GIFT GUIDE
BEAUTY
FASHION
HOME
FITNESS
1. An expanding file folder — it fits up to 200 pieces of paper, so you can organize your different classes each semester by date or subject. If you're planning on majoring in more than one subject, then this will become your new best friend during your academic journey!
Promising review: "I am going through some legal things, and this folder has been perfect for keeping all my paperwork together! And boy can it hold a lot! The snap closure is very sturdy, and the color is spot on!! An amazing value and great quality!" —MomOf2
Get it from Amazon for $4.98+ (available in 10 colors).
2. A plastic portable shower caddy with adorable heart-shaped cutouts to make sure your sponge, toothbrush, bar soap, etc., dry quickly when you're finished.
FYI — this caddy isn't designed with drainage holes in the bottom, but lots of reviewers say they just drilled and made some, no problem!
Promising review: "My daughter loves this to store all of her shower product in (she has so many)! When she left for college, we bought a second one. Now she has one for home and one for the dorm! Very easy to clean!" —SD
Get it from Amazon for $11.99+ (available in four colors and two-packs).
3. And a pair of quick-drying and comfortable shower shoes designed with drainage holes so the water flows right out of them with each step. Who knows what kinds of gross germs are lurking in the shared shower stalls? Best not to walk around barefoot on them, just in case.
Check out why this college student on TikTok says these are essential!
Promising review: "Perfect for communal bathrooms in college! I bought these at the beginning of my freshman year of college and am now a sophomore. I absolutely could not live without them! They’re perfect! They dry very quickly." —Courtney
Get them from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in women's sizes 5–14 and 11 colors).
4. A set of too-cute froggy sticky notes that will look hilarious scattered around your dorm room with little one-word messages and memos for your roomie when your schedules don't line up. Or, use them to label exactly what's yours in the shared fridge!
5. A retro-inspired bedside alarm clock because dorm rooms never have clocks??? Weird, but true. This way you don't have to depend on your phone alarm to wake you up in time for your 9 a.m. statistics class.
Promising review: "Small, cute, functional clock. It’s simple and user-friendly. Great for travel or to use at home. It emits no ticking sound, perfect for those who need silence at night, and has a standard beep alarm. I’ve used it as a bedside alarm clock and have found it to be accurate. I’ve used it simply to display in the living room as well, because it looks great anywhere! It’s only downside is there doesn’t seem to be a light/glowing hands to determine the time in the dark if needed, which can be helpful if you’re using it as a bedside alarm. Otherwise, it’s a great clock." —Kinsey Maneval
Get it from Amazon for $20.75 (available in three colors).
6. A pair of pretty pastel wireless over-the-ear headphones featuring cushy padding, 10 hours of playtime per charge, noise cancellation, and even a built-in mic. With these you can drown out the noise of your roommate snoring during their afternoon nap and really lock-in when it's time to study. Plus, these may look like the drool-worthy AirPods Max, but they costs hundreds and hundreds of dollars less. 😭
iJoy is a small business that specializes in headphones and tech accessories.
Here's what BuzzFeed Shopping writer Emma Lord has to say: "I own a pair of these, because I'm vain as heck and need to own all things pink, but I was decently surprised by how well they muffle noise! I feel like these are ideal for people who still want to hear some of the world around them (read: parents, people working in open offices), but still want to listen to their tunes comfortably. The charge on these goes for at least four hours (I haven't tried it beyond that yet), and the Bluetooth connects to my devices super easily. Excellent pair of headphones for the price point."
Promising review: "These headphones surprised me. I thought they were not going to be as great because of how cheap they are, but the bass is amazing! The noise cancellation is so good that I can’t hear anything. The volume is loud and sound quality is a win, and just how I like it. Very snug and comfy, recommend! Thanks TikTok, lol :)." —Chevelle Revero
Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in five colors).
7. A set of adorable pastel "unbreakable" deep plates, which are lightweight, dishwasher- and microwave-safe (for up to three minutes). You can celebrate not having to worry about these breaking after a less-than-gentle touch AND appreciate the wonderful addition of color these make to your pizza, ramen, or leftovers from the dining hall.
Promising review: "These are microwaveable and light to carry. Love the colors. Wish they were available in one color only, but I can’t complain. I primarily bought these for microwave purposes. But can be used for salads, hot soup, etc. Also it’s an in-between size like a medium. Just right for me." —M. Zolnosky
Get a set of four from Amazon for $9.55 (also available as bowls!).
