The best dorm room essentials for college students

College will be back in session soon enough, which also means a new batch of freshmen will start living the dorm life. If that applies to you, we think its a good idea to stock up on a few essentials for your new tiny abode before you get there, especially if this is your first time away from home. Weve got tech recommendations, of course, but not everything on this list is a gadget. Thats because we also wanted to cover the other items that will bring you the comforts of home to your dorm and hopefully make student life less stressful.

Hario V60 Electric Kettle

Hario

Whatever your morning drink of choice, an electric kettle makes it that much easier to get hot water ready quickly. The Hario V60 Electric Kettle is especially useful for those who love pour-over coffee, as its thin gooseneck spout allows for a slow and steady pour. But it also works great for tea, hot chocolate or instant ramen. We also like its stainless steel design, which makes it easy to clean. The biggest knock against it is its lack of variable temperature settings something tea snobs may find necessary. If thats a must-have, we recommend the Cuisinart CPK-17, which has six preset heat settings for different varieties of tea.

Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2

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College life isnt all about studying youll want to party and blast your favorite music, and for that youll need a speaker more powerful than the one inside your smartphone. A portable Bluetooth speaker like the UE Wonderboom 2 is the best way to do that, as it offers better audio quality than your phone and the battery lasts up to 13 hours. We also like the Wonderboom 2 because it delivers big sound in a compact package thats both cute and easy to carry around. And no worries about dropping it either, as its durable enough to survive a five-foot drop. Its also IP67-rated to be dustproof and waterproof, so feel free to bring it to the beach, too.

Yamazaki Home desk organizer

Yamazaki

You might not have a large desk in your dorm room, which makes a desk organizer all the more essential. We recommend this one from Yamazaki Home because it has a simple base tray for items like keys and coins plus a compartment for pens, pencils, sunglasses and more. You can also prop your phone against the frame, turning it into a makeshift phone stand, and hang your watch and jewelry on the arm. Its use of vertical space is particularly handy since you probably dont have a ton of extra room to space on your small dorm desk. We also like its minimalist design, which will go well with however you style your space.

Stasher bowls and bags

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Snacks are a necessity, whether its for late-night study sessions or binge-watching the latest Netflix show. We like these reusable silicone bags and bowls from Stasher because you can use them to store your favorite snacks. Theyre also microwave safe so you can use them to heat up meals or even make popcorn. They come in a bunch of different sizes, so you can get a few that will fit your favorite snacks or even meals, if youre into food prepping. And theyre not just for food, either. You can use them to store makeup, jewelry, small accessories and more, making them good options for travel as well.

AFROG LED desk lamp

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Dont rely on the glow from your laptop if youre up late studying. We recommend investing in a quality desk lamp to minimize eye strain and fatigue. The AFROG multifunctional LED desk lamp is an especially useful one because its so versatile. It has five lighting modes and seven levels of brightness so you can dial it to your preference. Theres a 30- or 60-minute auto off timer so you can fall asleep and itll turn off by itself. It has a wireless charging base plus a USB charging port so you can charge your devices at the same time.

Belkin MagSafe 3-in-1 wireless charger

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If you own multiple Apple products and youre constantly detangling charging cables, we highly recommend a 3-in-1 wireless charger like the Belkin BoostCharge Pro. It has a 15W MagSafe charging base for your iPhone and charging spaces for your Apple Watch and AirPods as well. The horizontal layout lets you charge any Qi-capable phone, though at reduced speeds, or other compatible earbuds and accessories. On top of that, the flat pad format means you can easily pack it in your bag the next time you go on a trip.

Fully Cora standing desk converter

Fully

Sitting for long hours is bad for your health, but getting a standing desk on a students budget is probably out of the question. One good solution: a standing desk converter like Fullys Cora. It works on any surface, and you can tuck it away when not in use. Simply press the side levers to raise the work surface from a slim 1.3 inches to a fully extended 15.7 inches. No need to worry about damaging your furnitures surface either, as it has non-skid pads underneath.

Sony WH-CH710N headphones

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Dorm life can be fun, but it can also be pretty noisy, especially if you have a roommate. If youre the kind of person who needs peace and quiet to focus on your work, consider a pair of noise-canceling headphones. Weve reviewed tons of them at various price points, and it can be easy to think that you need the top of the line model to get adequate silence. But thats not always the case: Sonys WH-CH710N is a solid choice because theyre fairly affordable and they deliver plenty of sound-blocking power thanks to the companys dual noise sensor technology. It even has an ambient-sound option, which you can toggle on to hear whats going on around you. We also appreciate their 35-hour battery life depending on how often you use them, youll get through a bunch of study sessions before they need a power up.

