A study by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine found a direct correlation between students’ quality of sleep and their grades. Given the importance of sleep on our health and well-being, we believe every college student should consider investing in a memory foam mattress topper for their dorm bed. Placing a 2-4 inch topper on your dorm room mattress is a quick and cost effective solution to getting a good night’s sleep.
The quality of college dorm room mattresses is extremely hit or miss, which means you could get a brand new one or something that’s years old. Most students we’ve spoken to found them somewhat tolerable to sleep on, but significantly less comfortable than their normal beds.
The standard college dorm bed uses a Twin XL (36” x 80”) mattress, but some older residence halls still use Twin (39” x 75”).
A waterproof mattress protector helps keep your dorm bed clean and free of dust mites. It’s 100% worth bringing considering the likelihood of accidental spills and large numbers of germs in college dorms.
Students have to provide their own bed sheets and comforter for their dorm room bed, so double check what mattress size you have before making a purchase. A lot of students save money by bringing old ones from home or purchasing a complete Twin XL bedding set.
Bedsheets and comforters are two of the dirtiest items in a college dorm room because students forget to regularly wash them. Sickness spreads rapidly throughout college dorms, so good self cleanliness is extremely important. You should aim to wash your dorm bedding once a week, but every 2 weeks is ok for students with busier schedules. A lot of students also bring an extra set of bed sheets and wash them together to save time.
Twin and Twin XL beds use standard (20” x 26”) pillows, but a lot of students prefer the additional size of a queen (20” x 30”). Another popular alternative is using a single king (20” x 36”) pillow instead of two standard or queen pillows.
You should consider bringing blankets if you have a futon in your dorm room or attend college in an area with colder weather. A lot of students also prefer using a large cotton-fleece blanket (66” x 90”) instead of a traditional comforter.
You’ll need to check with your university to see if they provide a night stand and lamp, and if so, whether each roommate receives their own. If your dorm room only has a single night stand and lamp, you should contact your roommate and discuss how you plan to share the area. Students who want their own can suggest splitting the cost with their roommate to accommodate both parties.
A popular alternative to a traditional lamp is a small clip-on lamp, which is perfect for those times you need to study or read a book when your roommate is sleeping. It’s not an essential dorm room item, but it’s worth bringing if you have room in your budget. Most schools have study rooms in their residence halls and 24-hour areas on campus if you find yourself needing to pull a late-night study session for a paper or exam.
If you don’t receive a nightstand and space or money is an issue, you can always opt for a small bed caddy instead. Popular options include BedShelfie (a horizontal shelf that attaches to your bed frame) and bedside pocket organizers. Some students end up bringing both, as extra storage space often helps people stay more organized.
A common problem students experience is power outlets not being within arms reach of their bed or while studying on campus. The best way to deal with outlet problems is to invest in a 6 or 10 foot extended phone charger, preferably with a lightning cable and braided nylon. Whether you’re in the library, somewhere on campus, or in your dorm room, we guarantee there will come a time when an outlet is out of reach for a standard charger.