What do you pack to furnish a dorm room for a grownup? The last time I lived in a dorm, when I started my undergrad degree at Emory in 1979, I showed up with not much more than my clothes, one set of bedsheets and a digital alarm clock.
In the many decades since, I’ve helped a few kids move into dorms (our son Sam at Georgia Tech and my niece Sayer at Agnes Scott) and when my goddaughter Brianna started at Georgia Southern, I cashed in a ton of Amazon Reward points to get her everything she could possibly need for her freshman dorm.
But when I pull up to the dorm at Sewanee this June to begin my MFA in their School of Letters, I’ll be dragging in an embarrassing quantity of rugs, lamps, down pillows, linen duvet covers and one of my favorite Elizabeth Stockton paintings. I want my grownup dorm room to be as comfortable as possible.
The first question everyone asks is whether I have to share a room. The answer, I’m very happy to report, is no. Apparently the MFA program assumes a dorm room for a grownup means just one person to a room. It sounds like I’ll be sharing a bathroom, however. I’m trying to get my head around that one, but I’m game for whatever. Actually, I can’t wait.
What’s your theme?
Both Sam and Brianna asked me that one. Sam asked if I’d bought my string lights yet. Truth is, I do have kind of a theme in mind to create my perfect grownup dorm room.
The novel I hope to be working on this summer is set partly in Southwest France in the 1950s, with the protagonist renting a room in an old house that has housed generations of the same family. I want my dorm room to feel like I imagine that place. Striped French bed linens, old rugs, some rattan pieces, soft lamplight. Although I get it, it’s still going to be a dorm room with limited space.
Cushy on a budget
I splurged on a few things (The nicest twin XL sheets I could find and goose down everything for the bed), but mostly I challenged myself to keep it reasonable. I’ve pulled some things out of the basement, like a rattan bedside table, some lamps and an old Keurig. And almost everything else I found on Amazon, cashing in rewards points for the pricier items like the Molekule and a tiny Canon printer.
The splurges that seemed worth it
Garnet Hill striped relaxed linen duvet cover
This duvet cover was the piece that originally inspired the whole south of France dorm room for a grownup theme. It reminds me of old French ticking.
Molekule Mini air purifier
We’ve had the larger Molekule at home in our bedroom for years and I love it. The Mini Molekule should be able to handle a space the size of a dorm room. I cashed in Amazon rewards points and got it for free, but it’s definitely a splurge for a dorm room.
Kashwere throw blanket
I fell in love with Kashwere throws when Miraval started using them in the quiet room at the spa. We have several at home, but I splurged on one that matched the Garnet Hill duvet cover.
Serena and Lily scalloped rattan tray
When Danielle Moss posted about Serena and Lily’s scalloped rattan bedside table for her daughter’s room, I felt a huge urge to buy it for my dorm room for a grownup. But we have a perfectly good round wicker bedside table in the basement that will give me that rattan vibe. Still, when these scalloped rattan trays went on sale, I nabbed the smaller one for my room at Sewanee.
Canon PIXMA wireless portable printer
I’m a Boomer. I like paper. Occasionally I like to print a chapter to edit in pencil. Plus, I’ll be able to print out the New York Times crossword every morning. I can’t wait to set up this tiny Canon printer, highly recommended by Sam, who has it in his space-sensitive Brooklyn apartment. And free for me with my Amazon reward points!
LaCrosse premium down duvet
It will be a little cooler up on that mountain in Tennessee than down here in Atlanta, and I like sleeping under down. This LaCrosse is the light warmth one, so a great summer weight.
The budget finds
Navy bobbin spindle table
I saw a side table similar to this in some catalog — but for way more money than I’d want to spend for a dorm room piece. Then I found an almost identical but much cheaper version on several sites, including Amazon, for $45.
Embroidered pillow covers
I love the muted botanical design of these pillow covers but the blue birds in the bottom corners are what make it for me. Two of them for $27.
Brass bamboo table lamp
This is an impressively tall table lamp that looks much more expensive than it is. Just $40 at Target from their Threshold line.
Bamboo wastebasket
I see in the website photos that my dorm room will come equipped with a drab gray plastic trash bin, but I prefer this Woodrow bamboo wastebasket from Umbra. I first bought one for Sam’s college dorm room years ago, and have since bought several for the house. They were on sale at Amazon ($30 instead of $35) so I got one for my grownup dorm room.
Washable floral medallion rug
We ordered one of these rugs recently (different pattern and colors) for Sam’s apartment in Brooklyn, and he says it’s amazingly soft underfoot and looks great. I figured I might want something layered over the existing carpet in the dorm, which I assume has been well-used. Actually, I got two 4’x6′, for $60 each. Currently, that size is on sale for $48.
White hobnail ceramic vase
I don’t know that a grownup dorm room really needs a big white vase, but this one makes me happy. It feels old and modern at the same time. It set me back $42 at Amazon.
I have no commercial affiliation with any of these brands, but if you purchase something from one of these Amazon links, I may earn a small commission which will be donated to The Nature Conservancy.
