College dorm essentials
College classes are about to start, meaning now is the time to buy dorm essentials to create the perfect campus home. From speedy laptops to cozy blankets, the right items will help get the school year off to a great start. Planning to head off to college can be time-consuming, but we can help make preparing your home away from home easy with these money-saving deals on dorm must-haves.
Trending dorm essentials
Seville Classics Mobile Laptop Desk: available at Macy’s and Amazon
The Seville Classics laptop desk is perfect for small rooms, plus it moves about with ease thanks to its durable casters. It adapts to just about any work area with the height-adjustable top. Buy one now at Macy’s for just $39.99 with the HOME promo code.
mDesign Plastic Caddy: available at Amazon
For the discounted price of $14.99, this little caddy is an affordable way to organize shower items like shampoo, lotion and body wash. Four compartments keep products separate, and a durable handle makes it simple to grab and go. Choose from five colors or clear.
GreenForest Folding Desk: available at Amazon
There’s a lot for college students to love about the GreenForest folding desk. In addition to folding for compact storage, it doesn’t take up a lot of space, has two surfaces and can be assembled without tools. The price is appealing too — $55.99 marked down from $79.99.
Wrought Studio Irvington 19-Inch Desk Lamp: available at Wayfair
This desk lamp has a small footprint that works well for desks with limited space. It has a durable base with an adjustable arm for versatile illumination. It’s on sale now for $47.99, discounted from the usual $54.99 price.
Marcy NS-654 Foldable Upright Exercise Bike: available at Dick’s Sporting Goods
With a sale price of $137.99 and a trim, foldable design, the Marcy foldable exercise bike makes it easy to continue working out from a dorm. While it works similarly to a full-size model, it folds in seconds so it doesn’t take up much space when not in use.
Sofa Sack Ultra-Soft Memory Foam Chair: available at Amazon
Whether lounging while working on an assignment or hanging out with friends, the Sofa Sack is perfect for dorm life. We love that it’s stuffed with memory foam for outstanding comfort. Choose from several colors available at different price points at Amazon.
Wild Sage Sarina Spiral Tie Dye Bath Towel: available at Bed Bath & Beyond
This soft bath towel is made of 100% cotton that absorbs water quickly and holds up well to laundering. We love the fun tie-dye pattern that is OEKO-TEX certified to be free of harsh chemicals. At just $6, it’s a great time to stock up and save.
Laptops and electronics
HP ZBook Firefly 14 G8 Mobile Workstation: available at HP
At a price of $1,535.19 (was $2,103), the ZBook Firefly 14 is a solid deal that’s built to handle all of your coursework needs. It’s fast, can accommodate large files, gets great battery life and has awesome graphics all in a lightweight, easy-to-transport design.
Samsung Galaxy Tab A7: available at Amazon
The Galaxy Tab A7 tablet is better than ever, with fast performance, lots of storage space and a reliable battery that gets long life with each charge. If you have other Samsung devices, you’ll love how easily it connects with them to maximize your productivity. Buy yours at Amazon and pay $179.99 — a savings of $50.
VIMC USB Charging Station: available at Amazon
Whether you have multiple devices or several roommates with devices, a charging dock makes charging phones, tablets, smartwatches and more fast and efficient. This four-port model is only $21.99 and is compatible with a variety of Apple and Android devices.
HP Chromebook 14b-na0010nr: available at HP
If you’re looking for an affordable device for heading back to college, you can save an additional $80 on the HP Chromebook 14b-na0010nr model. You’ll get long battery life, ample storage and the user-friendly Chrome operating system for just $389.99 at HP.
Fire 7 Tablet: available at Amazon
While not officially on sale, the already low price of the Fire 7 tablet makes it an ideal pick for the budget-conscious college student. In addition to a speedy processor and nice image quality, it has built-in Alexa voice control. The 16GB model is just $49.99, and the 32GB device is available for $69.99.
Bedding
Lucid Dream Collection 2-Inch Zoned Lavender Memory Foam Mattress Topper: available at Kohl’s
Lucid Dream’s lavender-scented memory foam topper offers five zoned areas for body-hugging comfort and pressure relief where they’re needed most. It’s available in all the popular sizes, including twin, that’s perfect for most dorm-sized beds. It’s marked down from $134.99 to $67.49 ($57.36 with the Kohl’s SUNNY15 promo code).
The Big One Oversized Supersoft Plush Throw: available at Kohl’s
Every dorm dweller needs a cozy blanket, and The Big One has you covered. The 60 x 72-inch dimensions are perfect for covering up when the weather turns cold. Choose from numerous fun colors and patterns, and pay just $16.99 at Kohl’s with a sale price and an additional SUNNY15 promo code discount.
Wild Sage Plush Blanket: available at Bed Bath & Beyond
Not only is this soft, knitted polyester blanket warm, but it’s also versatile and machine-washable. The twin size — which is suitable for most dorm beds — is on sale for $25.
Classic Brands Twin Cool Gel Ventilated Memory Foam Mattress: available at Amazon
A bed-in-a-box mattress is perfect for a dorm, as all you have to do is unbox it, unroll it and relax. This model is made of gel memory foam that delivers a cooling effect and is backed by a 10-year warranty. The dorm-sized twin model is just $209, a savings of 20%.
True North by Sleep Philosophy Microfleece Sheet Set: available at Kohl’s and Amazon
These soft microfleece sheets are perfect for chilly nights, plus they wash nicely without pilling. Shop the collection at Kohl’s on sale from $79.99-$104.99 to $33.99-$44.61 when you use the SUNNY15 promo code.
Kitchen
Galanz Retro 0.7 Cubic Foot Microwave: available at Amazon and Home Depot
The Galanz retro microwave has more to offer than a fun design and space-saving build. It also has key functions like variable power controls and a defrost setting that produces even results. It’s currently 39% off at Amazon and available for just $49.
Frigidaire 3.2 Cubic Foot Eraser Board Compact Fridge: available at Amazon
With a 3.2 cubic foot interior, this little fridge is perfect for a dorm. We love that the door doubles as an erasable message board so you never have to forget important dates and times. Grab one at Amazon for $123 and save 44% off the regular price.
GE 0.7 Cubic Foot Microwave: available at Wayfair
This GE microwave doesn’t take up a lot of space but is well-equipped with preset functions for making favorite foods and snacks with the touch of a button. It offers a size that’s perfect for dorms where space is typically limited. Buy now for $91.51 and save 43%.
Jennifer Manfrin is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
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