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As you and your soon-to-be college son start to think about his life in a dorm room in the fall, begin to make a list of ideas of ideas including some of the things we’ve listed below. However, before you buy anything read this list of Dorm Shopping: 50 Questions to Answer First and check with the Residence Life section of the college website to learn as much as you can about the specifics of his dorm room including what is prohibited. Then, enjoy this time with your son – college drop off will be here all too soon.
Do you have the Grown and Flown Off to College Checklist? It is all the things you need to do (legal, health and medical, financial) before your teen leaves for college. Download it (free) here.
Guy’s dorm room decor
Wall Decor
1. Flags (Amazon)
Many college guys love to hang flags on their walls and you can find US state flags on Amazon along with flags or banners forcolleges, NBA teams, soccer teams, NFL teams etc.
2. DIY Wall Art (Amazon)
Here is a simple and fast wall design: Attach a beach towel or some other fabric decoration onto a canvas board with a staple gun. It’s inexpensive, personal and visually appealing. Canvas boards are available in any number of sizes.
3. Art Prints and Posters
20×200 offers art prints for reasonable prices and Allposters also has a wide selection.
We’ve heard of one college student who had old vinyl records that were too scratched to use for music, so he made a design on his wall with the covers. This is an easy and cheap way to add color and a focal point to the walls.
Dorm Bedding
Most of the guys’ rooms tend to have solids, plaids, or stripe bedding, and navy is one of the most popular colors. The benefit of a pattern is that dirt and stains are less obvious, and you can imagine how useful that would be in any dorm room.
Your teen’s bedding choices are the same for a lofted bed or one at a conventional height, except it is easier to use a queen-sized comforter on a lofted bed. The benefit is that a queen size can be more easily used in future years (more than a Twin XL comforter) once he moves into an apartment with a larger bed.
Many college students prefer to make a bed with a fitted sheet and use a comforter without a top sheet. Just look for a fitted sheet sold separately or read the fine print of what is included in a set. The Nautica set below has 5 pieces – no flat sheet included.
4. Nautica Twin XL Comforter Set – 5 Pieces (Amazon)
Nautica has some great looking comforters in colors and styles that could work for guys’ dorm rooms. This bed in a bag set includes one twin comforter, one standard sham, one twin/twin XL stretch to fit fitted sheet, one standard pillowcase and one laundry bag. All machine-washable. Note – this set doesn’t include a top sheet which might be the perfect choice for a student who never plans to use one.
5. Bedsure Twin XL Comforter/Bedding Set – 5 Pieces (Amazon)
Bedsure comforter set was one of the most popular brands our Grown and Flown parents bought for their teens last summer. Available in many colors, the set includes 1 comforter, 1 pillowcase, I fitted sheet, 1 flat sheet, 1 pillow sham.
6. Amazon Basics Comforter/Sheet Set – 5 Pieces (Amazon)
This bedding set includes 1 comforter, 1 pillowcase, 1 pillow sham, 1 flat sheet and 1 fitted sheet. Machine washable.
7. Mellanni Twin XL Sheet Set (Amazon)
Many of our Grown and Flown parents say their college students only used one set of sheets so they didn’t have to fold them after washing which is very practical. Lots of colors to choose from here.
8. ViscoSoft Dusk Mattress Topper – 2″ (Amazon)
ViscoSoft is our favorite brand for mattress toppers and has gotten great reviews by many product reviewing sites including Good Housekeeping and Wirecutter. While this is not a “decor” item, a mattress topper can make a big difference in your son’s comfort level so we included it here.
Dorm lighting
9. Daybetter LED Strip Lights (Amazon)
Some guys have these LED lights available in a stick-on strip so they tape onto the walls and line the room. These are Bluetooth enabled to sync with music and come with a remote control device for ease of managing. Make sure these are permitted by the dorm before you purchase.
10. Sailstar Desk Lamp (Amazon)
This compact, disable desk lamp is the perfect size for a dorm desk. There’s an attached pencil cup and a built-in phone charger. With a flexible neck and three color and dimmable modes, making it easy for your son to optimize his work space.
Extra Chairs
There is rarely extra space in a dorm room for guest and here are two ideas for folding chairs that can be brought out whenever there are more people than places to sit.
11. Oakham Sling Chair (Amazon)
This sling chair is an excellent option for a dorm as it folds when unused. Available in 15 colors and styles.
12. Coleman Camp Chair (Amazon)
This Coleman Camp Chair is another good option for extra seating and can be folded up and stored behind or under a dorm bed when not needed.
