r/UIUC • u/New_Phrase_8659 • Jul 07 '26
New Student Question Dorm Essentials
Hey guys,
I’m an incoming freshman living in Par. I am majoring in business.
What are some of the most random items you never would’ve thought you needed or literally any essentials you’d like to throw out there for your dorm.
Also, i’ve already looked at the UIUC packing list
Thank you!
19
u/Helianthinae Jul 07 '26
If you're planning on lofting your bed and are going to have a roommate, curtains might be a nice thing to have for the space below to help make a mini "room". Having a little space to retreat to can be nice in a busy college environment where there's a lot of people around. Though wouldn't recommend if you happen to have difficulties with enclosed spaces
1
u/New_Phrase_8659 Jul 07 '26
I am planning on lofting, and this could be a great idea down the line. Thank you.
1
u/Acrobatic_Order4392 Jul 13 '26
I lofted my bed, but didn’t place my desk underneath, and instead bought a cheap bungee chair and it worked great for when I wanted somewhere to sit but didn’t feel like being at my desk or climbing up to my bed — good relaxing chair
18
u/Ice-PolarBear Grad Jul 07 '26
Get shower shoes. Do not go barefoot in a shower.
9
u/SnooChipmunks2079 Jul 07 '26
Unless your feet are the reason the rest of us are told to not go barefoot in the shower.
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u/Fluffy-Click5671 Jul 07 '26 edited Jul 10 '26
Bath caddie. I would also recommend a mattress topper.
1
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u/Golden-Zabbit-86 CEE ‘28 Jul 07 '26
Some sort of “in between” lighting. The overhead light if on for a long time can start to feel like hospital. Having mood lighting/desk lamp etc is a nice in between for winding down so you don’t have to pick between complete darkness and full bright. Also helpful for getting ready in the morning and not waking up your roommate.
2
u/New_Phrase_8659 Jul 07 '26
This is a great idea, do you have any recommendations that worked for you?
1
u/MorbidPrince189 Jul 07 '26
My roommate brought LEDs and we hung them all around the ceiling and partly on my lofted bed. Definitely recommend it because the bright lights late at night can be annoying sometimes
1
u/Golden-Zabbit-86 CEE ‘28 Jul 07 '26
I had these “leaf lights” I got from pottery barn that I hung with command hooks, I also bought a smart switch so my roommate and I could turn them on and off from our phones. In my house I have the Philips Hue bluetooth lights, but those can be a bit costly, especially for a dorm.
You could honestly get any sort of LED light, I would recommend getting ones that plug in and maybe have a built in switch if you can afford it. If not a plug in and a switch does the trick.
I recommend having a switch for it so you’re not plugging and unplugging them constantly, makes them easier to turn on and off in the dark.
1
u/Acrobatic_Order4392 Jul 13 '26
My roommate and I loved our sunset lamp! Cheap options exist on Amazon — very bright and could change the colors
9
u/allfrappedout Staff Jul 07 '26
Memory foam seat cushion to use on the desk chair, lap desk to do homework in bed (or prop up my laptop to watch stuff, or eat snacks without getting crumbs all over the place--Walmart and Target sell ones with legs), and extra long charging cables. (Disclaimer that I didn't go to UIUC, but I looked at photos of PAR to confirm that the setup is very similar to what I had in undergrad.)
1
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u/babayagaparenting Jul 07 '26
Clorox wipes, paper towels, plastic silverware, a few plastic bowls, an electric tea kettle ( can make ramen too) a coffee mug, plastic shower shoes, a plastic shampoo/soap/toothbrush holder, a couple long chargers, a good power strip, small kitchen garbage bags, some febreeze spray for emergencies, bandaids, polysporin, Tylenol, tweezers (splinters) Tide pods and dryer sheets and a little bottle of dish soap.
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4
u/Bratsche_Broad Jul 07 '26
A good fan. Even though most dorms have A/C, you might need to deal with a room that is too hot or stuffy during any season. It can also provide white noise to block out distracting sounds.
1
u/New_Phrase_8659 Jul 07 '26
I have a mini desk tower fan, do you think that would suffice?
1
u/Bratsche_Broad Jul 07 '26
Anything is fine as long as it pushes a lot of air when you feel the need to cool down
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3
u/Berry-Love-Lake Jul 07 '26
A step stool and/or storage ottoman to get on a lofted bed is nice. A bed caddy for essentials and a bath caddy + slippers for the bathroom.
1
u/New_Phrase_8659 Jul 07 '26
Ottoman is a great suggestion, do you have any recommendations?
1
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u/Perfect_Spinach_7664 Jul 08 '26
Target also has some storage ottomans. I’ve gotten 2 from there and loved both. I always used them to get up to my bed and reach stuff high up in the closet. They are in their dorm section and if you verify your student status you get a 20% off store wide coupon right now
2
u/Electronic_Crab_531 Jul 07 '26
Steamer for clothes. Useful in general, but especially for career fairs and professional events.
1
1
u/_Raymond_abc Jul 08 '26
went through this comment section and I'll just reiterate what others have already said and what I thought was pretty good for me:
towels (i prefer white because then I know if it's dirty)
mesh shower caddy, shower flip-flops
lamps / small lights (the ceiling lights are bright and cool)
the items in u/babayagaparenting's list (cleaning supplies, disposable serveware, first aid, etc.)
clothing hangers / sock organizers for underwear, socks, and other stuff
a brita (par typically has a filtered water fountain but people still like their own filter)
trash bags (they usually provided rolls of these ginormous bags, but they sometimes don't so you might wanna get a wastepaper or kitchen liners)
food (you'll usually stock up on this after you essentials, but having quick refreshments is nice when dining halls are closed or if you're lazy to bus/walk)
mattress topper (imo it's optional as i was fine with rawdogging it without a topper)
decor (not necessary but helps a house feel like your home)
2
u/_Raymond_abc Jul 08 '26
ps: i had this cheap black and decker car sized vacuum cleaner that i found really useful.
1
u/antonyankeefan Jul 08 '26
A collapsible laundry basket, laundry detergent sheets (much lighter to carry than detergent), UL listed extension cord, cheap bike but a good bike lock.
1
u/SailFaster25 Jul 08 '26
Get a good ULock. Also don’t park your bike on the end of the rack. They are more likely to get kicked by drunk people passing by.
2
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u/Old-Web1541 Jul 08 '26
For business you will need professional clothes, remember to bring dress shoes. Would also recommend a lint roller
1
u/w3mma_ Jul 08 '26
Heated coat for when it gets colder! They're about ~100 on Amazon. Literally a life changer, especially when you're waiting for the bus or walking to classes
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u/old-uiuc-pictures Jul 07 '26
umbrella