8. A disco ball watering globe in case you want to bring your green thumb with you to college, but your hectic schedule won't allow you to give your plants the TLC they might require. This globe will water your plants as necessary, but also turn your space into a retro-inspired dance hall when the light bounces off of it!
9. Some minature collapsible storage crates to add some pastel hues to your living space, while storing your crafting supplies, cleaning products, and (like the reviewer below) even your much-needed collection of takeout sauces!
Promising review: "These are so cute and very easy to set up. I have my hairclips and scrunchies in them. I love that they are stackable, so they don't take up too much space. They're about the same size as my hand, so they're relatively small. They're good for storing little things like mini hand lotions and hand sanitizer. If you're thinking about getting them, I highly recommend them!" —Dog_Mom
Get a pack of six from Amazon for $9.99 (also available in two other sizes and six colors).
10. A set of magnetic pigeon bag clips — even if you don't go to school in a city filled with everyone's "favorite" no-boundaries bird, at least you know these urban icons will keep your chips and candy closed up when you're not noshing.
Promising review: "Super cute and great quality. Holding up well so far." —Amazon Customer
Get a pack of four from Amazon for $11.68 (available in four other styles).
11. An electric mug warmer for anyone who frequently brews a hot cup of coffee or tea and then sits down to work, completely forgetting about it. This will help keep your hot beverages HOT even hours later when you finally have time to actually drink them!
BTW, some reviewers suggest turning the heat to medium once you're halfway done with your drink, so it stays a comfortable temperature!
Check it out on TikTok!
BuzzFeed editor Jenae Sitzes wishes she had bought it sooner: "After seeing this coffee warmer all over BuzzFeed Shopping and even gifting my dad one for Christmas, I finally decided to buy one for myself. Based on all the reviews, I was pretty confident I'd soon be kicking myself for not getting it sooner, and that proved to be true: This thing not only looks good but works great for keeping my coffee warm all day long. (Because yes, I'm one of those people who'll sip on coffee until 5 p.m., all right!!) I was kind of worried it'd be too small for some of my larger mugs, but the center plate is bigger than expected and accommodated every mug in my (very eclectic) collection perfectly. I can confirm that flat-bottomed mugs are the best option for using with this warmer as they do stay hotter, but it still keeps my concave-bottom mugs warm enough for my taste. Also, I looove how sleek the white version looks on my white desk, and the auto-shutoff function is a nice safety feature as an absent-minded person."
Get it from Amazon for $19.75+ (available in two styles, five colors, and as a set with a mug).
12. A floral gridded sheet set to add some whimsy to your dorm decor, while still keeping you comfy thanks to a lightweight cotton-blend material. You can't predict whether your room will be hot or cold, but you can make sure it looks cute!
Each sheet set includes a flat sheet, fitted sheet, and pillowcases (the Twin size only include one pillowcase).
And if these sheets aren't exactly your vibe, Urban Outfitters offers a selection of twin size XL bedding that you can check out here!
Get it from Urban Outfitters for $34.99+ (originally $69+; available in sizes Twin/Twin XL–King and two colors).
13. A lightweight, poufy quilt that will not only feel like you're sleeping on a cloud, but will look like it too! The soft jersey fabric will keep you comfy while the detailed crinkled puffs make a big statement with the rest of your dorm decor. Bed in a bag, who?
Each quilt has a solid color on the reverse side. You can get the matching pillow shams on the same listing for $39.50!
Get the quilt from PB Teen for $199+ (available in Twin/Twin XL and Full/Queen and eight colors).
14. A fanciful mushroom kitchen timer, which sounds off after up to 60 minutes with a loud buzzer. This straight-out-of-a-storybook option makes a functional *and* adorable addition to any workspace, especially if it's hard for you to stay focused when you hear the rest of the dorm having a blast down the hall!
This winds up and times up to 60 minutes, ending in a loud buzzer. Reviewers also use it to help time themselves with work tasks and studying.
