The Dos and Don'ts of Dorm Shopping

Take it from someone who did all of her dorm shopping the week before she moved in during her freshman year: dorm shopping, though it can be fun, can also be extremely stressful. It can be tempting to hit Home Goods like a hurricane and buy every cute strand of string lights and set of decorative pillows you can find, but taking a moment to plan out your shopping trip can be much easier on your psyche (and your wallet)! Below, I give you the dos and don'ts of shopping for school. 

DO 

• Make a list. Shopping without a list can be your ultimate downfall. Some schools have suggested packing lists for students, but if you are going in blind, there are tons of compiled lists online that can give you some guidance for what will be essential in your room. 
• Ship the big stuff to school. Most universities will allow you to send some of your bigger items to your campus mailbox before your move in. This can be a lifesaver when you are trying to fit all of your dorm supplies into your sedan. Ship as much as you can to school beforehand to save yourself time and space on move-in day. 
• Invest in things that will last. You may think that three hundred dollars on a Tempur-pedic mattress topper seems excessive, but I promise you will not regret that investment. College mattresses do not have to be part of your transformative experience. Your freshman year can be expensive because you are making big purchases for the rest of your college career. Though it may be difficult to face spending a lot of money up front, making smart investments will save you expenses down the road.
• Find space-saving organizers. Under-bed storage is a blessing. Dorm rooms can be quite small, so finding smart ways to organize can make or break your space. Look for solutions like under-bed boxes, hutches for above your bed or desk, and drawer organizers. Making the most of your closet space is also essential. Look for hanging sweater and pants organizers, shoe racks, and cloth hangers. 
• Bring cleaning supplies. Some schools offer students vacuums or brooms to rent for their rooms, but you may be better off owning them. Make sure to bring some kind of duster, a broom (or vacuum if your dorm is carpeted), and bathroom cleaner if you have an in suite restroom. Also, stock up on laundry detergent before you go because you will be doing laundry (eventually). 
• Think about a dorm concept. Do you want your space to be rustic? Zen? Coastal? Coming up with a design for your dorm before you shop can give your purchases more direction, saving you money and stress! If you have roommates, it may be a good idea to coordinate decorating styles. 
• Bring entertainment options. I relied on my vinyl and massive speakers to get me through stressful times at school. Binge-watching the Office never hurt either. Whether its a television, some speakers, or anything else, be sure to have some entertainment options in your dorm to give you outlets for relaxation. Rooms that are all work and no play...well, anyone who has seen The Shining knows that they can drive you crazy. 
• Invest in a mini fridge. Leftover pizza? Mini fridge. Late night ice cream runs? Mini fridge. Dining hall food that you took because you are on an unlimited meal plan and want to test the limits of just how unlimited you really are? Mini fridge. My parents forced me to get one, even though I swore I wouldn't need it, and I could not be more grateful to them.
• Create a space that reflects you. Making your dorm feel like yours can make college feel a little more like home. Fill it with pictures of friends and family. Decorate in your favorite colors. Bring that ratty old stuffed animal you've had since you were seven (no one will judge you, I promise). 

DON'T

• Feel like you need to buy everything at once. Amazon exists for a reason. Don't be afraid to go to school without  every single decoration you think you need. You can always order more for your room. As long as you have a bed and some pens, you are all set for your first week. 
• Overestimate the size of your dorm. Dorms are very, very small. Of course, you want to get that futon, the matching beanbag chair, and the ottoman. It's unlikely that all of those lovely decorations will fit though. If your school does not give you a floor plan or dimensions, err on the side of caution. It is a lot easier to get more things than to send things back after hours of trying to rework your furniture to make them fit. 
• Go in blind. While having a list makes shopping efficient and productive, not knowing what you want or need can make what should be a fun experience very hectic. Break your shopping sessions up across several days, assigning a specific goal to each day, to make sure that you don't get overwhelmed. 
• Split big purchases with your roommates. It can be so tempting to split the price of the common room TV among the four of you, but what are you going to do at the end of the year when only one person can take it home? You will be better off splitting up big purchases to one per person. For example, instead of each person paying a portion of the cost of the fridge, the couch, and the TV, have one person buy one item in full. That way there are no heated debates over who has the right to the furniture at the end of the year. 
• Buy "college safe" decorations to hang on your walls. Cue me, hanging up my adorable Pottery Barn "dorm safe" pin board on the wall above my bed on move-in day. Cut to five minutes later, where you will find me trying to recenter said board, only to leave four holes in the plaster of my dorm room wall. Stick to poster gum and double sided tape if you want to be extra safe. As for Command strips...use at your own risk. 
• Expect everything to fit perfectly. No matter how much planning you do in advance, it is almost inconceivable that your room is going to look exactly as you imagined it. On move-in day, you are going to have to roll with the punches. Be prepared to leave some things behind. 
• Get caught up in Pinterest. Along the same vein, don't expect your dorm to look like a Pinterest board. Don't get me wrong: you can create a beautiful dorm room. But getting lost in trying to make your room look perfect  can cause unnecessary stress. Instead, create a space that makes you feel comfortable. The aesthetics will come. 
• Worry. Shopping for your first college dorm should be fun. It's a special occasion, and even though it can be stressful at times, you want to have predominately good memories.

The day I moved into my freshman dorm, I left four holes on my bedroom wall, but I also bought an amazing Pulp Fiction poster to cover them up. I realized that the cheap hanging door mirror my roommates and I had purchased made us look huge, but we also laughed like crazy about it. My roommate and I had to un-loft the bunk beds and left a nick in the wall, but it also showed us that we could handle living on our own. Everything will not be perfect when you move into your first college dorm. That does not mean it won't be one of the most fun, significant days of your life. 

​-Alexis Mealey