Dorm Bedding Essentials: Your College Starter Kit

August 16, 2024 7 min read

Moving out of your parent’s house and heading to college is a major life event. Creating a comfortable, personalized dorm room should start by finding the right dorm bedding. This college bedding isn’t just about style; it’s also about making sure that your brand-new space feels comfortable, just like home. Our guide is here to help you choose the best dorm bedding essentials for your college starter kit. When you’re done, you’ll discover the best dorm essentials to create a cozy, functional, and stylish sleeping space during college life.

In This Article

Why Dorm Bedding Matters
Essential Dorm Bedding Items
Additional Accessories for Dorm Bedding
Tips for Selecting and Caring for Your Dorm Bedding
Budget-Friendly Shopping Tips
Frequently Asked Questions
Final Thoughts on dorm bedding essentials

Why Dorm Bedding Matters

So, why is choosing the right college bedding sets so important? Here are a few reasons why you should choose bedding for your college dorm room carefully.

Comfort and Sleep Quality: High-quality dorm bedding ensures you’ll get a good night's sleep since it’s designed to keep you comfortable. When you sleep well at college, you’ll wake up feeling alert and refreshed, ready to tackle the stress of college life, like that major thesis or final exam.
Personalization and Style: Stylish dorm room bedding sets are a key element in helping you design a unique dorm room that reflects your personality and personal style. Whether it’s a bold color or a funky pattern, dorm sheets are a great way to showcase your style without breaking the bank.
Space Optimization: Look for organic cotton sheets specially made to fit smaller dorm beds and dorm room spaces. Not only will they work well, but they’re also easier to clean, store, and maintain.

SHOP Bed Sheets

Essential Dorm Bedding Items

SHOP Bed Sheets

Here are some essential bedding items you’ll need for dorm life.

Mattress Topper

Why It’s Essential: Let’s face it: dorm supplied mattresses are notoriously uncomfortable. A mattress pad or topper will give you some much-needed cushioning for added comfort.
Types to Consider: Look for a mattress topper made of memory foam, gel-infused materials, a classic egg crate foam design, or keep an eye out for some hypoallergenic options if you suffer from allergies.
Sizing: Twin XL is the most typical size dorm bed, so make sure you purchase the right size mattress topper for a perfect fit.

Mattress Protector

Purpose: A mattress protector covers your mattress to prevent things like spills, allergens, and bed bugs from affecting your sleeping surface.
Features to Look For: Keep an eye out for mattress protectors made of durable waterproof, hypoallergenic, and breathable materials.
Ease of Cleaning: For easy maintenance and good hygiene, choose a protector that is machine washable.

Sheet Set

Key Components: Dorm room comforter sets and bed bundles should include a fitted sheet, flat sheet, and comforter with at least one pillowcase.
Material Choices: Make sure your new dorm sheets are made of quality materials. Try something breathable and ultra soft like organic cotton sheets to keep you comfy and cool. While they may cost more, organic cotton is a great option. A supersoft microfiber sheet set is affordable and has a soft, smooth surface. It’s also very easy to clean. A lot of dormitory bed sheets feature a jersey knit, which is also very soft but prone to pilling. In the winter, try flannel dorm sheet sets to keep you nice and warm.
Fit and Size: Most dorm beds are Twin XL, so look for fitted sheets in the appropriate size to ensure that they fit your dorm bed properly.

Comforter or Duvet

Choosing Between Them: Dorm room comforters go on top of your bed to keep you warm and are similar to a blanket. A duvet and duvet cover are another option, but you’ll need to purchase two separate items. However, you can remove the dorm duvet cover and wash it, which may make cleaning your dorm bedding essentials easier.
Warmth Levels: If you’re attending college in a colder climate, consider the thickness of your comforter or duvet. Thicker items with a goose down alternative fill or an extra thick polyester fill are a lot warmer than a simple comforter with a thinner fill.
Style and Color: Look for a comforter or duvet in a versatile, easy-to-coordinate color or pattern that reflects your unique personality and style.

Pillows

Types of Pillows: Explore several pillow material options like memory foam, down alternative, or cooling pillows for better sleep.
Quantity: You’ll only need one pillow for sleeping but grab a couple more to add colorful dorm room décor to your space and to get some extra support.
Pillow Protectors: It’s a good idea to add some pillow protectors to your pillows for added hygiene and longevity.

