Grab These Dorm Room Essentials from Amazon

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When you get to college, you get one space: your dorm room. That one little area becomes a kitchen, a bedroom, a dressing area, a gym, a study space and more — and you probably have to share it. That's a lot of gear to pack into a small space. If it seems daunting, brush up on some organizing tips, roll up your sleeves and get ready to make every inch of space you get count.

But what items on the college packing list are really dorm room essentials, and what can you live without? Because the worst thing would be giving over tons of your precious closet space to a bulky appliance you'll use a couple times in the first month and never look at again. (Ahem, iron and ironing board. That's why Downy made the wrinkle release spray.) Before you head back to school, figure out what you'll truly need with this checklist. Stock up, and you'll be ready for school.

Bedding

A bed-in-a-bag has everything you need, and this set comes in twin XL, a common size for many dorm rooms. This includes a comforter, fitted sheet, flat sheet, dust ruffle, and pillowcases and come in many colors.

Comfy Pillows

Whether you're a side, back or stomach sleeper, you're going to need some extra pillows to prop you up when you're pulling an all-nighter on your bed with your laptop on your knees.

Wheat Straw Dinnerware Sets

Even if you plan on spending most of your time eating in the dining hall, there are going to be days where you're going to grab something back in your room. Be prepared with your own dinnerware: This set comes with plates, bowls and cups that are safe to use in both the microwave and the dishwasher, if you're lucky enough to have one.

Classic 700-Watt Microwave Oven

As long as your dorm room allows it, a microwave can be key for snacks during study breaks. Contrary to popular belief, you can actually survive for (a little while at least) on pizza rolls.

Flatware

And don't forget the spoons, knives and forks to go with it! This set comes with a neat rack to hang it all on, which is a boon for those who don't get extra drawers.

Wall Art

Those blank walls (often concrete) can be a little daunting and depressing. Cover a lot of space with a tapestry of a favorite piece of famed art, available in many sizes and different masterworks.

Laundry Hamper

Laundry is the easiest thing to keep tidy in a dorm room, since you just have to stuff it all in a hamper. This one has sturdy handles that'll let you carry a ton of it to the washing machines, and also collapses when it's empty. (Like it's ever going to be empty.)

Alarm Clock

Your phone will never be able to wake you up like this. Not only is this alarm clock really, really loud, it has a disc that you can put in your bed that will shake you awake, just like Mom used to. Your GPA will thank you.

Compact Dorm Fridge

If you can't rent a mini fridge through your school, this one offers just enough space to keep your essentials cold. It's got a small freezer and we love that the front is a chalkboard so you can write notes to keep people away from your fave snacks.

Bath Towels

These super-affordable towels received strong scores from the GHI for absorbency, drying speed, softness and fabric strength. And at this price, you can buy a ton of them and procrastinate on doing laundry.

Shower Shoes

There's not much you can do about the communal shower situation in a dorm. It's best to invest in a good pair of waterproof sandals to wear in and out of the bathroom. The classic Adidas shower sandals are also available in men's sizes and in a range of colors. You could also go with the very budget-friendly Vertico shower-ready flip-flop (currently just $13).

Rug

Rugs help dampen sound for your neighbors below you, and they also keep you from having to step on cold floors first thing in the morning. This affordable rug also adds some much-needed color into a dorm space, and best yet it is washable in case of spills and stains.

Bathrobe

It might be a long walk from your dorm room to the shower, and you don't want to be fumbling around with a towel the whole time. Find a nice soft bathrobe to wear for those trips down the hall.

Shower Caddy

And what about all those shower supplies? This mesh caddy is big enough to take everything you need to and from the shower, and it can also be folded down flat when it's empty to save space.

Plastic Drawers

They're light, portable, keep clutter tucked away and you can fit them somewhere in your dorm room — even if it's under your bed. With the IRIS system, you can choose three, four, five, six, seven or ten drawers.

Mattress Topper

Those old college-issued twin XL mattresses have been around. If you're sensitive sleeper, you might want to add a mattress topper to make your bed firmer, less lumpy and more comfy. Linenspa's tested well with the GHI and comes in that awkward dorm-room size.

