Make that college dorm feel more like home with these 5 Easy Ways to Bring the Comforts of Home to the Dorm Room...
This post was sponsored, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.
We just moved my son into his dorm room for his freshman year of college this past weekend. (I am still trying to wrap my mind around that one, folks!) Even though his college is just an hour drive away, this is his first time being out of the house and out on his own. An hour is far enough away that he does need to live on campus, but close enough that he can drive home when he needs to (and we can drop in for weekend visits pretty often too ;) ).
As we were out shopping for his dorm room & packing up totes to take with us on move-in day, I knew I wanted to make sure that he had some of the comforts of home with him over the next semester. As much as I know that he is excited for this new chapter in his life & the adventures that will surely come with it, I also know that he will get home sick every now & again. That is why I came up with this budget friendly checklist of 5 easy ways to bring the comforts of home to his dorm room...
1. A Comfy Bed.
I think one of the most important things that a new college student needs to get is a good night's rest. The dorm hall my son is staying in supplied the students with mattresses in each room, but it would be a mattress that it had been used by countless other freshman guys.
First of all, there is the ick factor. And second of all, who knows if they are even comfortable or how old they are. (The National Sleep Foundation recommends that you replace your mattress at least every 10 years.) Having a comfy bed that he could rest & sleep & relax in was definitely an important comfort from home that I also wanted my son to have at college.
We all know that most mattresses are bulky, take up lots of space when moving, & can be a total pain to maneuver up flights of stairs and through narrow hallways. That is one of the big reasons why we went with a DHP Signature Sleep Gold Twin mattress for his dorm room. This compressed mattress comes rolled up & shipped in a box right to your door or you can conveniently pick one up at your local Walmart.
Moving in & setting up the DHP Signature Sleep Gold Twin mattress was a cinch! You simply remove it from the box, cut off the outer plastic bag, roll it out onto a flat surface, cut off the inner plastic cover, & then watch the magic happen. In a matter of seconds, your DHP Signature Sleep Gold mattress starts to expand reaching its full thickness in just 48 hours. It is seriously a pretty cool thing to witness.
Not only is the DHP mattress convenient, comfy, & budget friendly, but it is also CertiPur. And what does that mean exactly? It means that it is made without ozone depleters, mercury, lead, formaldehyde, or other heavy metals.
2. Well Stocked Shelves.
Bringing the comforts of home to the dorm room can be as easy as simply stocking their shelves in their room with some of their favorite things. For my son, that meant his favorite coffee & flavored creamer, snacks, a speaker for playing his favorite songs, and personal hygiene items.
3. An Organized Work Space.
Getting your college kid to start the new school year with a well organized & clutter free work space is key to making sure that they have a comfortable space that they are more willing to do their research & homework in.
My son built his own computer this past year, and it was important to him that he bring it with him to college. Since the desktop takes up quite a bit of desk space, we bought & used organizers that would fit inside of his desk drawers. Everything he needs for late night study sessions is out of sight, but also conveniently within reach.
4. Their Favorite Hobbies.
Encourage your college student to still pursue their favorite hobbies during the school year. My son is an avid hiker & also enjoys running outdoors. I made sure that he brought a good pairing of running shoes & some of his hiking gear with him to college. Fortunately, his college is surrounded by the mountains & beautiful outdoor spaces making it easy & convenient for him to pursue both of these hobbies.
Having them bring their favorite hobbies from home with them to the dorm room gives them a connection between where they came from & where they are heading. These hobbies also happen to be a terrific outlet for when they are feeling a bit overwhelmed by college life & need a little escape.
5. A Few Personal Touches.
Last but not least, encourage them to make their dorm space their own by adding their own personal touches. For my son, that meant bringing his favorite comforter & a couple of framed photos from home. For other college coeds, that might mean a favorite pillow, or a poster to hang on the wall, or maybe even a childhood stuffed animal. The more that they can make their dorm room their own, the more that it will feel like home to them. :)
What is your #1 tip for bringing the comforts of home to the dorm room?
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