Promising review: "I absolutely love this timer! If you’re like me and you can’t focus on anything because you get distracted easily, then this is definitely worth it. I cannot tell you how much easier using this timer has been when focusing on time management as well as focusing on tasks in the moment. It makes this clicking noise as it starts to count down the time that was inputted. The clicks have literally stimulated my mind to keep doing my daily life activities such as chores, homework, and even cooking. The fact that the maximum is an hour of time is amazing being that I tend to feel overwhelmed when I have a lot on my plate. I can literally pause for five min after it goes off and then start it over. Amazing!" —Sweet Lollipop 🍭
Get it from Amazon for $8.55+ (available in four colors).
15. A wavy resin catchall tray, so you'll have some place to put your earrings, AirPods, and other pocket items when you make it back to your dorm after a loooooooooong night of, erm...studying at the library.
Get it from Anthropologie for $38 (available in three colors).
16. A dimmable flexible clip-on mushroom light that you can clip to your lap desk, nightstand, bed frame, or computer monitor. You'll be able to study for that upcoming chemistry test or write that midterm paper from the comfort of your bed (and into the night) without bothering your roommate who's snoozing away across the room or on the bottom bunk.
Promising review: "I love the way the light looks and the many colors, but honestly I love the flexibility of the neck. I can manipulate it to fit the function of what I am doing. I have used it as reading light and mood light by the bed. I had no problem reading my book at night. I have used it as a task light to do arts and crafts. More recently, I have used it at work and it now has a permanent spot at my desk. The light was a great value for the money for me." —Terese
Get it from Amazon for $39.99+ (available in two colors).
17. A slim-profile Bella VersaBrew 2-in-1 Coffee Maker because it takes up very little space (and we all know that's something dorms seem to lack) while still brewing up to 12 cups of coffee or you can use it as a one-cup coffee maker to keep you caffeinated and on the go once the semester ramps up. This sleek gadget even works with both grounds and K-cup pods!
Promising review: "I love this design! In the past, we have used Keurig and Hamilton Beach products. We are replacing coffee makers every two years. This design is more simplistic and brews a hot cup of coffee. You can actually see the steam. It’s very easy to use, and I love that you can use fresh coffee grounds or a K-cup. This makes me want to buy the whole line of products for the kitchen." —HJ
Get it from Amazon for $88+ (available in four colors).
18. An adorable satin eye mask, so you can block out the glow of your roommate's lamp when they're pulling an all-nighter ahead of exams. You deserve some shut-eye, even if you're sharing a bedroom with a night owl.
19. A cute telescoping boba pencil case to hold all your pens, sharpies, highlighters, and everything else you need to take notes in class and get your studying done in the library. And it's so cute, you definitely won't lose track of it!
Promising review: "I’m able to fit quite a few pencils, highlighters, pens, and erasers. The material makes it easy to hand wash or machine wash. It’s sturdy, durable, and makes a perfect gift." —Vergeta Jones
Get it from Amazon for $7.64+ (available in six colors).
20. A cute power strip with a flat plug so it fits effortlessly behind your desk or dorm bed. It features five outlets and four USB ports, so you can charge and plug in whatever you need in your dorm room without displaying a bulky, bland-looking surge protector that doesn't fit in with the rest of your dorm aesthetic.
Promising review: "I purchased this surge protector for my niece's college dorm. Not only does it work and has been proven to work. She also loves the color it matches her aesthetics of her room." —Strawberry fields
Get it from Amazon for $17.99+ (available in four colors).
21. A handcrafted macrame photo hanger to show off all your mini Polaroids of your besties from home or your new besties at school — or both. Plus, you can mount it with a wall-friendly hanger, in case you don't have places to display actual frames.
If you need the hanger to hold a different photo size, you can include a note on the checkout for a customization. Or, you can even submit your photos to be printed here!
Kailey Renae Design is a small business based in Oregon creating macrame and leather decor and accessories.
Promising reviews: "So cute! This piece is perfect for three little paintings for my gallery wall. Love it!" —Sarah
"The macrame for the photos is superb! The work done is magnificent! Very good contact with the seller! 😍" —Aurélie Cassier
Get it from Kailey Renae Design on Etsy for $16+ (available in five sizes and 11 colors).
22. A set of chair socks that (unlike your beloved feline you had to leave at home) help prevent your furniture from scratching up the floor each time you pull out your chair or want to rearrange your space. And they're machine washable!
23. A plush faux-fur area rug if you want to add a luxe accent to your dorm space. It'll also really come in handy because instead of touching your toes onto the cold tile floor when you first wake up, you can think them into cozy faux fur.
