Going to college soon and looking for some dorm room essentials for girls? Here is the best college packing list for girls.
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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, or the best things to buy for your dorm when college shopping.
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, so I know you’ll need them too! Here are some of the best freshman dorm essentials.
This post is all about dorm room essentials for girls.
The Best Dorm Room Essentials For Girls
Table of Contents
Bedding
1. 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 memory foam one because it was still just so uncomfy.
2. Twin XL Bedding
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.
3. 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, but also so you can protect the bed from spilling things on it.
4. Back Pillow
Having a back pillow in your dorm is convenient if you like to watch tv/ read/ do homework in bed.
Related: The Best College Freshman Advice For Your First Day At College
5. 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.
6. Weighted Blanket
I am obsessed with my weighted blanket. Throughout college I found it so helpful when it came to relieving stress and anxiety.
Decor
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. Curtains
Having some blackout curtains for your dorm windows will be sooo 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).
13. Desk Lamp
You’ll need a desk lamp for doing homework, and this one is so cute!
14. 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!
15. 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.
16. 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
- Desk Lamp
- Trash Can
- Command Strips
- Padlock Or Safe For Valuables
- White Noise Machine
- Letterboard
- Peel And Stick Wallpaper
Toiletries/ Bathroom
17. Shower Items
If you’re going to be using communal showers or sharing your bathroom with anyone, you’ll need these dorm shower essentials. Having some shower shoes is insanely important if you’re using a communal bathroom. You’re probably fine not getting some if you’re only sharing your bathroom with a couple of people, though.
A shower caddy tote is important whether you’re using a communal shower or just sharing your bathroom with a couple people.
18. Towels, Head Towel, And Washcloths
Don’t forget to get some towels, washcloths, and a head towel for when you go to school!
19. 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.
20. Bathroom decor
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!
21. Nail Stuff
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.
23. Shower Cap
If you don’t wash your hair every day, you’ll need a shower cap!
24. Period Products
Don’t forget to bring your menstrual products to college!! If you use menstrual cups, these are the best.
25. Hair Brush & Hair Ties
Some other things you don’t want to forget are a hairbrush, hair ties, and scrunchies.
Related: 16 Super Important Things To Do Before College
26. 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
Kitchen
27. 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!
28. Reusable Containers
Reusable containers/ reusable baggies are perfect for taking food back to your dorm from the meal hall or for packing your lunch.
29. Reusable Water Bottle
Don’t forget to get an emotional support water bottle to make sure you’re drinking enough water!
30. Travel Mug
A travel mug is a good idea to get so you can take coffee, or whatever warm beverage you prefer, to class.
31. 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.
32. 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!
Related: 8 Super Useful Dorm Kitchen Essentials That Will Make Your Life So Much Easier
More Kitchen Essentials:
- Silverware Set
- Can Opener
- Dish Sponge
- Dish Towels
- Mini Fridge
- Toaster/ Toaster Oven
- Mini Skillet
- Electric Kettle
- Blender
Cleaning
34. 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.
35. 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, especially in the COVID era.
36. 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.
37. 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!
38. 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!
Other Cleaning Stuff
- Dish Soap
- Room Spray
- Garbage Bags
- Wrinkle Release Spray
- Stain Remover Stick
- Lint Roller
- Toilet Cleaner
Related: The Ultimate College Freshman Dorm Checklist + A Free Printable PDF
Organization
39. Under The Bed Storage
Under the bed storage is a good idea so you can store things under your bed without it being cluttered.
40. Closet Organizer
A closet organizer is great for some extra storage space in your closet!
41. 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.
42. 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
Electronics
43. 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.
44. Laptop
A laptop is an essential in college. I used my Macbook Air through all 4 years of college and it was great.
45. 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.
46. 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.
Related: 31 Perfect College Gifts For Friends That Your Bestie Will Definitely Love
Other Electronics:
- Headphones
- Kindle
- Video Game Devices
- Chargers
- TV
School Supplies
47. 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.
48. Notebooks
You’ll need notebooks to take notes in your classes. Unless you’re like me and use an Ipad!
49. 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!
Related: 9 Life-Changing Hacks for Introverts In College That Will Help You Thrive While Living In A Dorm
Other School Supplies:
- Binders
- Backpack
- Lunchbox
- Calculator
- Flashcards
- Mini Stapler
- Tape
- Bookmarks/ Sticky Notes
Documents
- Drivers License
- Student ID
- Copy Of Birth Certificate
- Health Insurance Cards
- Auto Insurance Card
- Financial Aid Documents
Miscellaneous
50. 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.
51. Rainy Day
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
- Earplugs
- Sleep Mask
- Bike
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
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