Overview
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Although you haven’t thought much about the essential dorm room ideas for guys, it’s time. Your son has worn the cap and gown, gone on the Senior trip, completed summer school classes at the local community college, and/or worked. In June, you realize that it’s really going to happen. In a few short weeks, he is leaving the nest.
You attend orientation with him, and then it really sinks in that you must plan for, purchase, and eventually install the essentials for your son’s dorm room, items that he will be utilizing for the next nine months. This article lists everything I bought for his room and where I bought them.
My goal was to spend as little as possible on these items, without his being too scarred for life. Also, we did not opt for a corner room (bigger) since that would just be more space for clutter.
For you, the experience needs to be stress-free. After all, he is a boy. He doesn’t care what you buy…I promise.
Now, there are some guidelines that you need to follow in order for him not care what you buy. If you make purchases that are too matchy-matchy, he will be furious. To read these guidelines, click on 7 tips for decorating your son’s dorm room.
Although this will vary from dorm to dorm and University to University, his room came with two chests of drawers and two desks.
Essentials for your son’s dorm room
1. Carpet
I purchased the carpet with the mindset that it would be thrown away at the end of the year. Because my son’s dorm room was 10 x 14 feet, we purchased a 10 x 12 gray carpet from the University. Thankfully, it was delivered straight to the dorm room, and it served them well. Anything you can purchase through the University, I recommend doing because the prices are good, and it’s easy.
2-13. Bedding
Protectors
There are some imperatives for the bed. You want the actual mattress to be as far away from your son’s body as possible. I tried not to think about the cleanliness of the mattress too much and hoped the previous dwellers had also bought the imperatives. We received information from the University to get items with extra-long sizing for the twin bed.
- Original Bed Bug Blocker Zippered Mattress Cover Protector Twin XL from Amazon
- Cloth mattress pad cover Twin XL from Amazon
We put the plastic zippered mattress cover protector around the mattress, then the egg crate mattress, then the cloth mattress pad cover, then the two fitted sheets, one flat sheet, and the comforter.
Decor
We also bought all of the bedding through the University including the egg crate mattress. It was called the Value Pack, and we upgraded the egg crate mattress.
Included in the Value Pack
- Reversible gray/black comforter
- Black fleece blanket
- Pillowcases, gray and black
- Two sets of fitted and folded sheets, gray and black (I put both sets of fitted sheets on his bed and told him to take off the top one around October. I have no idea if he did this.)
- Egg crate mattress (we upgraded this item)
- Two towels, black
- Bedside caddy that installs on the side of the bed (it was a waste but came with it)
- Two laundry bags
14. Futon
The name is deceiving. I remembered from college a futon being an ugly light wood heavy piece of furniture with cloth cushions. When you made it into a bed, I remember wooden slats, then the cushion.
This futon is probably cheaper than those were, and it is pretty good-looking. We approached it as having the roommates split the price, knowing after they sat on it as a couch for nine months and guests slept on it when folded down, we would be throwing it away at the end of the year.
Much to my surprise, they didn’t put sheets on it when guests stayed. Gross! I know this because when I suggested bringing an extra set of sheets for the futon, my son looked at me very oddly. He said he didn’t put sheets on the futon when he visited people in the dorm the year before.
I bought the Best Choice Modern Faux Leather Convertable Futon Sofa Bed Recliner Couch With Metal Legs and 2 Cup Holders Black from Amazon. I chuckle every time I read the description.
It comes in a large skinny rectangular box, and we put that in our truck and put it together in the dorm room. Luckily, it’s a very easy installation, but the box is heavy.
One of the silver legs came home in my son’s items. However, I didn’t ask if the futon lasted the whole year. Considering one leg came home, I assume the futon went to the dumpster as predicted.
15. TV
His roommate provided the TV. It was a nice, large flat screen that fit on one of the desks.
16. Refrigerator
My son’s roommate already had one. It fit under the bed. It became unusable within the first couple of months since they didn’t clean it out. They threw it in the dumpster after Christmas. The one I would have purchased is on Amazon. I couldn’t find an affordable 5-star review refrigerator, so for the money, this 4.5-star review is my choice.
17. Microwave
You might want to put this on the list that you agree to purchase and keep because miraculously it survived. Apparently, it was tougher than the refrigerator. I bought the microwave, and it came home in one piece and surprisingly not too dirty. It was the Mainstays Microwave 0.7 cu Stainless Steel from Amazon.
18. Coffee maker
I opted for the cheap route, and it worked fine and survived the year! I bought the Mainstays Single Serve K-Cup and Brew Coffee Maker, Black from Wal-Mart. Spending the money on a Keruig didn’t make sense to me. I bought him some paper coffee cups with lids and set this coffee station up on the dresser by his bed. I don’t think they make that one anymore. Another good option is from Amazon, the Chefman Instabrew Single Serve Maker Brewer for K-Cup Pod.
