Wow. Can you believe it is time to send the kids back to school? I just did a bunch of shopping for my favorite son, Jackson, and his first dorm room. I thought I would share a few of the items I picked up. And, the bonus is that you can do most of the shopping from right where you are – either in front of your computer or on a hand held device. I’m not a fan of schlepping around in this heat…. Just click on the image to go to the purchase site.

Let’s start with what I wish I would have had in my dorm room. These adjustable shelves are awesome in order to accommodate the fridge, microwave and television – not to mention the storage on the side of it.

This just reminded me I need to order some dishes.

Adjustable Shelves

Okay, dishes can wait.

These foldable storage cubes are awesome. Of course, I got black because this IS a dude’s dorm room and I would have been shot if I had opted for the pretty pink color. These are cloth and fold flat if not being used. There are wardrobes in the rooms, and these will be great to stack on top with miscellaneous supplies. I have similar cubes in my own closet on the top shelf; they hold ball caps, past Halloween costumes, extra hosiery, and {sigh} some clothes I’m determined to fit into year after year.

Foldable Storage Cubes

I hunted high and low for some cool, masculine bedding that wasn’t pricey. I look at this selection as a one year investment, so it seems foolish to pay top dollar for “disposable” bedding. The dorms have extra long twin beds, which really limits the selections. And I wanted something that was not going to show the dirt and spills that are bound to happen in a room with two boys away from home for the first time.

Gray + Navy Striped Bedding Set

There was some sort of an anchor that I saw during the Parent’s Orientation a few weeks ago. I did not take notes and do not recall what the meaning was, but I found this cool area rug that was “approved” by Jackson. I also purchased some rug tape to secure it to the floor.

Modern Navy Area Rug

Of course, we can’t have the whole room navy and gray, so for a hint of color, I got some throw blankets and a pillow. The school’s colors are navy and gold and that is what Number One Son wanted, but I didn’t want the overall vibe to be too girlie so the gold is at a minimum.

Colorful throws

Throw pillow

Of course, we can’t have the whole room navy and gold. So how about an American flag? You can’t go wrong with Old Glory! And the navy blue ties everything together so my designer-y notion of the dorm room is satisfied without being overdone.

American Flag

You can’t have enough storage, so this 3-drawer storage drawer cart will certainly come in handy. It is on wheels, so it can be placed in a variety of places in the space.

Storage Drawer Cart

One thing I forgot to mention is that we have not been able to connect with the roommate. He did not include his contact information on the paperwork that the school is allowed to share with the room / suite mates. Urgh. So we still aren’t sure what the plan is regarding some of the oh-so-limited common space. The rug may have to be centered under Jackson’s bed rather than in the shared space, do we purchase a microwave and refrigerator or just wait until the actual move in to see who has what? Will the roomie also have a shelving unit for the aforementioned microwave and refrigerator? When is he arriving? Do we unpack and assemble everything or wait to see what he arrives with? Decisions decisions. And for this organized, well planned step-momma, this is an exercise in patience…setting a good example, right?

So those are a few of the dorm room essentials for your shopping pleasure. Shower caddy. Shower shoes. Bath towels. Laundry basket. All of these need to be identified and purchased as well. Any brilliant ideas  from parents who have already moved their kids into a dorm are very welcome in the comments below!

XOXO,
Michelle Lynne

P.S. I am also on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Houzz – where you will find more images that don’t always make the blog or the website.