Throw Blanket

Purpose: Dorm quilts or throw blankets are great for added warmth or for adding some texture and color to the top of your dorm bed.
Material Options: Look for throws made of cozy materials like fleece or knit, or try a weighted blanket, depending on your needs.
Design: A throw blanket adds a fun layer of style and comfort to your bedding setup and adds a playful pop to plain white dorm bedding.

Additional Accessories for Dorm Bedding

Here are some remaining dorm essentials to add to your bed for the ultimate dorm room college essentials kit.

Bed Risers

Why You Need Them: Bed risers can elevate your bed to create additional dorm room storage space underneath.
Types: Look for a set of adjustable bed risers so you can change the dorm bed height or try some with built-in power outlets for charging devices like your laptop or smartphone.

Bedside Caddy

Functionality: A bedside caddy keeps key essentials like your phone, books, and glasses nearby and within arm’s reach.
Attachment Options: Check the bedside caddy dimensions to make sure it’s big enough to fit all your stuff and look for designs that will attach securely to the side of your bed.

Decorative Throw Pillows

Adding Personality: Throw pillows are an easy, affordable way to introduce color, texture, and style to your dorm room (and some more warmth).
Practicality: To get the most bang for your buck, choose throw pillows that are comfortable enough to use, not just for decoration.

Bed Skirt

Purpose: A bed skirt is the perfect way to hide items like clothing stored under the bed while also giving your bed a clean, crisp, and more polished look.
Easy Installation: Keep an eye out for stylish bed skirts designed specifically for a twin XL dorm bed or adjustable beds for easy installation and cleaning.

Tips for Selecting and Caring for Your Dorm Bedding

Here are some quick, easy tips for selecting and caring for your new bedding.

Pay careful attention to the bed sheet size and other dorm items you need to make sure everything fits. You’re much more likely to have a twin size bed than king bed size in your college dorm, for example.
Layer different dormitory bed linen items and grab some extra bedding for maximum comfort and flexibility so you can easily adjust as the seasons change.
Have fun coordinating bedding necessities with different colors and patterns. Make sure that they’re unique, yet versatile enough that they easily coordinate with the rest of your dorm room décor. Choose darker colors or funky patterns rather than a plain white bedding set so it won’t show dirt or spills easily.
Follow the care tag on your bedding set dorm carefully so it doesn’t shrink or get damaged. Wash all bedding often (at least once every 1-2 weeks is ideal), including your entire sheet set, blankets or dorm room bedspreads, pillowcases, and mattress covers if you have one. When storing sheets and bed blankets, fold them neatly and put them in a cool, dry place like a closet or in underbed storage boxes.

Budget-Friendly Shopping Tips

When you’re in college, you’re living on a budget, so check out these budget-friendly shopping tips to help you find great college dorm bedding on a budget:

Set a Budget: Set a budget ahead of time and spend the bulk of your money on items that will affect your comfort the most, like investing in a good mattress topper and high-quality bed sheets.
Shop Sales and Discounts: Keep an eye out for back-to-school sales in late summer and see if you can use student discounts for bedding purchases. Dorm bedding bundles may cost less than buying each item separately. Many retailers also offer online coupon codes.
Where to Shop: Purchase your bedding from trusted retailers that offer affordable, high-quality dorm bedding you can purchase both online and in-store. Read return policies carefully.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What type of bedding is best for college?

In most cases, you’ll have a twin XL bed in your dorm, but confirm with your college before you buy new bedding. Look for high-quality, affordable bedding that is easy to clean and that will keep you comfortable for a great night’s sleep.

Do college dorms have bedding?

Most colleges do not provide bedding for students. They will provide a bed and basics like a closet or dresser, but it’s up to you to purchase the rest of your important basic necessities yourself.

Do you really need Twin XL sheets for college?

It’s unlikely that you’ll have a full or queen bed size in college. Most universities have twin XL beds, which means you’ll likely need twin XL sheets for a good, snug fit.

Final Thoughts on Dorm Bedding Essentials

Keep these must-have dorm bedding items in mind so you can create a comfortable, stylish sleeping space while you’re in college. Look for bedding that not only meets your practical needs, but that also reflects your unique personality and personal style. With the right bedding, you’ll feel comfortable, confident, and ready to take on the challenges of college life.