To bring or not to bring: Guide to first-year dorm items

For an incoming college first-year, the excitement of moving in comes with a newfound sense of freedom in a new environment filled with possibilities. Alongside these new opportunities, you get to enjoy the excitement and creative freedom of decorating and shopping for your very own dorm room. 

Dorm shopping can be stressful, but the list below will give you a clear perspective on what is actually useful, so you can keep the excitement going as you enter your first year.

To bring: 

Desk fan

Rating: 8/10

The temperature in dorm rooms isn’t always ideal, especially during the warmer months of the school year. With a small-sized desk fan, you are more able to control the temperature of your room. You can turn it on to help cool down a stuffy room, or switch it off if it gets too cold. 

A fan can be beneficial for cooling down quickly after a long walk back from class, especially if your roommate prefers a warmer room or you need white noise to help you fall asleep. With so many practical uses, a fan is a definite must-have in dorm living. 

Alternative lighting

Rating: 9/10 

Desk lamps, reading lights and bedside table lamps are a simple way to make your room feel more welcoming and comfortable. They’re an easy alternative to harsh overhead lighting that has the potential to make the room feel sterile. 

Sophomore Ella Perez said she and her roommate had an unspoken deal that once they were both home from classes, they would only use lamps because the main lights were too bright.  

Unless you enjoy hospital-esque lighting, bring another source of light. 

Not to bring:

Attachable headboard 

Rating: 2/10 

While the idea of having a headboard might make your dorm room feel more comfortable, most first-year residence halls have loftable beds, so they won’t accommodate one. Even if your bed isn’t lofted, an attachable headboard can be a hassle. It can take up valuable car space when you are moving in, it is tricky to install and it can possibly damage the wall. 

There are smarter alternatives to headboards that provide the same level of comfort and support, but without the difficulty.

“I would recommend either getting a reading pillow, euro pillow or a headboard wedge pillow,” Hannah Adkins, a former Granville Towers resident adviser, said. “They’re more versatile, cheaper and can even be used when you graduate college." 

Too many decorative pillows

Rating: 1/10 

Decorative pillows are a fun and easy way to add personality and visual appeal to your dorm room. Having one or two throw pillows goes a long way — they can elevate your space without becoming an inconvenience. 

Having too many pillows on your bed can quickly get annoying, though. You may find yourself constantly moving them on and off the bed each day, and they often end up cluttering the floor. A few well-chosen pillows that you love are the perfect balance between style and usefulness. 

Could go either way: 

Keurig or coffee machine

Rating: 6/10 

Depending on your caffeine habits, a coffee machine in your dorm room can be a major convenience or an unnecessary expense. If you rely on a cup of coffee every morning before class, having a machine in your room will ultimately save time, money and dining hall swipes. 

Adkins said she prefers having a Keurig in her room for convenience, and she has had it all four years of college. 

“It saved me so much time and money throughout college because I could easily just wake up and make a cup of coffee instead of going out to Starbucks or Dunkin' and buying one,” Adkins said.  

Alternatively, if you are a more occasional coffee drinker, coffee at the dining hall or at one of the many cozy coffee shops on Franklin Street should do the trick, and you'll save money by skipping the coffee machine. 

No matter your ideal style or preferences, you should prioritize having fun while decorating your dorm room so that you can feel your best and thrive in a place that will soon become your second home. 

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