Dorm Advice

If you're building your college dorm packing list, you've probably noticed that every packing guide seems to recommend a different set of "must-have" dorm essentials. Some people make it sound like you need an entire Target aisle to survive freshman year. After living in a dorm, I learned something important: the best dorm room essentials aren't necessarily the most exciting purchases. They're the items you use so often that you stop noticing them.

One of the biggest mistakes I made before college was assuming I needed to have absolutely everything purchased before move-in day. Every dorm packing list seemed to add another item to my shopping cart. Before I knew it, I was convinced that forgetting one random dorm essential would somehow ruin my entire freshman year. Spoiler alert: it won't. If you're preparing for college, here's something I wish someone had told me sooner: you do not need to buy everything before move-

Move-in day is exciting. It's also chaotic. Between hauling boxes up stairs, meeting your roommate, figuring out where everything goes, and saying goodbye to your family, it's easy to make a few mistakes along the way.

If you're packing for college right now, there's a good chance you're staring at your closet wondering: How many clothes am I actually supposed to bring to college? I had the exact same question before freshman year. Part of me wanted to pack everything. What if I needed a specific outfit? What if the weather changed? What if I suddenly became the type of person who wore all the clothes currently collecting dust in my closet?

If you're anything like I was before freshman year, you've probably spent hours looking at college packing lists. One list says you need 50 things. Another says you need 150 things. Suddenly you're standing in Target wondering whether your future depends on owning a three-tier rolling cart, six decorative pillows, and a bedside lamp that also charges your phone.

If you've started shopping for dorm bedding, you've probably noticed that the internet wants you to believe your college bed needs approximately 47 different accessories. Mattress topper. Mattress protector. Sheets. Comforter. Throw blanket. Decorative pillows. Bed rest pillow. Reading pillow. Blanket ladder. Somehow a headboard. At some point, I started wondering whether I was moving into a dorm room or furnishing a luxury hotel.

I spent hours watching dorm room tours, scrolling through Pinterest, and adding storage bins, plastic drawers, hanging organizers, and every organization product imaginable to my cart.

If you're building your college dorm packing list, you've probably wondered whether a mini fridge is actually worth it. I know I did.