A great idea from DD’s first roommate was to put a row of 5 or 6 large command hooks evenly spaced on the footboard of the bed, on the outward-facing side. This is where they hung backpacks, purses, etc. (In my DD’s case, also her ukulele!) It kept a lot of stuff off the floor!
Hit BB&B yesterday and picked up 2 of these: https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/iris-reg-loft-underbed-stacking-drawer/5149161?opbthead=true&ta=typeahead&Keyword=plastic-storage-drawers
They’re long enough to use the space under the bed, and will stack. If you go, be sure to bring along a stack of 20% off coupons, one per item. That brought the price down to $24 each. I may get back one of these days and pick up one or two more.
This may have been already suggested, but I highly recommend a mattress topper and a mattress and washable pillow protecting covers. I got this one:
It is pricey, but given that the dorm mattress is worse than a cardboard, it’s worth the price.
I decided against spending too much for desk accessories and chair because, I can’t study in the room and I will be at the library most of the time.
I am also bringing some Milk crate kind of storage that fit on top of each other( great for substituting bookshelves)
I was told that a fabric steamer is more convenient than a ironing board and iron when the spaces are tight and it helps to sanitize the bed after someone is sick
if you child doesn’t already have it I would also recommend a extra battery pack like Mophie for the phone. It helps when you are out of the dorm for long time and not get a chance to charge your phone
@RandyErika, my D also was in a room that was not air conditioned. She used a box fan in the window and a tower fan on the floor and it worked well.
@doneinamonth , have you been using the mattress topper already? How comfortable is it? It is really expensive!
Similar memory foam mattress toppers available at Costco are <$100.
Costco has the Novaform ComfortLuxe Gel Memory Foam Mattress Topper on sale for $79 now through August 27th.
Our kids have the Costco ones on their beds both at home and at school. They hold up great and I highly recommend them.
Mattress toppers are a must. Buy a few and have them try it out at home. It can make a big difference.
@bjkmom I think your having too much fun… Lol… We have something very similar but not as high. The reason being when they get back home it fits under their bed which is not as high as the college beds.
Oh, I am.
You should see me on Black Friday, getting the Christmas shopping done at 3 am, and loving it!!!
@suzy100 or anyone else - Any recommendation for a box fan? Daughter and her roommate agreed we would pick one up.
@RandyErika No specific fan recommendation, but take note of the controls. My husband recently picked one up for his office; it was modern-looking with push-button controls. The problem was that every time he turned it on/off or pushed a button to change a setting, it made a loud “beep.” That would get annoying pretty quickly in a dorm!
@chercheur and @WWC4me, thanks - I just ordered the Coscto topper on sale for $79!
@pickledginger I think you’ll be very happy with it!
@bjkmom - look at the bedbathandbeyond college savings pass - it gives you 20% off your entire order I think until Halloween and perhaps free shipping. I’m from NH and it is nice to hear of Plymouth State as a nurturing school - much different reputation then what I recall from years back.
The college savings pass gives free shipping and 20% off everything till the end of 2019 and all you need is an .edu email to sign up!
Things I’ve found that I’m happiest about, beyond the typical comforter and towels type of stuff:
- A small cart for food/ plates/ whatever. It can fit into a closet or under a lofted bed: (Easy assembly was a must!) https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01D3SZH4Y/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
- A good surge protector with multiple outlets and USB ports: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075Q53848/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
- Small shelves for her phone-- either over the bed or as a charging station https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072BS4RVQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
- A bedside caddy https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077WFX8BK/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
- A boot tray for wet/snowy boots and sneakers (and, yes, I got a second to keep at home.) Command hooks for coats can go above the tray to control the melting snow from making a mess. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LBL9XKE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
- Doorstops. I figure it will be much easier to make friends if your door is open-- not to mention how much easier it will make move in day. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B010ZIANAI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
- Long underbed storage drawers. They'll take up the whole bed width, and give her a lot more storage https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/iris-reg-loft-underbed-stacking-drawer/5149161?opbthead=true&ta=typeahead&Keyword=stacking-drawer-storage-solution
- A toolkit. I got it at Sears at Christmas time, ballpark $20.
- Like all the other moms, I've put together a medical kit with OTC meds. (Somehow, you never seem to get that stomach bug when you're in the mood to stroll across campus to the school store.) Meds for colds, Tylenol, stomach upset stuff, bandaids, Ace bandage... It all fits into a shoebox sized container.
We got the food cart thing at Ikea. It comes in handy for several things. Both balked at it but used it daily.
Oops, one more:
She’s a real beach kid, and is going far from the beach.
Yesterday we brought a little Tupperware container to the beach, and she cooped up about 2 cups of sand and a few shells. We’ll hit Michaels and get her a Mason Jar.
Little, and sentimental and silly. But I think she’ll be so happy with it. And if not, she can dump it-- no harm, no foul.
A small folding step stool. My D is short and most of her dorms had the built in storage closets/drawers and a place high up to put luggage, boxes or bins to keep off season clothes. The desk chair was either the rocking kind or too big to get to the high up areas due to limited dorm space. Got the cheap one from Target and she still uses it in her apartment to reach into the high cabinets.