What items your freshman student really needs for their dorm

Even if you’re not looking to create a #DormTok-worthy space, making a dorm room more comfortable and functional – and reflect the interests and personality of its occupant – requires thoughtful planning.

When Chelsea Chew, the youngest of three children, was preparing to move into residence at the University of Waterloo last August, her mom had a spreadsheet of dorm room essentials, organized by store, ready to go.

Still, the process involved some trial and error: At least one item was too big for her single room, she had to run out for a few additional items after moving in and there were one or two “must-haves” that didn’t end up being used often.

Chew’s advice for this year’s incoming freshmen (and their parents)? “Don’t overdo it. A lot of parents buy too much stuff for their kids, and then they get to the dorm room and [realize they] don’t have space,” she said. Choose compact items, and ones that will make the most of the space that you have.

Hannah Yuzpe, who is going into her second year at McGill, agrees that less can be more when it comes to dorm room furnishings. She did add some personal touches to make her room more like home – printed photos for the walls, faux peonies and a decorative candle in her favourite scent – but also found that a more minimalist approach worked better in the shared space.

“Because our rooms are so small … the added decor ends up making things feel stuffy and claustrophobic,” she said.

We asked Chew and Yuzpe to share some of their dorm room essentials – the items that helped them stay organized, that they used every day and that they didn’t think they would need.

Ikea Raskog utility cart

Chew found this sturdy cart extremely useful because it could store a lot but also keep her things visible. “My biggest thing was if I didn’t see it, I didn’t use it,” she said.