Gear

14 Products to Make Your Teen’s Dorm Feel Like Home

by Hilary Braaksma


14 Products to Make Your Teen’s Dorm Feel Like Home
Shop Story

Packing up their bags and heading off to college can be a daunting event for teens and their parents alike. To help your teen feel a little more relaxed in their dorm room and give you a sense of peace, check out these awesome products that help dorm rooms feel a little more like home.

Image Credits: Command

Command Quartz Floating Display Ledges

Price:$19.00

Nails and screws to hang decor are out of the question in dorm rooms, but your kids can still display some of their favorite items with this two pack of Command display ledges. Each 4-inch ledge is attached to the wall with damage-free Command strips and can hold up to two pounds. You teen can display photos, small decor items, succulents and more to make their room feel more like home.

Image Credits: Its Because Love

Big Hug Throw Blanket

Price:$54.00

Sometimes all your teen needs when they’re missing home is a big hug—and even if you can’t be there, the Big Hug throw blanket can! This soft knit lap blanket will keep them cozy warm and remind them of all the good times, thanks to the handwritten message tags that can be attached to pre-knitted holes in the blanket. Write special messages on the tags before you send them off to college, or let the tags be filled up with memories and quotes from new friends.

Image Credits: Lenovo

Lenovo Smart Clock with Google Assistant

Price:$60.00

Make mornings a little easier for dorm dwellers with this awesome Lenovo Smart Clock with Google Assistant. This voice-activated alarm clock makes it easy for your teen to wake up and ask about the weather, check their commute or ask for schedule reminders while getting ready. This smart clock also has the ability to play their favorite songs and podcasts while they study, relax or clean up.

Image Credits: Etsy

Dorm Room Headboard

Price:$203.00

Make their sad twin dorm bed feel a little more homey with a tufted headboard like this one from Etsy. You and your teen can choose the fabric color and tufting shape, so they get a custom-made headboard that fits their dorm bed perfectly and flows naturally with the rest of their dorm room decor.

Image Credits: Amazon

BedShelfie Minimalist Bed Shelf

Price:$0.00

Tight space means no room for nightstands. If your teen is going to miss having somewhere to put a good book down before bed or a warm cup of coffee while they study, this bedside shelf does the trick. Whether their dorm room bed had a rail or flat base, there’s a BedShelfie to fit. The durable wood design holds up to 15 pounds and can accommodate a 13-inch laptop with some extra space leftover.

Image Credits: Amazon

Chalkboard Mini Fridge

Price:$0.00

One of the biggest shocks during dorm life can be the lack of constant access to food and snacks they’re used to at home. Ease the struggle with this mini fridge that doubles as a chalkboard, meaning they can stock it with snacks and write their grocery list or study reminders right on the door. This super lightweight fridge weighs only 9 pounds when empty and is small enough to fit almost anywhere in even the smallest dorm rooms.

Image Credits: Pottery Barn

PB Teen Favorite Tee Sheet Set

Price:$70.00

Fun, high-quality sheets can make sleeping away from their home a little bit easier. The twin XL size sheet set fits standard dorm room beds and includes a flat sheet, fitted sheet and pillowcase. You and your teen will both sleep easier knowing this sheet set is made of 100% organic cotton jersey to provide a cool, comfortable night of sleep. Choose from a range of colors, and even it get it monogrammed with your teen’s initials so it never gets mixed up with others in the community laundry rooms.

Image Credits: Walmart

Lucid 3” Plush Gel-Infused Memory Foam Mattress Topper

Price:$60.00

Tossing and turning on those homesick nights will be a lot less comfortable if they’re doing it on one of these memory foam mattress toppers. This three-inch mattress topper is made with comfortable memory foam for a great night of sleep and infused with a temperature-controlling gel and a ventilating design to keep them cool during thermostat disagreements with the roomie.

Image Credits: Amazon

Black + Decker Single Serve Coffee Maker

Price:$19.00

Mom and dad aren’t there to brew it, but a hot cup of coffee in the morning on their way to class can still make their day a little easier. This Black + Decker compact coffee maker takes up hardly any space, comes with a travel mug included and has a permanent filter so your teen will never have to worry about running out of disposable paper filters. Automatic shut-off means no worrying about your college kiddo accidentally leaving this appliance on during the day.

Image Credits:

PB Teen Mathis Desk Chair

Price:$250.00

Hours of studying in uncomfortable standard dorm room desk chairs can be a pain in the rear, literally. Replace the wooden and plastic chairs with this fabulous and functional desk chair from Pottery Barn Teen. Having a real piece of furniture will add tons of warmth to their temporary home, and this mid-century inspired, cushioned chair with metallic legs is a great choice. Teens can choose between Navy, Gray or Blush velvet fabric.

Image Credits: Pampered Chef

Pampered Chef Microwave Ceramic Egg Cooker

Price:$16.00

Living on microwavable food and cafeteria dinners only can be depressing. Make it easier for your teen to eat healthy on busy mornings by buying them this practical piece of microwavable cookware from Pampered Chef. Busy college kids can cook up to four eggs at a time in this ceramic microwave cooker, or use it for instant oatmeal they can take on the go. The heat-resistant silicone sleeve makes it easy to carry, and dishwasher safe material means clean-up is a breeze.

Image Credits: Polaroid

Polaroid Pop 2.0 2-in-1 Printer and Digital Camera

Price:$199.00

Prints of photos of family, friends and pets can instantly add a touch of comfort to bare dorm room walls. Your kid can get the instant gratification of a classic Polaroid, but with modern technology thanks to the Pop 2.0. This 20MP touch screen digital camera doubles as a printer that provides gorgeous 3.5 x 4.25 prints any time, any place.

Image Credits: iRobot

iRobot Roomba e5 Robot Vacuum

Price:$449.00

One thing that can differ vastly from home to the dorm room is the level of cleanliness. We’re all for adult kids taking on the responsibility of the real world—you know, cleaning—but if you’d like to help them achieve that goal a little easier, a Roomba is a great going away gift. The Roomba e5 robot vacuum intelligently navigates rooms and connects to an app on your kid’s phone so they can control and schedule cleanings. With this baby zooming around their dorm room floors, they’ll have no excuse not to sit down and study.

Image Credits: Black + Decker

Black + Decker Compact Steamer

Price:$45.00

Taking on their own laundry—yikes. Although your kid is probably familiar with the washing and drying basics, keeping clothes smooth and wrinkle free can be a real challenge. If your teen is worried about looking their best for internship opportunities, job interviews or just a normal day in class, this handheld garment steamer will make wrinkle-free, professional looking outfits a breeze. This Black + Decker compact steamer heats up in under a minute to get them out the door quickly.