Promising review: "My parents went to Europe and sat outside on furs like these, and now they do the same at home. They live in the mountains in Utah. They put these on their metal patio chairs and then cover themselves with a blanket outside in the winter. The faux furs keep your backside insulated, and then, topped with the blanket, they are able to have a cocktail hour(s) on the deck all year long! It’s honestly pretty sweet, and the dog gets her own to lie on when she’s outside, too." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $12.35+ (available in six sizes and 12 colors).
24. A far-superior and college-ready 17-month academic planner to help you keep track of all your courses, extracurriculars, school breaks, and more. A planner is key for a busy bee such as yourself, and this one boasts monthly and weekly views of August–December 2026, and also includes a book tracker, coloring page, original artwork, sticker pack, note-taking pages, and more interactive and inspirational pages throughout!
Promising reviews: "This is my fifth year having a Ban.do planner and they just keep getting better every year, absolutely loved this edition." —Paula C.
"Literally a work of art. Feels like an experience every time I open it up. I needed a planner that was more engaging and beautiful, so I would use it more consistently. This fit the bill. I got the big one too and it feels heavy with importance. It will be hard to buy any other planner after this one…so I probably won’t." —Anna N.
Get it from Ban.do for $34.95 (available in two styles).
25. A wireless keyboard and mouse set if you want to bring a *very cool* aesthetic to the basic desk that comes with the dorm. It makes an almost cartoonish but very satisfying clacking sound that absolutely makes it seem like you're Jim Carrey typing in Bruce Almighty. And who's to say you aren't hard at work?!
Check out a TikTok of the keyboard in action.
BTW, the mouse and keyboard require AA batteries!
Promising review: "Absolutely amazing keyboard. Colors are eye-catching and make a drab office pop with color! I am currently the envy of the office. Ladies in the other departments are waiting on their own to come in now after seeing mine. Easy plug/play. It travels between home and office with me. Love the keys on this as well. Sleep mode seems to pop on kinda quick, but it's nothing bad. Just push a button or click the mouse and it's on again. I have had mine for about a month now and will not be going back to any other style!" —Nikki Bell
Get it from Amazon for $32.99+ (available in 14 styles).
26. A set of stackable highlighters that look like something out of a toy shelf with its bulbous design and bright colors. The set includes six different colors — sure, you could use regular-degular neon highlighters to take notes in class, but these are super cute and flow better with your aesthetic, tbh.
27. An Urban Outfitters exclusive 32-ounce Owala FreeSip Tumbler with a bold print on the exterior that'll turn you into a hydration champ on campus if you aren't one already! These popular bottles are designed with triple-layer insulation to keep your ice-cold beverages chilled all day long and a built-in straw for sipping... Or tilt it back and chug away without worrying about a spill.
Promising review: "After looking for a while to find a bottle that matched my personality but was also great quality I decided on giving this baby a go. Seriously my favorite water bottle and it never leaves my side. Wasn’t a water bottle person before but now I’m SOLD!" —oreocookies
Get it from Urban Outfitters for $45 (available in two styles and a tulip version).
28. A set of six space-saving hangers in cute pastel colors — those college dorm wardrobes weren't built for a fashionista like you, but these innovative tools will help you make it work. Each hanger can hold up to nine different pieces of clothing and then collapses to make room for more!
Promising review: "I am obsessed with these! I have about three dozen hoodies and sweatshirts and was really skeptical as to whether these would actually save space or if they would even support my heavier items. I was very pleasantly surprised that both things happened! I have almost one foot of extra room in my closet due to these hangers. I came back the day I received these and bought more and have condensed the space used in my closet by almost half at this point. I can't recommend them enough!" —Dontrese Grice
Get a set of six from Amazon for $13.98 (available in four multipack sizes).
29. A sweet little retro mini fridge to hold your snacks, soda, or even skincare. It features a dry erase surface on the door, so you can write things like "DO NOT TOUCH MY DIET COKE" or something a little less aggressive, like a to-do list or memo for your roommate when you go out. 😅
Promising review: "Works great for teen in college. Keeps drinks and food cold or hot. She is using it cold and is very happy with it. Couple of drinks and yogurt for late night whatever." —Patrick Gault
Get it from Amazon for $40.93.
The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.