College Dorm Room Essentials from Abt

When starting your dorm room essentials list, a mini fridge is definitely a must. These appliances can be life-savers for busy schedules and stressful weeks. Depending on your class times, you might not be able to make it to the dining halls in time. By having a fridge in your room, you can easily grab a quick breakfast, snack or full meal without worrying about scheduled meal times. There's one key factor to think about when picking out this dorm room essential: freezer or no freezer. While most compact fridges come with at least a small one, it's important to think about what you'll use it for. Smaller freezers are ideal if you only plan to store ice trays or ice packs. If you plan on storing frozen dinners or sweet treats, it might be a better idea to get one with more space.

The 3.1 cu. ft. Frigidaire compact refrigerator comes with a decent-sized freezer that allows you to store a variety of frozen items. The rest of the appliance can store a plethora of foods including drinks like Gatorade, water and sodas. The convenient produce drawer is perfect for a quick bite on your way to an early class. If you plan on having a roommate, each of you can store plenty of food without needing to worry about an over cramped space.

The The Frigidaire 4.5 cu. ft. compact refrigerator is designed with a smaller freezer which is perfect for keeping ice right in your room. Though this appliance doesn't come with a drawer, it can hold a wide range of items including a drink rack at the top for sparkling waters or sodas for your game nights or study sessions with friends. While each of these can store a large quantity of items, they won't take up too much space in your room making them a great addition to your dorm room essentials list.

Once you have your mini fridge, you'll need a way to warm up frozen dinners or leftovers. While there are microwaves in most dining halls, no one wants to make the trek in the middle of a late-night study session. Adding a microwave to your list of dorm room essentials can solve that. This item isn't just useful for nighttime use but it can be helpful during cooler weather. If there's snow or it's raining, the motivation to run to the dining halls drops. This Danby microwave is a great choice with an affordable price point and a compact 0.7 cubic feet design, making it ideal for smaller spaces. You can easily place it on top of your mini fridge to conserve space. The preset buttons for popular foods and the convenient 30+ second button allow you to effortlessly heat up your food. Now, you can eat comfortably right from your dorm, making rainy days or snow storms a little less inconvenient.

Mornings have a tendency to be hectic and sometimes it's difficult to get out of bed, particularly during exam weeks. A morning cup of coffee can be a difference for those 9 a.m. classes or early study sessions. Having a coffee maker in your room can help you save money and a trip to a coffee shop making it easier to get to class on time. If you aren't much of a coffee drinker, you can also make tea or hot chocolate. The Cuisinart stainless steel Single Serve Brewer is smaller than most machines, but it's convenient and easy to use. With the 40-ounce water reservoir, you can make several cups for you or your friends without needing to refill it. Depending on how much caffine you need, there are three different sizes to pick from for days you might want a little less or a little more. Fan of single cup pods? This item is compatible with a range of brands, even Keurig K-Cups. This small appliance will turn off after 30 minutes, which helps with energy conservation, a great feature for either a future off-campus home or post-college apartment. This coffee maker should definitely be on your dorm room essentials list.

A TV can top off your dorm room essentials checklist. Whether you are craving a relaxing night alone or a movie night with friends, this item is optimal. Since most rooms tend to be on the smaller side, it's important to have a TV that fits into compact spaces. The LG 32" HDR Smart LED HD TV or theSamsung 32" LED HDR Smart HDTV are good options. The LG 32' comes with Bluetooth technology and can work with your smart assistant like Alexa or HomeKit. This TV adjusts to the quality of your media, making your childhood favorites even better. The Samsung TV comes with built-in Wi-Fi along with additional smart features that are easy to use. If the remote gets lost, just to connect to Content Sync and Sharing and control from your mobile device. Regardless of the TV you purchase, it'll become one of your most-used dorm room essentials.

Even though dorms tend to be smaller, finding the motivation to clean can still be difficult. Having an appliance that helps make cleaning quick and easy can help. Vacuums are efficient, making cleaning a breeze while still keeping your floors tidy. If you want something simple and easy to use, we recommend the Bissell ReadyClean Cordless 10.8V Stick Vacuum. This device can easily clean your space with up to 20 minutes of cordless cleaning. The removable hand vacuum is useful for dust on your desk or table. If you want something a little more heavy-duty then the Bissell Cleanview Compact Turbo Upright Vacuum is a great choice. This vacuum can clean effortlessly and weighs less than 10 pounds. Got a some dust or dirt in a difficult spot? Simply use the extension wand and watch the crumbs disappear. Adding a vacuum is definitely a must to your dorm room essentials checklist.

While keeping your space clean is important, having clean air is just as crucial. Depending on where you go to school, the air quality can vary. An air purifier may not be at the top of your dorm room essentials list, but it may be a necessity depending on your university. The Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max Air Purifier is a great choice while remaining affordable. This device can remove up to 99.97% of particles, like pollen and bacteria and is ideal for smaller spaces, just like a dorm room. On the flip side, the Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool Gen1 HP10 is ideal if you are looking to go a bit more high-end. This purifier has Air Multiplier™ technology that helps clean the entire room, not just one space. This makes it suitable for post-dorm plans. You can program it to run for a specific amount of time too. Whether you want to run while you sleep or go to class, it can do it all. Each of these dorm room essentials is ideal for keeping a clean, healthy space.

Most dorm rooms come with a mattress; however, you'll need to buy the bedding on your own. A typical dorm room comes with a twin XL mattress, but make sure you double-check before you buy your bedding. Having good bedding can make a world of difference when it comes to sleeping at college. Abt has a wide selection to choose from depending on how you sleep. If you tend to run warm, there are sheets designed with cooling factors to help regulate temperatures. However, these tend to be slightly more expensive but they can greatly impact sleep quality. Additionally, moisture-wicking can help if sweating occurs regularly. Regardless of the style you get, you want to buy sheets that you love since these sheets aren't just for your dorm room essentials, they can last past your college years.

Entertainment is just as valuable as the rest of your dorm room essentials. Not only does having an outlet keep burnout at bay, but it creates a balance between work and play. A TV is great, but it's nice to have something a little more hands-on. A gaming console is a great way to entertain yourself and have fun with your friends. Whether you're looking for single-player use or multiplayer battles, the Nintendo Switch is a great choice. It's great for game nights with friends and can be easily transported from room to room. There's a plethora of games to pick from so you won't get bored.

At the end of the day, there is a vast selection of dorm room essentials and it's challenging to keep track of them all. Hopefully, this article will help shorten your list a little and get you excited about going to college. If you still aren't sure what products are right for you, reach out to our experts at 800-860-3577 for more assistance.