a long phone charger for your dorm room because there usually aren’t very many outlets in dorm rooms. I ended up having to get a longer charger when I was living in the dorms because my charger wouldn’t reach my bed.

This pack of three would be perfect because you could keep one in your backpack, one in your purse, and the other in your dorm room.

5. Water Filter Bottle

I got one of these right before I went to college and it was so nice. The bottle has a built in filter so you can get water from pretty much anywhere! It’s a lifesaver for being on campus and not knowing where to get filtered water.

6. Power Strip

Like I said earlier, there aren’t very many outlets in dorm rooms. You 100% need at least one power strip so you can plug all your stuff in in your dorm. They’re also nice because they’ll protect your appliances if you have any power outages.

7. Back Pillow

Having a back pillow in your dorm is a must have, especially if you like to watch tv/ read/ do homework in bed. There probably won’t be much sitting space in your room, so one of these is essential for sitting in your bed. I still use the back pillow I bought for my freshman dorm room 6 years later!

8. Mesh Shower Caddy

You’ll need a shower caddy to carry your toiletries, especially if you’re going to be using a communal bathroom.

I made the mistake of getting a plastic shower caddy when I moved into the dorms and it ended up getting gross and moldy. So I’d recommend getting a mesh one instead!

Dorm Bedding

9. Twin XL Bedding

college dorm checklist for freshman girl

Dorm beds are size twin XL. Unless you happen to have that size of bedding laying around at home, you’ll need to get some twin XL bedding before you go to the dorms.

10. Mattress Protector

They typically don’t switch out dorm beds between people. Getting a mattress protector is important so you’re not getting the germs of the person before you, and so you can protect the bed from spilling things on it.

11. Bed Shelf

This is another thing I recently discovered that would’ve made my life SO much easier if I’d known about it while living in the dorms. It’s a little shelf that you can attach to your bed! It would be so convenient to have to set stuff on, like your phone, laptop, food, drinks, etc.

When I lived in the dorms I didn’t have any surface close to my bed to set things on, so I would have to climb all the way out of bed to set anything down. This would’ve been a lifesaver for me.

12. Throw Blanket

Having a throw blanket is nice if you want to get cozy but don’t want to get all the way under your bed covers. It’s also nice to have to wrap around yourself if you have to be around people when you’re already in your pjs.

For example, if the dorm fire alarm goes off in the middle of the night and you have to rush outside. This luckily never happened to me, but I do have a few friends who this happened to when they lived in the dorms.

13. Weighted Blanket

I am obsessed with my weighted blanket. Throughout college I found it so helpful when it came to relieving stress and anxiety.

Give Me The Checklist!

Dorm Decor

14. Full Length Mirror

Having a full length mirror is so convenient when you’re trying on outfits.

This one is perfect for a dorm room because it comes with 4 individual squares that you can stick on the wall/ door or wherever it will fit to make the full mirror. And it is super cheap compared to how pricey full length mirrors usually are (under $20!)

15. Laundry Basket

Having a cute laundry basket is an easy way to add a little bit of decor to your dorm room. You’ll need a laundry basket anyway, and a cute one like this is perfect for keeping your room looking put-together.

16. Rug

A rug is another easy way to add decor to your dorm room when you don’t have a whole lot of space. I had a fluffy rug like this in my dorm room and it was really nice to lounge on it and do homework.

17. Curtains

Having some blackout curtains for your dorm windows will be super helpful if you’re going to be sleeping at all when the sun is out (you probably will. I took so many naps my freshman year).

18. Desk Lamp

You’ll need a desk lamp for doing homework, and this one is so cute! You could use really any lamp, but it would definitely be cute to get one that matches your decor since you won’t have very much space to decorate.

19. Ambient Lighting

Decorating your dorm room with some cute ambient lighting will make it feel so much more cozy and like home. These are my favorite things to use for ambient lighting and what I have in my own room!

20. Plants/ Fake Plants

Getting some plants, real or fake, to decorate your dorm room with will make it feel so much more alive. One of my favorite parts of my dorm room was the little plants I had in there.

21. Wall Decor

Wall decor is another easy way you can decorate your dorm room! I have these vines in my room and I’m obsessed. I think they look so cute and they’d be perfect for a dorm room.

Other Bedroom/ Decor Essentials

Dorm Bathroom Essentials

22. Towels, Head Towel, And Washcloths

Don’t forget to get some towels, washcloths, and a hair wrap towel for when you go to school!

