Tools that WON’T take up space but WILL make your life easier
This post is all about appliances for dorm room living.
Let’s be honest: there are tons of posts out there on appliances for dorm room living, but all of them seem to list things that you will not be allowed to bring to college because of safety rules.
But you still want some tools that will make your life way easier, right?!
Let’s talk about some dorm room appliances that are ACTUALLY practical to have, won’t take up tons of space, and will make your life in college so much easier.
Disclaimer: While I’ve tried to ensure that these are all appliances that would normally be allowed in dorm rooms, every school has different rules about what appliances they allow on campus. So, you need to check with your specific school’s rules about appliances allowed in dorm rooms before assuming any of the appliances below are fine.
This post is all about appliances for dorm room living.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll earn a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you. Our full disclosure policy is pretty boring, but you can read it here.
DORM APPLIANCES YOU PROBABLY NEED:
Coffee + Tea:
Breville Cafe Roma
Using my Breville espresso maker is my absolute favourite way to make coffee. If you’re an Americano or latte lover, it’s super easy to make whatever fancy drink you want with this espresso machine!
I’ve had this for over a year now and have never had any problem with it. It’s super easy to clean, has a container for the water so you don’t have to fill it up every single time, and after over a year mine still works great!
Keurig Mini
If you like keeping it simple with your coffee, a Keurig might be the way to go.
This is probably the most popular coffee maker for dorm rooms, and you can make a coffee in just a couple minutes. It’s super easy to keep clean and really convenient for when you’re in a rush.
Kettle + French Press
If you like your coffee made a particular way, a French Press might be the way to go. I love making french press coffee because it’s easier than a Keurig to control how strong the coffee is, and it tastes a lot fresher (if you’re super picky about your coffee like me, haha).
Chemex
These pour-over coffee makers are super trendy right now, and for good reason.
They make great coffee and won’t throw off your dorm room decor because they look so cute. All you need to go with it is a kettle (and your fave mug)!
Frother
Like a good latte but don’t want to spend the money on an espresso machine?
Just grab a simple milk frother!
That way, you can still save tons of money on lattes (because you don’t have to hit the coffee shop every time; you can just make it from your dorm!)
Mug warmer
Are you a slow coffee-drinker, or like to make a bunch at a time for long study sessions?
This mug warmer will keep your coffee warm until you finish it. No more gulping down cold, stale coffee that you didn’t finish fast enough!
(I got this mug warmer as a gift for someone last year and he still uses it every day!)
Food and Cooking
Mini fridge
Everybody needs a mini fridge in their dorm room.
Seriously.
Even if you have a meal plan and don’t plan on making your own food, it’s still so handy to have a mini fridge…. And you will regret it if you don’t get one.
You can store milk for your coffee, leftovers, fruits, or snacks to take on-the-go. Who wouldn’t want that?!
Mini panini press
Want a simple way to make a grilled-cheese sandwich or something like that on-the-go so you don’t have to factor in the time it takes to go to the dining hall for a meal?!
These mini panini presses are so useful to give you another quick lunch option for days when you just don’t have the energy to trek around campus to find food!!
Magic Bullet
If you’re a smoothie lover, a magic bullet will be an absolute staple for your dorm room.
These take up next to no space and they’re so convenient to have on hand for days when you want a healthy snack or just don’t have time to hunt down food, so you’ll definitely want to add this to your room appliances list.
Brita + filters
Not to be dramatic, but I will never again live without a brita water pitcher.
They are just so convenient to have around; especially if you don’t have a sink in your dorm room, because you won’t have to go hunt down water every time you’re thirsty.
But even if you do have a sink, wouldn’t it be better to just rest assured that the water is filtered and clean as can be?
I don’t know about you, but when it comes to communal living, I’d rather not take my chances. In my opinion, a Brita water pitcher is one of the top college dorm essentials.
Cleaning Appliances
Vacuum
So you probably don’t want to spend a fortune on a vacuum for your dorm room.
Honestly, having a cheap vacuum is better than nothing. And dorm rooms really aren’t that big, so you just need something that’s going to do the trick for the year you’re living there.
It sucks when you have a dirty floor but nothing to vacuum with. So definitely get a cheap vacuum like this to keep your dorm clean and dust-free!!
Wet + Dry Swiffer
Who doesn’t love swiffers?!
These are so good to have for easy + quick cleaning. And trust me, you want to make sure your dorm room is kept clean!
Wellness + Decor
Diffuser
Everybody loves a good-smellin’ room.
And really, how can you not love diffusers?! They make the room feel so cozy and smell so clean! They are one of the most popular appliances for dorm room living if you want your dorm to feel really homey.
Sleep to wake alarm clock
This is one of my all-time favorite appliances for dorm room living.
This alarm clock seriously changed the game for me because I am not naturally a morning person, but having something that lights up automatically whatever time I set it to has really helped me wake up refreshed and ready to take on the day.
The only other consideration I’ll say about this is that if you sleep in the same room as a roommate then you’ll definitely want to check with them to make sure it doesn’t bother them in the morning.
Otherwise, it’s so nice because it will turn on slowly by whatever time you set it to so your room can be bright by the time you wake up, and it will also turn off (by slowly dimming) when you set it to. So, it really helps keep you on a good sleep schedule.
Light-up makeup mirror
Dorm room lighting is really not the greatest….
And that makes it really hard to do your makeup well.
So, get this light-up makeup mirror.
Just trust me.
Clothing steamer
So nice to have a clothing steamer for your nicer clothes that might get a little wrinkled and messy from being stored in a tiny dorm room.
This is just great to have on hand, especially for nicer clothing you might not always wear but will need at some point, like interview clothing.
White noise machine
If you think that the background noise of living in a dorm is going to disturb your sleep, then you should definitely consider having a white noise machine near your bed.
This will help drown out those distracting background noises and they are just so soothing!
Dorm Doorbell
Wouldn’t it be so cool to have a doorbell on your dorm room?!
This isn’t something you need, at ALL, but it would definitely be fun to have!!
Mini fan
LOTS of college students love having mini fans to clip to their bed or desk.
It’s just a simple way to make dorm room living more comfortable and nice to have the option.
Air Purifier
An air purifier is a great dorm room appliance to have if you want the certainty of fresh + clean air or if you’re sensitive to odors or dust at all.
This one is small and perfect for any dorm room!
Mini Humidifier
I’m weirdly super sensitive to dry air, so if you’re the same way or you live in a dry climate (especially in the winter) it might be helpful to have a humidifier that can make the air a little more comfortable for you.
This portable humidifier is perfect for sticking next to your bed or desk in your dorm room!
Storage
Vacuum Seal Packages
Vacuum sealers and packages are SO useful to have, especially for your college move in day and for storing things that you aren’t going to use every single day.
You can use these to save space when storing extra bed sheets, towels, winter attire that you won’t need all year, or anything else that you don’t necessarily use every single day and you don’t want taking up your precious dorm room space.
Which essential college appliances will you be buying for your dorm room?
This post was all about appliances for dorm room living.
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