College Life: Things You Must Have for Your Dorm Room

So you are making the transition from high school to college, escaping home and setting off to live in freedom. You are about to start your freshman year of college and are excited to be staying in a dorm room, but you're worried about what to take with you. I'm going to make life a little easier for you and tell 5 of the top things that are great to have in the dorm room:

1- Mini Fridge

Trust me, when you get to college, any type of schedule is thrown out the window and you put your body through a lot of changing routines. You don't get a lot of sleep, and you eat at random times- but since you are dealing with dining hall food, you will surely be hungry at some point during the day. Having a mini refrigerator in your room solves this problem- if you want to be healthy, stock it with fruit and healthy snacks, or if you just want to satisfy your cravings, add whatever you like. Believe me you will be very happy that you have the fridge in your room on those late nights when you are starving.

2- Storage Containers

Okay, so probably the worst part about dorm life is the size of your room. There's really not a whole lot of space, especially if you are sharing a room with someone (which most of us do). For that reason, you should definitely take storage containers with you to put stuff in. I had containers to go under my bed, in my closet, against the wall, and even on the sink. You can never have enough storage containers, and they will definitely help you contain your stuff in the small space that you are given. They are also a great way to keep up with where you put your stuff- because in the dorm room, Mom isn't there to tell you to clean up- at least if you throw something in a storage bin you should be able to find it later!

3- Futon/Comfy Chairs

If you are lucky enough that you can rearrange your dorm room to fit a futon in it, then do it! It's always great to have some extra places to sit for when your friends come by, or even somewhere other than your bed to lounge out and watch TV or study (if you want). If you can't fit a futon, get a comfy chair or two that you can set out, or even fold up and set out when you want. Dorm rooms can get pretty awkward if people are just standing around with nowhere to sit- so go ahead and make life better for yourself!

4- TV/Video Games

Every dorm room needs a TV and some video games. This is a great way to waste some time when you are procrastinating from doing your homework, and it's also a great way to meet people on your hall- invite them over to play games and hang out. Plus, you get to see all of your favorite shows and don't have to catch them online later.

5- Closet Organizer

Whether you get a shoe rack, or a hanging rack to put in your closet and stick stuff in, some type of closet organizer is great to have in your dorm room. Remember, the closets are pretty tiny, so once again, every inch of space you can save is going to help.

So there you have it. Those are five things that I wouldn't have been happy living without in the dorm room. As long as you have these, you should be able to make it and make the most of your college experience!