Go back to college with these dorm room necessities

The list of dorm room essentials is a never ending trail of miscellaneous products – quite a few of which will most likely sit untouched the entire semester. Before you get carried away and over buy, sit down and write down what you think you need – then dissect it. Consider these overlooked ideas:

Filtered water pitcher

At first the idea of having a heavy duty filtering water pitcher at hand may seem like over kill, but keep this in mind: most dorm rooms do not have sinks. And unless you have no problem constantly filling up bottles in the drinking fountain or – dare I say it – the bathroom sink, you’ll want to have fresh water on hand. A lot of new college student’s struggle maintaining a healthy diet and drinking plenty of clean water is the easiest way to combat that. Find a model that fits in your provided mini-fridge and enjoy a glass of fresh water without leaving the room.

Coffee pot

This may seem like a large purchase as well, but one trip to Pinterest will show you that the uses for a standard coffee pot are limitless in a dorm room. Yes, caffeine intake is necessary for a good study session, but there are a lot of other things these staple appliances can accomplish. Steam veggies, make instant oatmeal or mac & cheese, boil hot dogs and make the classic college delicacy – that’s right, the good ol’ cup o noodles. You can even get crafty and buy a small pan to fry an egg or a grilled cheese on the bottom hot plate. It’s up to you.

Vertical storage pieces

You don’t need me to tell you that dorm rooms have very limited space. That’s why it’s important to think vertically when it comes time to organize. Apply door and wall organizers to keep possessions in place. Get creative with how you use these storage pieces too — An over the door shoe organizer can be used to store cleaning products, snack foods and more.

Lap desk

Yes, when you move into your dorm room you will be provided with two pieces of furniture, one being a desk. But believe me when I tell you that you won’t always want to sit in front of it. A good, sturdy lap desk makes studying more comfortable and laid back. Crawl into bed and study for an exam or type up a paper without worrying about your computer overheating. A lap desk can always be used to watch movies in bed or eat dinner on the couch without having to balance plates or bowls on your lap. For an inexpensive addition, a lap desk can make daily college life extremely more comfortable.

Bean bag chair

The classic. It may seem silly now, but trust me you will be grateful for the extra seating. Whether you’re hanging out with friends or just wanting to relax with some Netflix, this lounging bean bag chair is your savior.