Create a free account to access exclusive content, play games, solve puzzles, test your pop-culture knowledge and receive special offers.Already have an account? Login
Woman's World has affiliate partnerships. We receive compensation when you click on a link and make a purchase. Learn more!
Dorm life — it’s a college rite of passage. But decking out a space with everything your child needs to create a home away from home isn’t always easy. Sussing out all the right dorm essentials — from bedding and clothing to small appliances and school supplies — can be overwhelming, to say the least. That’s why we went ahead and rounded up eight of the best stores for college must-haves you can shop right now that are guaranteed to put your student’s new living quarters at the top of the class.
Where to Find the Goods
Amazon: With competitive prices and everything from décor to affordable textbook rentals up for grabs, Amazon has your collegiate covered from A to Z.
Bed, Bath & Beyond: A mainstay for back-to-school and dorm shopping, Bed Bath & Beyond’s college shop has tons of gotta-have-’em goods, plus helpful tips from home and style experts and deep discounts you won’t want to miss.
The Container Store: Any college student, past or present, can attest that the secret to a successful semester begins with organization. And where do you go for the ultimate tidying inspiration? The Container Store, of course! Get ingenious storage ideas for bathrooms, makeup, and more at a discount — the company is also offering a 15 percent savings when you buy online and pick-up in-store with coupon code PICKUP15.
Dormify: If there’s just one spot you check out for your shopping needs, make it Dormify. This brand was specifically created to help your child curate the dorm room of their dreams, which means it’s stocked with everything they could ever want for their new abode, from bathroom accessories and bedding to wall tapestries and storage trunks.
Kohl’s: A favorite of moms and kids everywhere, Kohl’s offers up great prices and free site-to-store shipping near your child’s campus, making his or her move that much easier.
Pier 1: For the most stylish accessories to accent your kid’s dorm, head to Pier 1 between August 29 and September 2nd, where you can save 15 percent on any purchase with a student ID.
Target: The ultimate one-stop shopping destination, Target’s got everything your student needs, including clothes and bedding to school supplies, and tech — and then some.
Urban Outfitters: Known for having a lock on the latest fashions, your college student will be turning heads thanks to great picks from Urban Outfitters’ campus style list. The store also has a fantastic home department that’s chock-full of fashion-forward furniture finds.
Top 10 Dorm Essentials
Now that you know where you should be shopping, the only question left is, “What do I buy?” Scroll through for Woman’s World‘s top picks from our top stores.
We write about products we think our readers will like. If you buy them, we get a small share of the revenue from the supplier.
The quickest way for a dorm room to turn into a messy dorm room is to forgo a hamper. Help your child avoid an eyesore of a dirty clothes pile — and bad roommate manners — by giving their soiled linens a home between washes with this handy hamper. Coming in five neutral colors, it features an exterior basket and two removable (and washable!) laundry bags that are perfect for carrying when it's (finally!) time to do a load.
SAVE NOW: Enter coupon code HEATWAVE through August 28 to get this chair for $38.24
When it's time to relax, your child will love kicking back in this butterfly seat from The Big One. Available in eight colors and two fabric choices of fur and microfiber, this chair is not only cozy, it's a quick and easy way to add some style and pizazz to any room on campus.
From classwork to extracurriculars, keeping track of everything that's going on in a hectic college schedule is easier said than done. Help your child stay organized well into the semester with these Sutton Collection desk organizers from The Container Store. Featuring a black metal and acacia wood design, these stylish pieces allow for neat storage when it comes to magazines, letters, files, and more, and look just as great as they function.
SAVE NOW: Enter coupon code HEATWAVE through August 28 to save an extra 15 percent.
For college students, coffee is a must, but those pricey coffeehouse drinks can add up quickly. That's why we love the Cuisinart Premium Single-Serve Coffee Maker. With a single-serve design, this machine brews the perfect amount of joe each time, making sure no cup goes to waste. Featuring five drink sizes, a rinse function, and K-Cup compatibility, this machine has a lot of features to love. And, if your child is not the biggest coffee fan, it also comes with a hot water function that's perfect for teas, oatmeal, and more.
Sleep is the one of the most important things to a college student (next to studying, of course). Help yours turn their basic twin bed into an oasis of comfort and luxury with this jersey duvet cover from Urban Outfitters. Made from 100 percent cotton, this bedding was crafted to feel just like a beloved t-shirt — cozy and incredibly soft. Pair it with the perfect duvet insert (we love this one from Superior Bedding), matching sheets, and pillow cases for the ultimate slumber experience.
A good night's shut-eye isn't complete without the perfect pillow. With more 17,000 reviews on Amazon and an almost five-star rating, we've found just that in the Coop Home Goods' premium adjustable loft sleeper. Filled with a removable mix of medium memory foam and microfiber, it has quickly become one of the internet's favorite picks for a restful night of sleep at an affordable price. This pillow is hypo-allergenic, dust-mite resistant, and comes with a five-year warranty, so we can't say we blame them: What's not to love?
SAVE NOW: Enter coupon code HEATWAVE through August 28 to get this towel for $10.14.
At the end of a long day, there's nothing better than taking a nice long shower and wrapping yourself up in a soft towel. Your child will love the über-soft feel of LC Lauren Conrad's pima cotton bath linens, which come in a whopping 14 shades. These towels are highly-absorbent with a low linting and pill rating, meaning they'll also last them well throughout their college career.
Going hand-in-hand with bath towels is the ever-important bath caddy. Having to lug bath products back and forth to the dorm shower area can be a real pain, but Attmu's portable shower caddy makes this daily task a breeze. Made with a tough and versatile mesh, this tote has eight outer compartments for easy access to shower essentials, such as shampoo and body wash, plus a spacious interior pocket to hold your towels and clothes. And, while you're at it, be sure you throw in a pair of shower slippers, too — there's plenty of room!
When shopping for the best dorm mini-fridge, there are many options to choose from, but none quite compare to the Whirlpool 3.1-cubic-foot mini fridge. Featuring a sleek, stainless steel exterior, this compact buy looks even nicer on the inside thanks to its two spacious shelves, single product drawer, soda cubby, drink racks, and, yes, even a separate — and roomy! — freezer. And, with Whirlpool's trusted name behind it, you can rest assured that this mini fridge will last well into your child's senior year.
While most kids will tell you that alarm clocks are a dated piece of technology thanks to the invention of the smartphone, those same cellular devices can easily fail when they don't get a good charge in the midst of a late-night cram session. Double your kid's chances of waking up on time with ROCAM's vibrating alarm clock. It features an extra-loud, vibrating buzzer that can be set ahead of time and slipped under a mattress. In short? This clock will ensure they never miss a class, and really, isn't that kind of peace of mind worth the $32 price tag?
Use left and right arrow keys to navigate between menu items.
Use right arrow key to move into submenus.
Use escape to exit the menu.
Use up and down arrow keys to explore.
Use left arrow key to move back to the parent list.
