Welcome to college, and even more importantly, welcome to Furman. At Furman, you will be spending your next four years living and learning in the same place— on campus! During your first two years you’ll be living in a residence hall, and while they are spacious, keeping them organized without your mom there to let you know it’s time to do laundry is a real struggle. Coming from someone who over packed, and was an unorganized mess freshman year, here’s is a list of 7 things you should bring with you to college, as well as some helpful life hacks to make your living transition as smooth as possible.
1. Stackable Plastic Drawers
These drawers will be essential in organizing your room. Whether you use them as storage space for your clothes, shoes, desk materials, or toiletries they are easy to store. You can slide them under your bed or in your closet. They stack nicely so they are perfect for creating more space. You can buy these at Target or Walmart in a variety of colors. If you want to get really fancy, you can use scrapbook paper to decorate the face of the boxes.
2. A Curtain for Your Closet
Whether you make this curtain yourself, or you buy a window curtain from Target, putting a curtain over your closet keeps everything looking nice and neat. While you are at Furman, you will find that your wardrobe expands (TSHIRTS FOR DAYS) and your closet begins to look cluttered, this covers it up. You can also hide your dirty socks in the laundry basket there too. Even if you are super organized, having a curtain over your closet is an easy decoration.
3. Collapsible Hangers
If you’re anything like me, you probably own more clothing than any person should ever wear, and you don’t want to get rid of it, I am sure. To create more space in your closet, I suggest these collapsible hangers. If you don’t want to buy them, you can make them yourself by using soda can tabs to connect multiple hangers to one another.
4. Tupperware
Tupperware is nice to have, especially since we have microfridges in all of the dorms at Furman. It’s perfect for storing leftovers, but it is even better for stealing things from the DH. Milk, cereal, bagels, bread, sandwich meats, you name it, are all available in the DH and it is so much cheaper to refill those Tupperware containers on your all you can eat swipe than on your credit card at the grocery store.
5. Command Strips
Command strips were my first best friend at college. They are perfect for hanging anything you want to hang on the walls. They don’t tear off the paint, so they are allowed in the Residence Halls, even better! You can hang canvases, pictures, bulletin boards, white boards, a calendar, or even your super crafty DIY headboard! If you aren’t super into hanging décor, you can use command hooks to hang your curtain rod, towels, keys, etc.
6. Bedside Storage
Having some type of table or shelf right beside your bed is a must. You can choose to have a night stand, or just a small shelf you attach to the bed. It’s nice to put you phone, a book, a lamp, a glass of water, or really anything you don’t want to get out of bed for in the middle of the night. This is so necessary if you live on the top bunk or your bed is lofted!
7. A Brita Water Pitcher
Having a small Brita Pitcher to keep in your fridge may seem frivolous, but it is so useful. Having cold, filtered water right there make filling up that Keurig at 7AM or just getting a sip of water late at night that much more convenient. And even better, the smallest Brita will fit right in the door of the refrigerator.
Whether you plan on going Pinterest crazy in your dorm, or if you just need a nice place to sleep, you want your dorm to be as homey as possible. Finding the right balance of storage, functionality, and décor will make your freshman dorm one to remember.
-Allie Able ’18