Linenspa shredded foam pillow

Linenspa

Comfort is key to dorm living, which is why we recommend an oversized reading pillow like this one from Linenspa. It helps change up your seating position so youre not in your desk chair all the time, and its definitely a lot more comfortable than just piling up bed pillows against the wall. The pillow is filled with shredded memory foam so it wont put a lot of stress on your back, plus it comes with a soft velour cover. That posture support makes it great for reading, playing games or watching TV. As a bonus, theres also a handle on the top that makes it easy to carry around.

Pure Green 100% Natural Latex mattress topper

Pure Green

Chances are, the bed in your dorm room isnt very comfortable. Its also probably not easy (or cost effective) to change the mattress. Thats why we recommend getting a mattress topper: Its the one way to control how your bed feels without spending a lot of money. We prefer a natural latex option like this one from Pure Green because it delivers comfort and support without the sinking feeling of memory foam. It also wont absorb much body heat, which helps keep you cool throughout the night. Pure Green sells its mattress topper in three different thicknesses from one inch to three to fit your particular needs. Opt for the 1- or 2-inch if you want firm or medium-firm, or spring for the 3-inch model if you prefer a something softer.

Lunya Sleep Mask

Lunya

Roommate pulling an all-nighter with the lights on? Want to catch some zs in the afternoon in between classes? Or maybe youre just particularly sensitive to light? If you can relate to any of this, we recommend getting a sleep mask to make it easier for you to drift off into dreamland. This one from Lunya is one of our personal favorites because it completely blocks out light and feels comfortable to boot; its like wearing pillows on your eyes. We tend to prefer this model over masks with eye cups because its not quite as bulky. The Lunyas wide elasticized band will fit most people and it even covers the ears, which helps reduce noise. Its also machine washable, so you can easily keep it clean.

Anyday cookware

Anyday

Youre probably not allowed to have an Instant Pot in your dorm room, but one kitchen appliance that almost always gets the thumbs up is a microwave. Sure, you can use it to heat up frozen dinners, but why not try it to cook actual dishes as well? Anydays line of microwave cookware lets you do exactly that. Everything is microwave safe, including the stainless steel rim (its smooth and curved shape prevents electrical arcing). Its primary feature is its lid, which has a knob that can vent excess steam when it is lifted. Thanks to this innovation, you can make everything from mac and cheese to a breakfast burrito using only your microwave. For college students, we recommend the medium dish set theyre sized just right for solo diners.

Black + Decker 20V Max handheld vacuum

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One of the first lessons youll likely learn as a college student is that youll have no one to clean up after you. That means doing your own laundry and yes, cleaning your own room. The easiest way to do so is with a handheld vacuum, like the Black+Decker 20V Max. It only weighs three pounds so its lightweight enough for you to clean your whole room without a lot of fuss. It has a pivoting nozzle which makes it ideal for getting around tight corners and hard-to-reach shelves. Its high-performance motor provides plenty of suction and its 15-ounce capacity is large enough for most dorm rooms. The bowl and filter are removable so you can give them a good wash in between uses. Its also overall easy to use and fairly affordable, two things you cant often say about fancy, expensive vacuums.

Codenames

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Playing casual board games is a great way to socialize at gatherings without the need to engage in small talk. A really popular one is called Codenames, a party game that pits two teams of spies against each other. Each spymaster has to get their teammates to guess hidden words (which are plotted out on a grid) using only one-word clues and a number. For example, if you wanted your team to guess the words costume, web, and spider, you might say Peter, 3 to indicate that there are three clues on the board that match that word. There are also clues you have to avoid, which makes the game a little harder. The game is easy to explain and it encourages communication, which helps break the ice.

Herd Mentality

Herd Mentality

If you want a game thats more light-hearted, we recommend Herd Mentality. It accommodates four to 20 players, which makes it perfect for parties. In it, you simply take turns flipping over a question and trying to write down what you think everyone else will answer as well. For example, if the question is What is the best way to cook an egg? you write scrambled and it turns out that is what most other players answered as well, you will get points. But beware of giving the answer thats the odd one out, because youll get the dreaded Pink Cow and be in danger of losing the game unless you can somehow trick someone else into getting it instead.