My aunt bought me a hair wrap towel before I went to college and it was seriously a life saver.

23. Bath Robe

A bathrobe is super convenient to have when you live in the dorms because you can just throw it on instead of walking around in a towel when you’re likely to run into people. It’s also convenient to put on whenever you have to see people when you weren’t expecting it.

24. Bathroom Essentials

the ultimate list of dorm room essentials for 2023

If you have a bathroom that you’ll be sharing with suite mates instead of a communal bathroom, you’ll probably need to get some bath mats and a shower curtain. You could probably collaborate with your roommates/ suite mates on this to make sure that you only buy one though!

25. Nail Stuff

the ultimate list of dorm room essentials for 2022

Don’t forget to bring some stuff to do your nails to college! If you’re like me and like having fake nails, this is the best and easiest kit to use!! They last 3 weeks and will save you tons of money on getting them done at the salon.

26. Shower Cap

If you don’t wash your hair every day, you might want to bring a shower cap for keeping your hair dry when you shower.

27. Period Products

Don’t forget to bring your menstrual products to college! If you use menstrual cups, these are the best.

28. Hair Brush & Hair Ties

Some other things you don’t want to forget are a hairbrush, hair ties, and scrunchies.

29. Dry Shampoo

I would highly recommend getting some dry shampoo before going to college. Odds are you’ll have some times where you didn’t have time to wash your hair and some dry shampoo will be a life saver to keep you from going to class with dirty looking hair.

Other Bathroom/ Toiletries:

Hair Tools (straightener, curling iron, blow dryer)
Shampoo & Conditioner
Face Wash
Deodorant
Moisturizer
SPF
Toothbrush & Toothpaste
Shaving Cream
Razor
Body Wash
Tweezers
Medicine

Dorm Kitchen Essentials

30. Dishes, Bowls, And Cups

You do need some dishes, bowls, cups, and mugs for the dorms, but you only need about 4 of each. These sets are so cute and perfect for the dorms!

31. Reusable Containers

Reusable containers/ reusable baggies are perfect for taking food back to your dorm from the meal hall or for packing your lunch.

32. Reusable Water Bottle

Don’t forget to get an emotional support water bottle to make sure you’re drinking enough water! These Stanely cups are all the rage right now, especially on college campuses. One that is less pricy would definitely work just as well though!

33. Travel Mug

A travel mug is a good idea to get so you can take coffee, or whatever warm beverage you prefer, to class.

34. Dish Rack

This is something I literally did not think to get when I went to college. If you’re going to have a small kitchenette/ sink for dishes in your dorm, I’d definitely recommend getting a dish drying rack.

35. Coffee Maker

Coffee is a life saver in college. Having a coffee maker in your dorm will save you a lot of money from buying coffee all the time. This mini Keurig is perfect for a dorm room!

More Kitchen Essentials:

Silverware Set
Can Opener
Dish Sponge
Dish Towels
Mini Fridge
Toaster/ Toaster Oven
Mini Skillet
Electric Kettle
Blender

Dorm Cleaning Essentials

36. Mini Vacuum

When I first went to college I took a big clunky vacuum. It took up so much space in my closet that I really needed for other things, and it was a pain to lug it around. A mini vacuum is so much more convenient for the dorms because you’ll still be able to clean, but it won’t take up as much space.

37. Clorox Wipes

When you’re going to be living in a space with a bunch of other people, having some disinfecting wipes is a good idea.

38. Laundry Stuff

Laundry stuff is one thing I forgot to bring to college. Don’t be like me! These are my favorite laundry products. I literally cannot explain how good the Downy Calm fabric softener smells. It’s a must have if you want your laundry to smell literally heavenly.

39. All Purpose Spray

You don’t want to bring a million different cleaning sprays to your dorm because you probably won’t have space for all of that. An all purpose cleaner will let you clean pretty much anything without having to get a bunch of different sprays!

I recently bought this universal cleaner and oh my goodness, I’m obsessed. It smells SO good. I have the Calm scent and it makes my whole house smell AMAZING. I’ve heard this one smells really good as well. I love the way the packaging feels, too. 10/10 recommend trying, especially if you’re like me and love cleaning stuff that smells good.

40. Bathroom Cleaning

A plunger and toilet cleaning brush are two other things I literally did not think to bring to college. You’ll only need these if you’re going to have your own bathroom or are sharing it with a few people! If that is the case, also make sure to check with your roommate/ roommates to figure out who is bringing what so you don’t end up with a bunch of the same thing.

