Dear First name / friend,
Recently I've had many requests for college girl dorm room links.
Rather than reinvent the wheel, I've updated the list I shared when my second daughter, Sophie, went to Alabama in 2023. Her older sister, Ella, went to Auburn two years prior, and her little sister, Marie Claire, will head to Auburn this fall.
You could say that we've been busy with SEC college move-ins these past few years! I try to be smart by buying items they can use for many years, buying secondhand when possible, and selling items we don't need anymore.
I'm no decorator, but I do enjoy the process of creating a cozy dorm room. It's a fun project and makes move-in day more enjoyable. Dorm rooms are small, and it's amazing what a difference that little things like lamps and bright colors can make in that space.
When planning a move-in, make sure the first roommate to arrive brings the biggest items, like the rug and headboards. Sophie and her roommate signed up for 10:30 am and 3:30 pm slots…which kept us from having 6 people in the room at once. When her roommate arrived at 3:30, we were done. We ate a late lunch and returned to Tutwiler to find them all set up.
One of my first stops when planning a dorm room is
Dorm Decor here in Birmingham. They have an excellent selection of pretty things and are always super-helpful!
This podcast I did with Elizabeth Edwards is packed with helpful hints, and it's worth listening to get ideas and strategies.
I've also created an
Amazon storefront with my favorite dorm room essentials and extras. Find that list here:
Below are links to Sophie's freshman dorm + items I like or have used over time. Take what feels helpful and forget the rest!
From Dorm Decor
• Desk Skirt (Will Need a Mirrored Top, Custom-Sized for Your Dorm's Desk) • Desk Hutch (Needed at Auburn, We Didn’t Use This at Bama)
From Amazon
• Steamer (I get drapes, bedskirts, etc. pressed before move-in, but a steamer helps get out wrinkles)
• Storage Cart (Some People Take the Wheels Off and Set This in the Bathroom Window at Auburn for Storage)
From Other Sources
• White Dresser (Bama, Not a Ton of Storage) – Amazon
• IKEA White Dresser (Bama, many girls use 2 of these chests between their beds, they add cute knobs for a unique look)
Helpful for Move-In Day:
*FYI, Bama has dressers under the bed. We stored shoes here.
*In most Auburn dorms, you can store the wood desk chairs over the closet, which creates space for prettier chairs.
*Send dress-up clothes with your college freshman. They have A LOT of costume parties. Pack basics like camo, 4th of July, 70s, 80s, disco, etc.