19. Closet organizer
He hung this in this closet to serve as shelving. They have the Household Essentials Natural Blended Canvas 10-Pocket Wide Hanging Organizer with Plastic Shelves at Amazon.
20. Closet organizer with pockets
This is made for over the door, but since there is no closet door, we hung it on the pole in the closet. They have the Wall Door Closet 18 Pockets Hanging Storage Bag Case Organizer Gray at Amazon.
21. Curtain to cover the closet doorway
His roommate’s mom purchased the curtains from World Market. This was a sheer curtain. This curtain and splitting the window curtains with blackout cost $40 per person.
22. Curtains to go on windows
See above. There are blinds on the windows. Looking back, maybe getting blackout on the curtains wasn’t such a great idea. $40 per person including closet door curtain. The curtains and any other item that goes on a wall must be hung by using Command Strips. No holes can be put in the walls.
23. Oscillating tower fan
I bought the Lasko 32-Inch 3 Speed Oscillating Tower Fan with Remote Control in Black from Bed Bath & Beyond with a $10 off $30 purchase.
22. Surge protector for large electronics
I bought these last minute the day we moved in from Ace Hardware. I purposely waited to purchase in order to see what all we needed once we installed everything.
23. Surge protectors for phone charging
These also came from Ace Hardware the day we moved in.
24. Steamer
Right before we moved him in, I purchased a hand-held steamer for myself. I never ironed or steamed prior to this. My son said, “That would have come in handy these past 18 years,” after he saw that his t-shirts had no more wrinkles! So, he decided he wanted one for his dorm room. He claims he actually used it.
Rowenta X-Cel Steam+ from Bed, Bath, & Beyond. I used a 20 percent off coupon.
25. 3 drawer wide cart roller
I bought the Sterilite 3 Drawer Wide Cart Roller. It fit under his bed.
26. Clothing rod for car/truck
He used this every time he came home. High Road Car Bar Hanger. Reasonable and durable to use for the next few years!
27. Thin coat hangers
We used free, thin wire hangers that you get from the cleaners, due to lack of space in the closet
28. Lamp for between the beds
I let him use a lamp that I got as a wedding present that I don’t use anymore. This went on the chest of drawers in between their beds. Miraculously, it came back in one piece.
31. Shower caddy
My son opted for the dorm that has a community bathroom. I never got a straight answer as to how he actually transported his toiletries to and from the community bathroom. I would have thought a plastic rectangle with a wire handle would have been handy. Maybe he just carried the items.
32. Shower shoes
He wore some Nike flipflops he already had.
33. Two door stoppers
The door automatically locks, so I bought these to place under the door while showering (remember he is in the dorm with a community bathroom) so he wouldn’t get locked out or so his roommate wouldn’t have to get up and open the door for him every time when just going down the hall. I have no idea if they used them. Purchased from Wal-Mart.
34. Metal mesh wastebasket with little garbage bags already in the bottom
I purchased this from Bed, Bath, and Beyond for $6.99. They also sell the garbage bags.
35. Umbrella
I bought a cheap, black one umbrella Amazon. No clue if he ever used this.
36. First Aid Kit
I put the items in a large Tupperware, and he kept it on the shelf in his closet. I purchased generic items at CVS with coupons I had collected all summer. The items ranged from Advil, to stomach meds, to Mucinex, to band-aids and Neosporin, etc. I also sent a thermometer.
37. A few cleaning supplies and paper towels
I sent very few cleaning supplies, like a bottle of countertop cleaner, paper towels and some Clorox wipes. Consequently, I didn’t send a broom or mini-vacuum.
38. Floor lamp by futon
We opted against this last minute but probably would have been a good thing to have. Amazon has a good one. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
39. Ottoman
We also opted against this. Purposely, I waited to see the room with everything in it before deciding to purchase this item. Had I bought one, I had seen a small black faux leather rectangular one that would serve as a coffee table, footrest and storage bin. It would have been good to have, but we never got it.
40. Lint Roller
Scotch Brite brand, no idea if he ever used it.
41. Odor Eliminator
I put an Arm and Hammer Odor Eliminator box in his closet.
42. Bulletin Board
I have no idea if he used this. Unfortunately, I do know he left it in the room upon move out and got fined for that. He left this in the room upon moveout, and the $10 bulletin board from Wal-Mart, coupled with the fine, turned into a $40 item which didn’t come home.
43. Mirror to go on the back of the door
This was another item that he left in the room upon move out, and he got fined. Unfortunately, A $5.00 mirror turned into a $30 mirror and didn’t come home. He thought it came with the room.
Hopefully, this will be an easy guide for you to follow and just point and click to make your purchases for the essential dorm room ideas for guys. For an overview of the experience of decorating the dorm room, you can read 7 tips for decorating your son’s dorm room.
What items did you purchase that I didn’t? Any other suggestions? What are your dorm room ideas for guys?
To learn more about the freshman year, you can read 7 Hidden Money Traps For Your College Freshman Son To Avoid–Part 1.