Other popular ideas for furnishing guys’ dorm rooms
13. Surblue Bedside Caddy (Amazon)
This bedside caddy works like a nightstand for an elevated dorm bed and is roomy and sturdy enough to stash a book, glasses, a water bottle, a phone, and more.
14. YETI Tumbler- 20 0z. (Amazon)
Your son might love a YETI mug to keep his coffee hot or cold water chilly for hours!
15. Oh, Susannah “Call Mom!” Pillowcase (Amazon)
One way to remind your son to call home? This cute “Call, Mom!” pillowcase is a clever idea.
16. 3M Command Hooks and Strips (Amazon)
Command Utility Hooks and Strips are incredibly useful in dorm rooms, and many guys use them to display a hat collection and to mount flags or sports banners. (see #1 above.) Pack of 6 hooks and 12 strips
17. Niffgaff Self-Adhere Key Rack (Amazon)
A self-adhesive key rack holds keys or lanyards with room cards.
18. Seropy Paper Towel Holder (Amazon)
A magnetic paper towel holder is easy to keep paper towels ready when it is on the side of a mini fridge.
19. Srugn 5×7 Rug (Amazon)
An area rug will make the cold dorm floor feel more like home, and washable ones are a good choice. A carpet is an instant way to help transform a dorm room into a cozy space. This one is available in numerous colors and sizes.
20. Bukere Backpack Laundry Bag (Amazon)
This is a very clever backpack laundry bag – it sits upright so functions as a hamper, too. Durable and water-resistant.
21. IRIS Under Bed Storage Bin (Amazon)
The space under your son’s bed is important to plan for and the IRIS bins come in many shapes and sizes. The ones my daughter got for her dorm room are still being used years later in her apartment.
22. IKEA FRAKTA Bags – Set of 4 (Amazon)
These have long been our favorite bags for moving in and moving out of the dorm. Plus, speaking of storage, they can also hold out of season clothing or extra linens. They are again being sold on Amazon – we are thrilled! This is a MUST HAVE for the dorms.
23. ComfortSpa Reading Pillow (Amazon)
Most dorm beds do not have headboards so getting one of these comfortable bedrest pillows for your son can make sitting in bed MUCH more comfortable.
24. Levoit Mini Air Purifier (Amazon)
Levoit is one of the best-selling air purifier brands and this mini version – 10″ H and 6.5 W – is perfect for a dorm room. The filter captures lint, airborne pollutants, and smoke particles which can help create a cleaner environment for your son which is especially important in a dorm room that may rarely get cleaned. The activated carbon filter can also help neutralize odors – another key benefit!
This is the machine that I have and personally recommend it.
25. RubberMaid Tall Trash Can With Lid (Amazon)
College dorms may come with trash cans (check the college website to see if you student’s does) but they are often quite small which can result in an overflowing mess! This one holds 12.4 gallons and has a pedal for hand-free use. Rubbermaid is a trusted brand for quality, long-lasting products and this trash can is something that can be used for four years of college and beyond. Don’t forget a box of trash can liners!
26. Bagsmart Toiletries Kit (Amazon)
27. Anker Surge Protector (Amazon)
We have surgery protectors on all of our dorm lists because we feel so strongly about the safety of your teen and your teen’s expensive electronics! We recommend this one by industry-leader Anker because it has 6 AC, 2 USB A & 2 USB C Ports and a 5ft Outlet Extender.
28. Utopia Towel Set – 8 Pieces (Amazon)
Your teen can bring towels from home or, if you want them to start their dorm life with a new set, please remember that if you have a teen who is doing sports, they may need more than one or two towels since they will often shower a few times each day. This set has 2 bath, 2 hand, and 8 washcloths.
29. ISIS WOOZOO Fan (Amazon)
These fans have become wildly popular. The WOOZOO brand is available at several price points but we think this one would be helpful for your teen in their dorm. It is compact and light-weight and can fit easily on a desk, has 3 speeds and is affordable. Even in air-conditioned dorms it can be stuffy.
30. Dingee 3″ S Hooks – Set of 10 (Amazon)
S Hooks are an easy way for your son to hang up jeans or other clothes in his closet.
Why You Should Trust Us
The Grown and Flown team includes three moms who’ve raised 8 young adults and have been working on product lists for over 14 years now, making them experts. When selecting products they survey the Grown and Flown Parents Facebook group of more than 300,000 parents of teens, tweens and young adults.
They do opinion polls, surveys and ask open-ended questions. They search for products that combine reasonable prices with high quality and are recommended by the large following. With recommendations from major retailers, trustworthy publications, and social media influencers, this post selected a range of products, paying close attention to reviews and price tags.
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