Must-Have Stuff for College Apartments and Dorm Rooms

BEFORE YOU START BUYING!

Many students feel uncomfortable in their dorm room or college apartment. This is usually because they did not bring something they wished they had, or they brought too much stuff. There are three important things a student needs to ask him or herself when buying stuff for a college apartment or dorm room-



Will my dorm allow me to keep this item in my room?

Will this be too heavy or big for me to move in and out several times?

Will I use this item at least once a week?



Why Question 1 is Important - Dorms on college campuses have regulations as what can be brought into a dorm room. These regulations commonly deal with the size and weight of the object. Many dorms do not accept refrigerators that are over a certain size and weight. Also, many dorms do not accept anything that may be a potential fire hazard such as hot plates and candles. Be sure to read all of the regulations of the dorm you are moving into before buying your stuff.



Why Question 2 is Important - I have seen many times perfectly good couches tossed out by the road free for the taking because the college student could take it back home with them. Heavy and big items are a huge pain carrying up and down stairs, especially in August's hot and humid weather. It is best to buy light furniture and items to avoid this hassle even though this stuff may not be pretty.



Why Question 3 is Important - There is no point in bringing an item you are not going to use at least once a week. I know I wanted to bring my entire house to my college apartment, but there were many things I could lived without. I had a nice pair of speakers with a big subwoofer, but I didn't bring it since I knew I wouldn't use it that much. More stuff, means more stuff to move and to keep track. Also, more stuff means less space to walk around in. Before you start buying your stuff, you should read what things your dorm room or apartment will supply you with for free. Many dorms supply beds, chairs, drawers, and desks. You might bring something you don't need at all.

THINGS YOU SHOULD BUY!

The Basic Items - (Things everyone buys)

Most people bring refrigerators, stereos, microwaves, and TVs to their dorm room or apartment. It is best that you bring your own refrigerator if you don't want your roommate taking your own food out of the refrigerator. Microwaves are handy for heating up quick meals and snacks. My college was up north so I had to have a hot cup of cocoa on winter days. Having two TVs in a dorm room is not that bad either, but most dorms only have one cable connection. You should contact your fellow roommate and ask what they will bring if you don't want two microwaves, two TVs, two refrigerators, and two stereos hogging up your room.

Helpful Items - (Things not necessary for everyone but very helpful)



Laptops - I enjoyed working on my homework inside my room. If you do not plan to take any computer related classes while you go to college, then you shouldn't bother buying a laptop. Dorms often have computer labs in them. Some college apartments have them too. If you are planning to take basic Microsoft Office or computer programming classes, then you shouldn't need a computer with more than 128MB of RAM and a 450 MHz CPU. If you are planning to take computer classes such as Flash, PhotoShop, Web Design, then you will want to buy a little more powerful computer. A computer with 256MB of RAM and 800 MHz CPU should get you by. If you are taking computer courses dealing with 3D graphical programs such as Maya, then you should buy a computer with at least 512MB of RAM and 1.4 GHz CPU. Having a lot of hard drive memory is not important unless you are planning to download a lot of files.





Plastic Rolling Drawers - These type of drawers are perfect for the college life. They are light and easy to move. They are also very cheap. Nobody wants to lug a giant, wooden drawer over to his or her room. Another nice thing about plastic rolling drawers is the fact that many people use them after they get out of college for their closets and bathrooms.

TV DVD/VCR Combo Players - Bringing a separate TV, VCR, and DVD player takes up a lot of space. Also, there are a lot of wires that can tangle up and hog power plug-ins. A TV with the DVD and VCR player included with the whole devise solves the problem. If you are going to bring a separate DVD player, then buy one of the small versions to save space.





Power Strips - If you are bringing a lot of electronics, a power strip will definitely come in handy. I often had the problem of not having enough plug-ins in my room.

Small CD Holders - This item can come in real handy if you want to bring your DVD movie collection. DVD cases take up a lot of space. People are more likely to steal a DVD in its case too. By storing your DVDs in a CD holder, you can easily hide your movies or keep them safe in your book bag at all times. Since most new DVDs cost about $20 these days, it's not something anyone wants to lose.

Headphones - Buy some nice headphones like the one pictured below if you want the freedom to listen to music, watch TV, and play on the computer whenever you want. I like to watch late-night TV unlike some of my previous roommates, so I put some headphones on and set up a cardboard wall so the light of the TV would not bother my other roommate.





MP3 Player Cell Phones - This is a great item to lower the amount of things you need to bring. Buying items that have dual purposes really add up when it comes to moving and keeping track the items you need. For example, I bought a DVD player for my laptop so I didn't need to bring a separate DVD player with me to college.

Plastic Tupperware - Tupperware is a great way to store your lunch. It especially comes in handy when eating out or if you need a bowel to eat some cereal. Though not having Tupperware is not terrible, it is something easy to forget about on moving day. If you plant to always eat at the cafeteria, then you probably don't need Tupperware then.

Beds with Drawers - These type of beds with drawers underneath them are a great way to save space. There are even bunk beds with shelves included on the bottom on the market right now. If you're planning to use a bed without drawers, then you can buy a few separate plastic drawers made specially to be slipped under the bed. This is a great substitute.





Anti-Theft Drawers/Safes - If you are a paranoid person, this will probably relieve a great amount of your stress. They are not necessary and they are expensive, but it is a must if you are bringing something very important and valuable with you to college. It would be a good place to put a digital camera or a pricey watch. I would not bring anything that needs a safe, though.

Closet Drawers and Shelves - Clothes, shampoo, games, and shoes can take up a lot of space, especially with two people. If you need a lot of drawers to store your things, you can find drawers and shelves made to fit into closets. Many of these drawers and shelves are stackable too. It is a great item to buy if you have lots of shoes or do not like to clean up your papers. Putting your junk in the closet is a great way to keep the room clean. No one has to know the closet is a nightmare.







Futons and Loungers - Heavy wood futons and loungers are a thing of the past. Now, there are plenty of futons that are light and easy to move. The pictures below show the light frame of a lounger and how nice it looks with cushions and pillows. I've seen futons as light as 34 pounds! These new futons are perfect for anyone planning to have company take a nap or stay the night at their place.



Wall Tacky - Many dorm rooms have brick walls. This item is a must if you plan to put posters on your walls. Here is another easy thing to forget on moving day.

Curtains - Curtains can decorate windows, but they can also provide a barrier of privacy. There are curtain bars you can put up into the ceiling and hang curtains off of. This is a great way to segregate a room if you are not a big fan of your roommate.

Foldable Chairs and Tables - This item is not necessary, but it can come in handy when having some friends over to study, have lunch, or play a game of cards. There are many stylish foldable chairs and tables out on the market now. You'll have best luck finding stuff like this in the garden section.



Decorative Items - (Things to cheer up the place)



Lamps - Many dorm rooms are sort of dark. Floor and table lamps can lighten up the place and give it style. There are all sorts of styled lamps from Contemporary to Victorian. You will want to check your dorm 's policies regarding lighting, though. They may not allow torch lamps.





Rugs - Pretty carpeting usually does not come to contractor's minds when building dorms and college apartments. A rug can easily add lots of color to the place, and make it more homely. It's also something nice and clean to sit on if you're one of those floor-loving people.





Posters - This is the most common and practical way to give a dorm room life. I myself brought over seven posters to hang on my walls. Don't forget to bring tacky with you! I wouldn't bring framed artwork, though, because it would be very difficult to put up on a brick wall.

Living in a dorm room or college apartment is not that bad as long as you have all you need. College work is stressful. Everyone should have a place they can easily go and call home. These tips and items can help you achieve this.

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