Dorm Room Essentials

My Dorm Room at the Elsa Leo-Rhynie "Towers" Hall @ UWI - 2nd Year

 

Going off to college is one of the first major move in a girl's life. It can be very difficult deciding what to take with you to live on hall and what to leave at home. In Jamaica, the dorm rooms at the various universities/colleges tend to be extremely small, but at the same time can be extremely comfortable if you organize it well. The key is to take things you will definitely need, and just a little extra to make you feel at home while you are away from your own home. You will want to avoid overpacking to prevent clutter, but at the same time, you won't want to underpack and leave behind the essentials.

To help get you organized, I have compiled a list of items under various categories that may come in helpful based on my experience living on hall at The University of the West Indies (UWI) for both my first and second year. Read on!



BEDDING ESSENTIALS

• Sheet sets (The beds are often Twin XL, so you will need this size bedding. Bring extras!)
• Mattress pads/coverings
• Pillows
• Comforters/Blankets (for the cold nights!)

CLEANING SUPPLIES

• Broom (preferably with a shovel holder)
• Wet mop (to clean any spills)
• Cleaning rags
• Disinfectant
• Air freshener

COOKING/EATING SUPPLIES

• Plates & bowls
• Cups & mugs
• Eating utensils (forks, spoons, knives)
• Can opener
• Water bottles
• Food storage containers
• Kettle
• Small toaster
• Dish towels
• Dishwashing liquid
• Sponges
• Garbage bags
• Freezer bags
• Pot holders
• Paper towels
• Pots

DECOR

• Rug
• Curtains
• Removable wall decors
• Stylish garbage bin (get one that matches the colour scheme you are going with!) to hold your little trash.
• Mirror

ELECTRONICS

• Alarm clock (unless you wish to use the alarm on your cellphone)
• Extension cords
• Table lamp
• Fan (there are no A/C systems in dorm rooms here, so get a fan that will not take up too much space)
• Flashlight
• Extra batteries
• Chargers for your devices
• Laptop/Tablets/Phones
• Headphones

LAUNDRY/IRONING SUPPLIES

• Small iron
• Small ironing board
• Hangers
• Laundry hamper
• Laundry detergents
• Sewing kit (to mend any tears in clothing or to replace missing buttons.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES

• Pens/Pencils
• Books
• Scissors
• Staples
• Calculator
• Printer(optional)
• Printing paper
• School bags
• Flash drive

SHOWER/PERSONAL SUPPLIES

• Bath slippers
• Shower caddy (to take all your essentials at once to the shower)
• Bathrobe
• Towels
• Rags
• Personal toiletries (perfume, makeup, etc...)
• Toothbrush & holder
• Toothpaste
• Razor
• Soap/Body wash
• Hair styling tools (blow dryer, flat iron, etc.)
• Air freshener
• Tissue
• Lysol spray
• Hand sanitizers (pocket-sized so you can take them to school!)
• CLOTHING! (for all different occasions such as going to school, parties, interviews, presentations, etc.)
• First Aid kit
• Umbrella (for the rainy days)

STORAGE

• Storage bins (great for holding items you don't use on a regular day-to-day basis)
• Storage hooks (to hang your robe, bags, etc.)

Remember, this is just a basic list. You might want to add or omit a few items; the decision is up to you!

Have an awesome day!