Coffee Maker

Rules about small appliances differ between schools, so you'll have to check to see if you're allowed hot plates, electric kettles, microwaves, or coffee makers. But if the rules allow or you're heading to an off-campus apartment, this slim machine brews coffee from grounds or pods directly into a travel mug.

Storage Bins

Storage space is probably the trickiest problem to solve in a small dorm room, so it's good to stock up on some versatile bins and see if you can find somewhere to stash them out of sight.

Combo Board

Keep yourself organized, remind yourself about tests and projects, leave messages for your roommates and tack up some photos from home — all you need is a little bit of wall space.

Desk Lamp

Perfect for studying into the wee hours, this lamp comes with a bonus feature: a built-in USB port for charging your phone.

Charging Station

Don't go on the hunt for your most-used devices every morning. This stand wirelessly charges a smart phone, smart watch and ear pods, and it is compatible with Apple and Samsung devices.

AeroSlim Handheld Vacuum

You'll also need a small vacuum to keep that rug clean. This Bissell model is cordless, so they can take it into all the small nooks and crannies in their room. Testers also appreciated the washable filter.

Saucer Chair

It's always a good idea to have extra seating for friends, or a cozy place to curl up and read. This eye-catching chair is available and many colors and folds up and out of the way when you don't need it.

Desktop Fan

Because you're probably not going to have air-conditioning in your dorm room. It also doubles as a quiet white-noise machine.

Over-Ear Wireless Headphones

There's going to be a time when you're going to need to drown out loud music, roommates talking, or some other distracting noise and hit the books.

Blank Cards

Texting and FaceTime works, but snail mail feels really special. Stock up on some greeting cards and postcards to send to friends at other schools, and make checking those little P.O. boxes less of a fruitless endeavor.

Small Wastebasket

Depending on your school, you might need to bring a wastebasket with you. Try to find one that doesn't take up too much of your precious storage space, like this skinny one with a lid.

Door Mirror

This mirror is ready to hang over your closet or dorm-room door — no tools necessary! Plus, you can take it with you year after year.

Over-Door Organizer

Or, if you'd rather use your over-door real estate for more storage space, and over-the-door organizer can help you keep your essentials within reach. This four-pocket version has more than 20,000 positive reviews on Amazon.

Card Holder for Your Phone

At some schools, students barely ever use cash — the student ID is everything. Slide the ID into one of these adhesive card holders, which uses 3M technology to stick to the back of the phone. After that, good to go to the cafeteria without a wallet or purse.

4 Pack A5 Spiral Notebook

Sure, you'll probably be able to take class notes on your laptop. But, when inspiration strikes, there's nothing like having pen + paper handy.

Weekly Checklist

Yes, you probably have an electronic planner that keeps you up-to-date on your appointments, classes and deadlines. But for those little reminders that you need to see at a glance, this planning notepad makes it easy to take notes and tack them up on a bulletin board.

Extra Hooks

Because you need a place to hang up your towels. Command hooks stick to many different surfaces, hold strong and don't damage walls when you take them down at the end of the year.

Nano Double Sided Tape

Since you can't drill a ton of holes in the walls, when you need a quick stick, try this unusual tape. It's strong, but it's also removable, washable and reusable. It's great for decorations, quick fixes and the like. You can even use it to stick your phone to the wall to take a selfie!

Power Strip

Something no one ever warns college students about: You will never have enough plugs. Since you're bound to have many devices to charge, it's best to bring some backup.

BLACK+DECKER

If there's a lot of flat-pack furniture in your future, this tool has different screwdriver bits and a bit that's a hex wrench/Allen key. Genius! You'll have your room all set up in a snap.

Insulated Coffee Mug

And about that mug: It wouldn't hurt to have a few backups, especially one as pretty as this. (Note to parents: A personalized coffee tumbler makes a great gift!)

Desktop Plant Terrarium

Add some greenery to your space without having to worry about the hassle of dirt or planting. You can take cuttings of your favorite plants from home, and propagate them in this little water setup. And if the plants don't survive, the little jars are cute for pen storage.

Disinfectant Spray

Dorm rooms, suites, and bathrooms have a lot of shared spaces, and this will clean, sanitize, disinfect and kill bacteria for up to 24 hours. Stock up ahead of flu season.

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