The Best Dorm Bedding Essentials
This post is all about the dorm bedding essentials you need for college.
For a complete list of all the dorm room essentials you should have, check out The Ultimate College Packing List.
This list goes more in-depth on exactly what you need to bring for your dorm bed, including some commonly-forgotten items that will make your life so much easier and make your bed look super cute.
Here are the dorm bedding necessities every freshman needs:
1. Comforter
I used the same comforter that I got at Pottery Barn Teen all throughout college.
While the exact style I had is no longer available, this comforter from Amazon is very similar and is actually CRAZY affordable:
Here are some of the best places to shop for dorm bed comforters online:
- Amazon: Cheap and a lot of options.
- Urban Outfitters: Pricier, but super cute.
- Dormify: Trendy and TONS of options.
Another option instead of buying a comforter is buying a duvet and duvet cover. The benefit is that duvet covers are easier to change and wash than a comforter.
Either way, you will most likely want to get Twin XL size bedding. This is what almost all dorm beds require, but double-check with your particular dorm first.
2. Sheets
Next up, you will want to get sheets for your bed. Again, you’ll probably need to get Twin XL size sheets to fit your dorm bed properly.
I’m personally a fan of plain white sheets. This sheet set comes in Twin XL and includes one fitted sheet, one flat sheet, and one pillowcase.
No, they’re not going to be super luxurious sheets you might find in a five-star hotel, but these are super affordable and still have great ratings.
3. Mattress Topper
A mattress topper is a must-have dorm bedding essential.
The mattress that will come with your dorm bed is probably not going to be the world’s most comfortable mattress. A memory foam mattress topper makes it SO much more comfortable and will help you sleep better.
You also don’t know who (or what) has been on that mattress before you!
This four-inch memory foam mattress topper is a good choice for dorm beds.
4. Mattress Pad
This goes on over your mattress and mattress topper.
I like this mattress pad because it adds an extra layer of quilted softness to your bed, it’s light and breathable, and it’s easily to take off and wash.
5. Memory Foam Pillow
A memory foam pillow is another one of those dorm bedding essentials that will make your bed more comfortable and help you get a good night’s sleep.
I like this memory foam pillow because it’s super breathable and also has cooling properties so you don’t get overly hot at night.
6. Bedside Shelf
Having a bedside shelf is so helpful, especially if you have a lofted bed like I did that is too high up to use a nightstand.
Basically, the bedside shelf attaches to the side of your bed frame and you can put your phone, water bottle, etc. on it at night so they’re within easy reach.
7. Accent Pillows
Accent pillows are perfect for adding a decorative touch to your bedding.
I only recommend getting one or two so you don’t overwhelm your small bed with too many decorative pillows.
Dormify has some of the cutest accent pillows I’ve found. How cute is this?
8. Bedrest Pillow
A larger bedrest pillow is a must-have for living in a dorm. Whenever you’re sitting on your bed, leaning against one of these pillows is so much more comfortable than leaning against the hard wall.
If you have guests over and they’re sitting on the floor, they can also lean against one of these instead of the wall. Super comfortable!
9. Blanket
You will also 100% want to have a cozy throw blanket for your dorm bed.
Something like this fuzzy fleece blanket is perfect. This will keep you super warm on cold winter nights and it’s also great for just lounging around in your dorm room. Trust me, you will end up using this a ton!
I just kept mine folded over the foot of my bed whenever I wasn’t using it.
10. Bed Skirt
This is only an essential if you have a dorm bed that isn’t lofted all the way.
I didn’t personally have a bed skirt, because my bed was lofted all the way with my desk, dresser, etc. underneath it. However, if your bed is only partially lofted, you may want to get a bed skirt to hide your under-the-bed storage.
These bed skirts from DormCo are a good option because they’re Twin XL size and you can choose from varying drop lengths based on how high your bed is.
11. Headboard
One way to instantly elevate the look of your dorm room is with a headboard.
You can find some cute and affordable headboards like this white faux-leather studded headboard on Amazon. There are also a lot of adorable (but somewhat pricier) options for dorm bed headboards on Dormify.
BONUS: Dorm Bedding in a Box
I just had to include this on the list because it’s so convenient.
If you don’t want to buy all your dorm bedding individually, you can get this massive dorm bedding in a box set that includes all of the following:
- Mattress pad and mattress topper
- Comforter and sheets
- Pillows and pillowcases
- Throw blanket
- Bath towels and washcloths
- Laundry bag
- Bedside storage caddy
Plus a lot more – there’s 27 pieces total and it’s an amazing price.
If I were just starting college, this is definitely something I would consider getting just because of how easy it is and because of the value.
There are a bunch of different color combinations available too.
More College Dorm Essentials
This post showed you the dorm bedding essentials every freshman needs.
For a detailed college packing list, check out The Ultimate College Packing List.
For even more dorm essentials, you may want to read the following posts:
