Retailers begin their annual sales push early, telling college kids what they need for life in the dorm.
Judging by the recommendations from Bed Bath & Beyond, Linens ‘n Things, the Container Store and so, so many others, entering freshmen need to buy, buy, buy. Every mini-fridge, lava lamp, shower caddy and beanbag chair is touted as a survival requirement.
We took a reality check, consulting four Washington Post summer interns who finished college just a few months ago. Forget what the stores say. Forget what your mom says. Heed the wisdom of people who somehow graduated without matching sheets and comforter or a cordless blender.
Travel light, plan efficiently
Until I left for college in Chicago, I had lived in the same house in Miami my entire life. Karma caught up with me, and in the past four years I lived in five different rooms on campus.
It was too far to drive back and forth from home to school, so I was confined to two checked bags, a carry-on suitcase and whatever I bought after I arrived. My advice is twofold: Live with less stuff, and organize what you already have so you don’t buy anything unnecessary. After packing, moving, unpacking and repacking, I learned to scale back.
In my case, the bulk of what I packed was clothes, which have a way of taking over the room because closet space is nonexistent in dorms. To keep the mess at a minimum, I rotated the clothes I had at school by season. When I went home for Thanksgiving, I’d bring back my coats before winter began. During spring break, I’d bring sweaters home and return with summer clothes.
Before you clear out Target’s inventory of portable shelving, wait until you actually see your room. Dorm rooms are notoriously tiny, and you’ll probably have to share that space. During the summer, talk with your future roommate about who will bring more expensive things, such as a mini-fridge or a TV, so you won’t end up with two of everything. It’s probably best not to split the cost of these things, because that will raise the issue of who gets to keep them at the end of the year.
While it’s impossible to predict what new technology will be invented in the next four years, try to be forward-thinking in your purchases. I got a stereo, and then realized that my laptop served as both word processor and music player. I also insisted on getting a computer with a drive for floppy disks (remember those?), which obviously became useless rather quickly.
Remember that everything in your room has to be stored (either on campus or elsewhere) or shipped home for the summer, which can get expensive. Also keep in mind that you have to repack everything at the end of the year, so as important as it is to decorate your room, too many accessories make moving out more difficult.
[ Sara Klieger, WP ]– – –
TOOL TIME
After you max out at Linens ‘n Things, it’s time to hit the real dorm saver: your neighborhood hardware store.
What do you really need to bring to college? A hammer and duct tape. Armed with these basic tools, you can adapt any dorm room to your needs.
You’ll need a hammer to hang those picture frames, Christmas lights and tapestries (check to see whether college rules allow nails in the walls). And no, those bookshelves from Ikea don’t just snap together.
Duct tape will come in handy for strapping down cords across your room so that you and your roommate aren’t navigating a daily obstacle course. It’s also strong enough to hold up posters and reinforce dorm-room furniture that was probably there when your parents were in college.
[ Lenore Cho, WP ]WE CAME TO PARTY
For party animals, budding socialites or just plain friendly people heading off to college, here are some tips to turn your dorm into a destination room.
– A serious sound system is a must for the perfect party room. Don’t waste money (and space) on bulky components. Mini-speakers connecting to your laptop or iPod will do the trick.
– A TV and DVD player.
– Have ample seating. For a common area, a couch or futon. If space is really tight, fold-up camping chairs or floor pillows. No need to be a big spender. Strike a balance between Salvation Army and Urban Outfitters.
– A rug and a pad underneath makes a hard (and often cold) floor more inviting.
– Get a coffee table and subscribe to a few magazines, such as Maxim or Rolling Stone.
– Install a mini-basketball hoop or dart board and add a poker set or a card game that’s fun for a crowd, such as Apples to Apples.
– Buy or rent a refrigerator to store drinks, and have plenty of plastic cups.
– Overhead lighting can kill a party mood, so shut off the fluorescent lights and hang strings of Christmas or party lights.
– Everybody can buy generic posters, but the best walls are decorated with vintage posters, flags and unusual tapestries.
[ Philip Rucker, WP ]Play along: Trash or treasure?
Yes: Mattress pad
This can help soften what will undoubtedly be a cheap and uncomfortable mattress. Mine had a plastic cover on it, but an eggshell pad really helped.
No: Complete bed ensemble
Skip the package deal. You definitely don’t need the extra throw pillows, and the cutesy matching patterns will sicken your roommate.
Yes: Down comforter
It’s more expensive than a plain comforter, but worth the investment for the extra comfort factor.
Maybe: Blanket
Probably overkill for your bed if you have a down comforter, but I kept one around for guests.
No: Pillow Protectors
Completely unnecessary.
Maybe: Backrest
Some people found these helpful for reading, but I always thought they were stiff and uncomfortable.
Duh: Alarm clock/clock radio
This is obvious. Spending extra money to get one that played CDs made me much cheerier in the morning than the mechanical beep would have.
Maybe: Accent/area rugs
They’ll be cheap and readily available around campus, so wait until you know whether your room is carpeted or has cold tile like mine did.
No: Toss pillows
The more extras like this you have in your room, the more cluttered it will feel.
Yes: Fan
If your dorm isn’t air-conditioned, this is a must.
No: Iron
My mother made me get one, and I used it once in four years.
Yes: Shower tote
You’ll definitely need one of these. Open baskets work better than the ones with all the different compartments.
Yes: First-aid kit
Great idea. I was always the one knocking on doors looking for a Band-Aid.
Hell yes: Flip-flops
Don’t ever step in a shower at college without them. I’m serious.
Yes: Hamper
Don’t get fancy; the cheap ones that stand up but fold flat are best.
No: Drying rack
The back of a desk chair can work wonders.
Yes: Electric razor
Every guy I knew said this was a huge help. Several of my friends kept them in their backpacks and shaved while walking to class.
No: Blender
You definitely won’t have the room or the time to use major appliances. Wait until you have your first apartment.
Yes: Water bottle
Everybody on campus will have a Nalgene-style bottle, and it’s definitely cheaper than buying bottled water. To fit in completely, put a bumper sticker on yours advocating your favorite cause.
Yes: Computer chair
The smartest decision I made freshman year was buying a padded desk chair for about $50.
No: Lap desk
It will only tempt you to study in bed–always a bad idea.
Duh: Backpack/messenger bag
Consider investing in a smaller one than you used in high school, since you’ll no longer have to carry all your books at once.
Duh: Floor lamp
Garish fluorescent lighting is standard in dorm rooms, so definitely buy one of these. But keep in mind that most dorms outlaw halogen because it’s a fire hazard.
Yes: Lounging chair
My best discovery was a “butterfly chair” for $10 or so. It folded up in the corner when I wasn’t using it.
No: CD/DVD storage
Don’t try to display your CD collection on a shelf or rack. Keep them all stored in a binder instead or just burn your music onto your computer.
No: Flashlight
Another item that mothers think you need, but I can’t imagine why. It’s college, not camp.
[ Megan Greenwell, WP ]
