Dorm Room Prep

Morning! I hope you have had a great week. They seem to be flying and I’m not sure I like that. I mentioned dorm room prep and there was a ton of interest so I thought I would get the ball rolling. We are trying to knock things out a little bit at a time so there is no major crunch time in August. This is an uncrated look at what we have purchased so far and how we are going about this.

ALL IN ONE SPOT

Because we have a guest room (and no one is staying in it before we head to college) it has become dorm room central. I know it’s a luxury to have a room to do this but I do recommend designating one area (even a corner of a room) so that you have everything in one place. I also created a spreadsheet on my laptop (super simple one) just to keep track of what I have already purchased. Seem silly, but I’m the girl that would end up buying another mattress pad in August forgetting I already ordered one. Or just keep a note pad in the area and add to it as things come in.

I realize that this looks far different for girls than it does for boys. I am fairly certain my son would be great with a bed in a bag and a shower caddy. But I hope this gives you some ideas. Anything I am sharing has worked well for others and that is why we chose what we did. I am all about learning from those that have gone before us!

BACKPACK OF CHOICE

My daughter chose this backpack. Realistically it won’t need to carry much more than her laptop, a notebook and possibly a book here and there (so much is digital). This backpack holds far more than it looks like it would. In fact, when it arrived I thought it looked tiny but sure enough the laptop fit in either the front or back section with a ton more room.

WATER BOTTLE SWITCH

My daughter recently made the switch from Stanley to Owala and loves it. She really appreciates that it never spills and the size.

UNDER THE BED STORAGE

Riley will have access to both sides of her bed so we are using four of these (two on each side). The provide ample storage and will be a good use of under the bed. Her closet is 4′ wide so I have marked off a spot that wide in our guest room closet so she knows how much she can hang (and we will pack her clothes already on hangers).

She will fill these drawers prior to us leaving so that they are ready to go when we move her in. We will just need to slide them under her bed.

SHOE STORAGE

This shoe rack is extra long and will fit in the bottom of her closet. Including the shoes she can place under it, this is ample room for shoe storage.

LET’S TALK ABOUT THE MATTRESS

The mattresses are straight up terrible and crazy thin. I am happy to do all that I can to make it more comfortable (and hygienic). These came highly recommended to us by another parent. She used them for her older daughter and reordered for her youngest.

• mattress cover – non-negotiable
• memory foam topper (121k great reviews)
• mattress pad (on sale)

AIR PURIFIER

The dorm my daughter will be in is ancient. An air purifier is a must. Riley already has this Air Doctor in her room here (we all have them and LOVE). I plan to buy new filters and send the girls with this one. It does not take up a large footprint and will fit next to their desk area. But I have seen that Costco currently carries one so that may be a great place to pick one up.

We will also be hanging these dehumidifer bags in their closets. We use them here at home and it’s astounding how much water they capture.

SHOWER CADDY

My daughter will be walking to a communal bathroom. A rite of passage if you ask me (I did it for four years). After chatting with multiple people, I’ve heard that mesh is the way to go. Far less likely to bring water back to the dorm room. Dries quickly and holds so much. The first one show is from Amazon and the second one is from here. Both have fantastic reviews. The benefit of this one is the long strap which can be worn over the shoulder.

PACKING IT ALL UP

These came highly recommended to us by my friend, Michelle. I bought two sets. She can pack her hanging clothes in them as well as bedding, etc. We hope to pack the car with these and the white plastic drawers. But be sure to label them well so that when you are in the middle of the crazy move in day you know exactly where everything is. They fold very flat and will fit under her bed for move out.

THE FUN STUFF

Let’s be honest, the fun part is in the decor. At least for my daughter. She is very much affected by her environment and having a pretty, albeit small, dorm room is all part of the excitement. I remember decorating my own room and can’t believe we are at this point with her. She and her roommate chose the white duvet and are using baby blue and navy accents.

The girls would love a storage ottoman but not a fan of this price. If you now of a source, please let me know.

We ordered these lamps for the girls to have in between their beds. They don’t take up too much space on the nightstand and add a touch of glam.

I will say that it’s smart to jump on things now. A few of the items we bought or are looking at are now out of stock.

Ok, mamas, that is where we currently stand. Chipping away but thought it would be fun to share the progress we’ve made. Feel free to leave ideas or questions in the comments below. It’s more fun if we do this together.