College Dorm Room Shopping Part 1: Bedding
I’ve received lots of emails lately from this year’s incoming freshmen, wanting to know how to decorate a dorm room and where to find cute dorm bedding. I thought I would post on the subject, because it’s so easy to make your dorm room fabulous.
One quick thing to note: College is THE time to go crazy with your room decorations. Once you’re living in the adult world, it will no longer be as acceptable to have a hot-pink bed, purple mini fridge, and strings of Christmas lights hanging everywhere in your apartment. For now, feel free to express your personality in your room – you can go for the “adult” look later!
This will be a multi-part series I’ll be posting over the next few days. Today I’m going to focus on Dorm Room Bedding. There are so many options out there in terms of duvet covers and sheet sets, which I’m going to feature at the end of this post. First, here are a few tips on buying bedding for college:
4 Tips on Buying Bedding for College
- Get extra-long twin sheets. That’s the number one rule for dorm room bedding, which they probably tell you at orientation. Normal twin size sheets won’t fit the beds, and you need to get XL-Twin.
- Don’t get white bedding. In college, your dorm room is where you spend most of your time – whether it’s studying, pre-gaming, hanging out with friends or even eating. Since there isn’t much room for chairs in the typical dorm, your bed is going to be like a couch most of the time. Therefore, if you get white bedding, it will be stained/ruined by the end of the semester. Go for darker colors when it comes to college bedding.
- Buy a few sets of sheets. You aren’t going to feel like doing laundry more often than every 2-weeks, and if you only have one set of sheets, they’re going to get grungy. Oh, and message to the boys: you need to wash your sheets more than once a year! If you’re lazy, get a few sheet sets and swap them out regularly.
- Buy a mattress pad. Trust me – the mattress your dorm room comes with is going to be hard as a rock! Get a good mattress pad (memory foam is amazing but pricey; egg crate pads are another decent option) and your back will thank you!
Cute Bedding for Your Dorm
Now that the basics are out of the way, on to the fun stuff – picking out cute bedding for your dorm room! There are so many cute options for any budget and personal style. Some of my picks:
Tommy Hilfiger “Biscayne” Campus Kit – $99.99
Isaac Mizrahi for Target “Dot Matrix” – $15-$99
Residence Hall Linens Malibu Stripe Starter Set $19.95-$124.95
Pbteen Dottie Duvet Cover – $69
More Information
Check out the rest of the posts in the College Dorm Room Shopping series to get everything you need for a fabulous dorm:
- College Dorm Room Shopping Part 2: Furnishings
- College Dorm Room Shopping Part 3: Storage
- College Dorm Room Shopping Part 4: Decorations
Posted on on July 18, 2007 / Filed Under: Dorm Room / Tags: Dorm Bedding, Dorm Room, How To, Shopping
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Kate
this is great…iv’e been having a hard time finding bedding ilike as i am going to be a freshman this year :0 but i really like this Isaac Mizrahi for Target “Dot Matrix†set it’s really cute :)
Desiree
I was just wondering what places have good sales. These things are pricey.
jode
hey i love the website really helped me get ideas of fixing up my dorm room! One question can i get the sheets twinxl and the comforter twin?!?! or full?!?! lots of places have just twinxl sheets! its cold where im going so i need comforters :) THIS SITE ROCKS!
Mary
Go to http://www.rhl.org. It’s website that sells bedding and stuff for dorms that are extra-long. Their Value Paks are a great deal and there are a ton of different colors and patterns. My school sent me their brochure in the mail.
Natalie
I love you!! Omg I’d been having THE hardest time finding anything my roomate and I could agree on. From what I can tell we are pretty opposite of eachother. She wanted a plain brown comforter and hated almost all of my suggestions. I saw this article and sent her an email with the black and white target comforter you have in the article. She loved it! It’s not ultra pink and girly but its still classy and pretty looking and leaves alot of freedom for decorating! Thank you sooo much!!! love your site<3
sheri
I agree with you about college being the time to hey wild! That is why I started this business. These girls need to have a bright and colorful room to live and study in. Please let girls know about our site as well.everything is guaranteed and washable!
thank you,
sheri
http://www.dormsuitedorm.com
Nan Wagner
I was in the physicians waiting room thumbing through the Birmingham Magazine & ran across your article. Funny I do not remember your dorm room at JSU looking so cute, however we had a lot of fun times. Congratulations on your business & what a great idea, we had brown & white gingam (yuck) Would love to hear from you!
Love,
Nan Tucker Wagner
Greg
Geez, must all bedding for XL Twin be geared for kids?! I’m an adult male who simply has limited space and consequently an XL Twin bed and I’m getting damned frustrated trying to find bedding that isn’t butt-ugly!
