College Dorm Bed and Bath Essentials

As students prepare to head off to college and live away from home for the first time, the summer months of shopping for dorm life can be an exciting time for both students and loved ones alike. One way to make a smooth transition from living at home to life on campus is to ensure your new home-away-from-home is equipped with familiar comfortable bed and bath essentials.

With busy schedules and high-traffic living quarters in mind, we’ve created your guide to selecting bed and bath linens for campus life that will make the grade in durability without compromising style or comfort.

Dorm Room Bath Essentials

Self-care and good personal hygiene have a big impact on your overall quality of life on campus. Whether you plan to share communal showers or have your own private ensuite bath, having the right bath towels are essential to feeling fresh throughout the semester. With limited space in mind, consider towels that save space without compromising efficiency. High-quality zero-twist towels like our Antalya collection are soft, light-weight and super absorbent but skip the added bulk that most standard twist towels are known for.

Knowing that you may hang and store your bath towels in a visible space in your dorm, the design of your towels can become a complement to the rest of the decor in your space. Our Antalya, Bodrum, and Ribbons collections offer multiple color combinations for towels with piped trim, ribbons, and even scalloped edges.

If your grad is feeling the school spirit, you can even customize our towels to match school colors. A thoughtful gift for any graduate!

Bath Checklist for College

Must-have Towel Sizes: Hand Towel, Face towel, Bath towel

Must-have Private Bath Accessories: Shower Curtain, Bath Mat

We recommend stocking up on at least two of each towel size so that you can cycle one set through the laundry while the second set is on the towel rack and available for use. To ensure the longevity of your towels, be sure to read our tips on towel care here.

Dorm Room Bedding Essentials

Dorms are notorious for being small spaces that are expected to seamlessly transition from living and sleeping quarters to entertainment spaces and study zones. At the heart of every dorm room is the bed which serves as the visual focal point of the room as well as the hub for daily activities. By carefully selecting premium bedding, you can enhance the overall vibe of your space while maintaining a high level of comfort and durability.

Each component on your bed is not only meant to look beautiful, but also to bring you the most comfortable space for lounging, hanging out with friends, and of course, sleeping. One of the easiest ways to achieve this is through properly layering your bed linens–from the sheets to the duvets and shams, to the blankets and the pillows.

Creating a Layered Look

First, select high-quality sheets that will withstand constant use and laundering without pilling or losing softness. Egyptian cotton sheets, like Delancey, offer the durability, temperature control, and comfort to withstand the demands of college dorm life.

Once you’ve established your foundation with sheets, focus on the top layers of your bed for added warmth and an emphasis on your personal style. A simple comforter or quilt can allow for cooler sleeping and limits the amount of linens that need to be laundered. However, using multiple bedding layers allows you to create a more dimensional look, while also giving you the flexibility to add or remove pieces for better temperature control. Consider a duvet set that combines an insulated, cloud-like comforter with a washable duvet cover that makes it easy to keep your bed clean. Layer in a quilted coverlet and blankets for color, texture and warmth as needed. You can read our complete guide to layering your bed here.

Bedding Checklist for College

Must-have Bedding Foundation Layers: Twin-XL Mattress Topper and Protector

Most Common Dorm Room Sheet Sizes: Twin-XL fitted and flat sheets

Must-have Top Layers Bedding: Twin quilted coverlet, twin size duvet and duvet cover

Best Pillows for Dorm Rooms: Standard pillowcase and sham for decorative accent

We recommend stocking up on at least two sets of sheets and pillow cases so that you can cycle one set through the laundry while the second set is in use on the bed. To ensure the longevity of your bed linens, be sure to read our tips on luxury bed linen care here.

Personalization with Monograms

If you’re looking for extra personalization in the dorm room, adding a monogram is not only an opportunity to add a personal touch that’s unique to you, it’s also a great way to ensure your linens won’t get mistaken for someone else’s in the laundry or bathroom. Add your name or initials to every towel, sheet cuff, and pillowcase to create your own personal “brand” while guaranteeing everyone will know who the piece belongs to.

Home Treasures offers 20+ styles of embroidered monogramming, in 50+ colors, so the options are limitless!

Home Treasures Luxury Linens

While feel and durability are the keys to your comfort, the design and finish of your bedding and bath towels shouldn’t take a backseat. We consider self-expression daily in our appearance, hobbies, and career choices. Your dorm room should be an extension of that personalization. With a myriad of choices, we provide you the opportunity to create a space you daydream to return to each day. From the silky feel of our Royal Sateen, to the delicate embroidered details of our Calypso Percale, to the heirloom softness of our Provenza Linen, we’ve got a range of choices to help you outfit your new home away from home.