This post is all about college dorm shopping and where to buy college dorm essentials.

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I am not going to lie, as stressful as it was going college dorm shopping, I kind of miss the feeling! I had so much fun looking for cool dorm decorations and finding out what college dorm essentials I’d need.
I have been talking non-stop about what my favorite decor ideas are and giving you tons of options but we’ve never really spoken about where I actually bought all the stuff for my dorm! You can probably guess most of these brands if you’ve been around for a while, I am pretty committed to these shops because I already know them and trust them with my college essentials. Let’s go college dorm shopping together!
MY COLLEGE DORM SHOPPING FAVOURITES
IKEA
I mean, who doesn’t love Ikea as a student? 95% of the furniture I own is from Ikea. It’s affordable and versatile, and most things I bought have moved with me from my dorm room to my college apartment. If you don’t have an Ikea close to you, people are selling their furniture all the time! I have bought some pieces on Facebook marketplace for half the price!
One of my favorite college dorm essentials from Ikea is their famous Kallax Storage Unit, which I used as a bedside table and I loved it! You can use it as extra storage or just as decor.
I didn’t have much room for a big desk in my first college apartment so the Micke desk was perfect. It had enough storage room for all my stationery and it fit perfectly in my tiny room.
The Lack Shelves are another of their classics. The price and quality of these shelves are insane and they saved my life in college when I didn’t have room for my books. These should definitely go on your college essentials list!
Other college dorm essentials from Ikea you should add to your college dorm shopping list:
– Malm Bed Frame
– Kallax Inserts
– Raskog Cart
– Purrpingla Laundry Basket
Urban Outfitters
Okay, I have said that all the brands on the list are affordable, and yet here I am talking about Urban Outfitters, just let me explain. UO is not affordable, but every now and then they have insane sales and you can get some things 70% off. You have to hunt around a little bit, but I promise you’ll find some amazing stuff.
If you buy online, they have an under $25 section where they have great products for really cheap. Not that long ago, I found an amazing Duvet Cover set for $32 that once was $70.
The only home-related thing I’ve bought full price from UO is this floor cushion that I fell in love with and looked amazing in my college dorm.
Other college dorm essentials from Urban Outfitters you should add to your college dorm shopping list:
– Decorative Vines
– Over-The-Door Multi-Hook Shelf
– Fleece Throw Blanket
– Lulu Medallion Tapestry

Society6
Society6 is one of my absolute favorite college dorm shopping brands. They have the coolest prints, throw pillows, and blankets, and with their products, you will create Pinterest-worthy college dorms.
They have tapestries and decorations for all styles and color schemes, whatever you are looking for, you’ll find it on Society6. You can get tapestries, art prints, pillows, duvets, pretty much anything.
I have a wall print named “You Loved me a Thousand Summers Ago” that I absolutely love and it’s been in my office for ages, I got it discounted to a really good price!
I got this Terracota Pillow as a gift for Valentine’s Day and I am obsessed with it! They have pillows for literally every style out there, they all include the insert so you’ll be getting a really good deal as well.
Other college dorm essentials from Society6 you should add to your college dorm shopping list:
– Nature Geometry V Wall Tapestry
– Good Vibes Only Art Print
– Treat People With Kindness Throw Pillow
– Morning Wine Art Print
Related Post {10 Really Important College Apartment Hacks I Wish I Knew Before Moving In}
Amazon
Good old Amazon is the place to go for lots of college dorm essentials. Amazon is not the place to spend hours browsing, so I just go there when I am looking for something very specific. I bought all my kitchen essentials on amazon and that saved me a lot of money, but you can also find really cute home decor.
In terms of college dorm essentials, my Echo Dot was life-changing when I bought it and it comes with me everywhere. I also bought my White Noise Machine to help me sleep and study because dorm rooms are everything but quiet.
I also found this lovely mirror for the apartment I live in right now and it was an amazing deal.
Other college dorm essentials from Amazon you should add to your college dorm shopping list:
– Laptop Stand
– Large Laundry Basket
– 70+ Piece Premium Kitchen Starter Kit
– Wardrobe Storage Organiser
– Reusable Meal Prep Containers
Dormify
Dormify is THE BEST. Everything they sell, I want. They have the cutest bedding and furniture and I have bought soooo many things from them over the years. My latest additions have been this amazing Stay in Bed Velvet Pillow, and this Wow! Wall print as a present.
I am sure you have a Pinterest board named “college dorm inspiration”, well let me tell you that everything you are looking for is on Dormify. They sell the cutest headboards for reasonable prices, all sorts of bedding, rugs, lamps, and even easy-peel wallpaper!
Other college dorm essentials from Dormify you should add to your college dorm shopping list:
– White Faux Leather Headboard (With USB and an outlet)
– LightBox
– Rectangle Rug
– Shut Eye Velvet Pillow
Home Bargains / Target
Home Bargains – which would be the UK’s equivalent to Target or Home Depot – is another college dorm shopping place to add to the list. Some of my most-used college dorm essentials are from Home Bargains, and I still have them nowadays!
I bought an amazing pack of towels that still look brand new and my most-loved throw blanket is from HB as well – and I paid around £10 for it. You can find all your college dorm essentials there, things like coffee machines, toasters, and all sorts of kitchen appliances are way cheaper than in any other place.
Other college essentials from Home Bargains you should add to your college dorm shopping list:
– Origins Morocco With Fringe Rug – Ivory
– Bamboo Chopping Board 2-Pack
– Hetty’s Kitchen Deluxe Pancake Maker
– Kitchen Essentials 3 Piece Pan Set
This post is all about where to go college dorm shopping.
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