Alexa
I LOVE the bedding in the first pic at the top! Where is it from?!?
Dorm Bedding Expert
These guys have a great selection of solid and stripe pattern. I got the 600TC set last year and it is my favorite set ever!!
Kim
We found this site last year for our son and daughter. They have really nice dorm bedding and all the accessories for guys and girls. We especially love that all the bedding is made in America.
Thanks for this site, great info.
Kim
We found this site last year for our son and daughter. They have really nice dorm bedding and all the accessories for guys and girls. We especially love that all the bedding is made in America.
http://www.bungalowbeachdesigns.com
Thanks for this site, great info.
Selena
Wow, I can’t believe it! I’ve been doing online searching for dorm bedding for weeks, and you have ALL my favorites pictured here! How ironic!
Agoetting
This site has some great ideas for dorms, im looking for some furniture for a dorm. The rooms are so small but having a couch would be amazing. anyone have any ideas
sheri
We wanted to let the girls out there to know we have listened to you! We have changed our web site to be a site for you. You get to design your own bedding! We have all new fabrics that are the most popular colors and you pick what you want for every part of your room. What is great about this is you can coordinate with your room mate with out being “matchy-matchy”! It has been so much fun to see how the girls can coordinate and come up with their own ideas. Our slogan is DREAM BIG and we say start with us making your dreams come true!
Stu
Another great way to decorate your room, and not break the bank is to make it green. Here’s a great little guide to help make your dorm room green
Laura
Hi, I was trying to find the Isaac Mazrahi bed set from target because I am in love with it!! I cant find it on the web site.. how long ago did u see it on the site? Thanks.
Helen
this is great.But they are pricy.Any places that i can buy for less?
Sarah
I reccommend getting a bedspread that not only dark, but has something of a pattern to it….this will help a lot in keeping stains and signs of wear from showiing. Also, you know those really soft throw blankets? They only cost $5-$25 and they are so nice to have around when the dorm is too cold and you can throw them accross your bed before you sit down and snack…
Danielle
I had the izaac mizrahi set (Shown above) when i still lived at home. Unfortunately, it was a cat fur MAGNET. I brought it with me to school (wvu) and it looked AMAZING in my cramped apartment. And its something I can use for years to come. Great suggestions :)
and tip: GET AN ANTI-BEDBUG LINER. who KNOWS what’s been on that matress before you…
sammy
hello that is a VERYY cute bed spread!!!!!!
Rebecca
I loved my egg crate mattress pad when I was in college. It’s a must if you ask me. Dorm beds are ridiculously uncomfortable and this definitely helps!
Rachel
Great tips for college bedding! Most important is the mattress pad. It makes all the difference in the comfort of the bed.
Jeff
Dead on.. except you can’t forget those Bed Toppers. From Featherbeds to Memory Foam & Egg Crates you can’t live dorm life without a quality topper. The big box stores lack these specifics. Check out: http://www.DormCo.com
Also note RHL.org is a CRAZY OVER-PRICED PLACE!!! Seriously if you are not into Donating your money you should go with Dorm Co
Decor 2 Ur Door
Love this blog. Great ideas for college bound. Can’t find what you are looking for in dorm bedding?. Try the Design Ur Own bedding online tool that lets you select your product, style, and your fabric from 100′s of selections. Quality custom bedding. http://www.decor-2-ur-door.com. We also offer prepackaged
designer sets,wal art and accessories. Visit our ideas gallery. Have fun decorating and your college journey!
deep fitted sheets
Love the tommy hillfiger set. Not so keen on the Pbteen.
Rachel
Great and most helpful article! Some good ideas and suggestions. I especially love the pink Tommy Hilfiger College bedding.
Sarah
Go to Marshall’s, Ross and TJ Maxx to look for sheets. You can find 100% cotton good quality extra long sheets for cheap. The ones form the dorm websites are not cotton so they will get rough quickly.
Marlena
Some great tips, thanks! Try http://www.heirloomlinens.com. They have some really nice back to school sets with everything included (sheets, duvet, pillow, mattress pad, towels, etc) and free delivery.
nicole warianka
hi!!! i have been looking all over for the “dot matrix isaac mizrahi by target” duvet set for everrrr!!! and i really really love it! does anyone know where i can get one?? i’d do anything to have it!! :) thanks!
Jani
http://www.collegefashion.net/dorm-room/college-dorm-room-shopping-part-1/
You can find the Isaac Mizrahi for Target “Dot Matrix” at the above site. Good luck!