20+ Dorm Room Essentials For Your First (or Fifth) Year on Campus

There's no denying it, this summer is hot. From the West Coast to East Coast and everywhere between, we're sweating it out this year. The Evapolar evaChill is a personal air conditioner that stays cool for up to 9 hours and can be powered with a laptop or power bank in addition to a wall charger.

Avoid constant plugging and unplugging by having a dedicated plug for everything you need powered up. This one features three separate USB ports for device charging and has ample space between plugs to easily charge multiple MacBooks or laptops.

One of our favorite reading chairs (and the most affordable on our list), this chair is small enough to fit in the tight confines of a dorm room while still providing a comfy place to read that isn't the bed.

Maybe you never get dressed for class, maybe you do. Either way, lounge shorts are a must. Nice Laundry's Pocket Lounge shorts get better with every wash, have handy side pockets, look great and and are supremely comfortable.

This low-footprint LED lamp from Ikea will keep your space lit for studying, gaming or just for avoiding bright overhead lighting. The Fully Beam has adjustable brightness and impressive maneuverability.

In a room with little storage, you may need this next to your bed for books, your phone or a remote control. This one is super affordable and easy to pick up on Amazon. Plus, it can double as a shower caddy.

8:00 AM classes still exist — don't sleep through them after you forgot to charge your phone while you were up late studying. This is one of our favorite alarm clocks — it has all the features you need, including a companion app for easy alarm setting.

Keep your desk comfortable, organized and protected with a desk mat. The Grovemade Desk Mat is topped with a durable fingerprint-resistant laminate and cushioned with a layer of cork for a comfortable workspace that keeps Cheeto-fingers and coffee spills at bay.

A college staple. The Bellroy Classic is one of our favorite backpacks for everyday use thanks to its minimal design and maximal features. It has a slew of pockets throughout and can easily your laptop.

Give them a nice wireless charger for their desk to make sure they never leave the room without a charge. The Base Station from Nomad is one of our favorite home-office upgrades thanks to its clean lines and powerful charging.

Noisy roommates and loud library whisperers are no match for quality noise-canceling headphones. The WH-1000XM5 is one of the best sets of headphones on the market right now, thanks to 30-hours of battery life, active noise-cancelation and crystal-clear audio.

Most dorm rooms are as bleak as they come, so get some wall art to spruce up the place. We love the chill vibes just oozing from this palm tree, but Society6 has thousands of options for any design style.

These are our pick for the best sheets you can buy, and they come in Twin XL, perfect for a dorm bed. They're crisp and cool and are priced reasonably at just $120 for a set.

An easy-to-take-care-of plant like a philodendron heartleaf is a pop of greenery for a dorm room that won't die if they neglect it a little bit. This one is super affordable and grows quickly, meaning it'll keep fresh even if you neglect it for a couple of days.

This is our favorite air purifier for small rooms, making it the perfect option to clear that musty, cannabis-tinged dorm room air.

Let's face it, a dorm room mattress just probably isn't that comfortable (or clean), so put something between it and your body when you sleep.

Keeping a gooseneck kettle around is a great idea for when you don't want to leave your dorm to make some fresh coffee or tea. Our pick for the best gooseneck kettle, the Fellow Stagg EKG has a clean design, boils water quicker than the competition and can hold your preferred temperature for up to an hour.

Just think of the floors in a dorm room or bathroom. You're going to need some house shoes. Get the Birkenstock Arizona EVA, which are made from cushy, supple EVA foam.

Jam out with a Wi-Fi-enabled speaker that will stand up to anything. The Sonos Roam supports wireless charging, comes in a bunch of colors and features the stellar sound Sonos is known for.

For when you think you just can't stay up any longer and all of the stores on campus are already closed (or not open yet). The Aeropress is super easy to use, cleans easily and really is the best way to make a simple cup of coffee.

Don't let yourself end up sharing towels with your roommate. Yuck. Waffle towels dry quickly and won't get mildewy if you don't wash them enough, which we know you won't.