More Than Just Decor
Whether you are the parent taking the lead on dorm room shopping or the student decor dreaming, the one thing that is needed is a game plan! The last time I was in a position to think about the details and essentials needed for a dorm room was over 20 years ago when my parents moved me into one. Nonetheless, prior to moving our daughter into her college dorm last Summer, I instinctively seemed to know exactly what was needed to ensure that our baby girl’s room was all the way covered! Creating her new space came with feelings of excitement and unfamiliarity, but approaching this experience from a place of excitement allowed me to visualize the space and her needs. Once she picked the color scheme with her soon-to-be-roommate, she showed little interest in getting involved with the details, so I had the all clear to start shopping.
Many of us can agree that shopping is fun, but shopping smart is a must! Even though she showed little interest and trusted that I had it under control, I still insisted that she played a role in the decision making process. The solution for this was having her choose a pre-selected “starter kit” from the school website which served as the foundation for the color scheme and basic essentials.
Items included in the set: Twin Sheet set (2), microplush blanket, Mattress pad, mattress topper, Pillows (2), Pillowcase (2), comforter, fleece throw, blanket, bath Towels (2), hand towel (2), Washcloths (2), bath sheet (2), laundry bag, foldable underbed storage organizers (2), bedside storage caddy, clip fan, clip lamp
Now that some of the basics were covered, it was time to have fun putting on the finishing touches with other items that matched her aqua, melon, and grey color scheme. Top TJ MAXX finds:
lined shower curtain, shower rings, bath towel set, shower caddy, bath mat, bath rug, additional sheet sets, pillow cases, throw pillows, two pieces of artwork, lightweight curtains and rod, electric tabletop fan, quilt, Mini rice cooker, oversized throw rug, gold three tier storage caddy, desk top organizers, Laptop desk, Pot (1) and pan (1), silverware, Cooking utensils
During this process it is important to let go of the one stop shop thinking because shopping around is much more beneficial for finding everything that’s needed for complete dorm room living. Checking these items off the list felt like an accomplishment, but based on the vision, her room was still incomplete. Next, while casually shopping, we found a multiple overdoor hook on sale at Ross. Similarly, while food shopping at Aldi Supermarket, I purchased the following items: shower slides, collapsible square storage cubes, sheet set, steam brush, butterfly chair
After realizing that she didn’t have a floor lamp, we headed right over to Homegoods and found the perfect one. Keeping the less frilly items in mind, I made a quick stop to Bed Bath and Beyond to see what they had. Here’s what was purchased: Foldable seated hamper, Backpack/duffle bag hamper, Box of hangers, Dirt devil stick vacuum
We found ourselves in Kohls and added the following items: Waste paper basket, Whiteboard with cork board, Letter board
Without further adieu, it was time for a Target run! List from Target: Swiffer refills, Contact paper, Combination lock, bulbs, plasticware, paper goods, Cleaning supplies, Trash bags, Command strips, School supplies, Plastic storage bin with three drawers, Personal care items, Stepping stool, Command hook, DampRid, desk drawer organizer
We found that stocking up on bulk items from Costco was a good idea for her so that she didn’t need to make frequent trips to the store for items needed daily. Purchases from Costco: Snacks packaged individually, Ziploc bags, Paper towels, Toilet paper, toothpaste, Case of water, napkins, Ink cartridge(s)
The rationale behind purchasing items was that we would send her with what we thought would get her started, and then on one of her breaks, she could shop from her dorm room bin at home to re stock. According to her, this worked really well. Although she was unable to see the benefit of stocking up “like a hoarder” (her words) at the time, she confessed that once we left and she got in a groove, she truly did have everything needed. Save your receipts because once you start setting up, there will be something that is not needed. For us, it was a shoe rack because the closet had built-in shelves which worked just fine.
Three things that helped us to not get overwhelmed during this process were:
Work off of a checklist - staying organized was key to this process. The list should remain a work in progress document and used as a reference along the way.
Pace yourself and be open to finding items at multiple stores - We were able to find something to add to her decor and basic living needs at just about every store we went into. I didn’t provide a list, but one trip to Walmart and her school supplies and other additional items needed were purchased.
Team up with assigned roommate(s) and split responsibilities - This worked beautifully and the girls ended up not needing to double up on items. Examples of what her roommate contributed were Brita water filter, printer, small folding table, hanging mirror, shower liner, Swiffer, and an additional bath rug.
Proud parents fist pumping in her completed room because “We Did That!”
I’m not an expert, but I’m happy to answer questions and take any new tips! Share your ideas below or on our Facebook page.