Other Cleaning Stuff

Dish Soap
Room Spray
Garbage Bags
Wrinkle Release Spray
Stain Remover Stick
Lint Roller
Toilet Cleaner

Dorm Storage

41. Drawer Organizers

If you want to keep your drawers and desk super organized, some drawer organizers like these are a must have. They’ll keep everything separated and super easy to find.

42. Lazy Susan Turntables

These are super useful for putting in the fridge, cabinets, etc to keep things organized. They’re little turntables that you can put stuff in and just spin it around to get whatever you want out!

43. Dorm Under The Bed Storage

Under the bed storage is a good idea so you can store things under your bed without it being cluttered. These are perfect because you can put things in them, zip them up, and then just slide them under your bed!

44. Closet Organizer

A closet organizer is great for some extra storage space in your closet! This one is especially perfect because it has drawers. You can put, shoes, snacks, clothes, etc in there!

45. Stacking Shelves

These stackable plastic drawers are perfect for a dorm because you can just stack them wherever they’ll fit for a bit of extra storage.

46. Over The Door Storage

When I got to college I saw that my roommate had one of these and I was like….that’s genius. You hang it over the door and it gives you tons more storage. You can put shoes in it or just like other miscellaneous small items.

Other Organization Essentials:

Hangers
Drawer Organizers
Jewelry Organizer
Cabinet Organizers

College Tech/ Electronics

47. Ipad + Apple Pencil

An Ipad and Apple Pencil are the best things I ever bought in college. I downloaded all of my books and took all of my notes on my Ipad. They can be a little expensive, but I definitely think it is a worthy investment for college. I got mine used on Facebook Marketplace to save a bit of money.

48. Laptop

A laptop is an essential in college. I used my Macbook Air through all 4 years of college and it was great.

49. Roku

My Roku is one thing I couldn’t have lived without when living in the dorms. It fits all of your streaming services into one little box and you just hook it up to your TV! I still use my Roku every day. I’ve used apple tv and the fire tv stick, but my Roku is definitely my favorite.

50. Extras

Don’t forget to bring these extras to college! If you’re bringing a TV you’ll need an HDMI cord, you’ll probably need batteries for all kinds of things, and you’ll definitely need a power strip to plug all of your things into because your dorm probably won’t have a lot of outlets.

Other Electronics:

College School Supplies

51. Planner

A planner is a MUST in college to manage your time well and keep track of assignments and deadlines. I literally would not have made it throughout college with good grades without using a planner.

52. Notebooks

You’ll need notebooks to take notes in your classes. Unless you’re like me and use an Ipad!

53. Writing Supplies

You’ll need some pens, pencils, and highlighters for taking notes and doing homework. These are my favorite pens and pencils. And these pastel highlighters are super cute!

Other School Supplies:

Binders
Backpack
Lunchbox
Calculator
Flashcards
Mini Stapler
Tape
Bookmarks/ Sticky Notes

Documents You Don’t Want To Forget

Drivers License
Student ID
Copy Of Birth Certificate
Health Insurance Cards
Auto Insurance Card
Financial Aid Documents

Miscellaneous Dorm Essentials

54. Safety/ Self Defense

Extra safety/ self defense is one of the most important dorm room essentials for girls. This door lock protects against forced entry and keeps people from getting in even if they have a key. And this pepper spray and taser set and alarm are good for self defense.

Just the other day I saw a tiktok where a girl was telling a story about how a random man walked into her dorm room while her and her roommate were sleeping. Unfortunately, college campuses can be pretty dangerous places, so it’s best to be prepared.

55. Rainy Day

things to buy for college dorm room 2023

Getting stuff for when it rained is something that did not cross my mind at all when I was shopping for college. Then one day I woke up and it was pouring down rain and I realized I didn’t have an umbrella, rain boots, or a rain jacket, and I had to walk to class. Don’t be like me and forget these things because sitting in class dripping wet is…not fun.

Other Miscellaneous

This post was all about dorm room essentials for girls.

More Posts You’ll Love:

The Best College Freshman Advice For Your First Day At College

The Ultimate College Freshman Dorm Checklist + A Free Printable PDF

18 Amazing College Tips For Freshman | The Most Important Things I Learned My Freshman Year Of College

If you liked this post and would like to see more like it, be sure to hit the button below to sign up for my email list so you’ll never miss a post. 🙂

Join the Ryality Community