How to make your dorm room THE destination (and some tips for move-in, too)

Nothing is more exciting than the anticipation of heading off to college for the first time. If you've been following us on Instagram, we brought you two inspiration mood boards, along with our resources for some of the coolest and most functional must-have items for dorm life.

In this 'Casual Rock' mood board, we feature:

• Peel-n-stick wallpaper, Gibson by Wall Blush, which sets a cool backdrop and eliminates boring off-white dorm walls

• Smart headboard with a built-in USB charger by Pottery Barn Teen. (Did you know that these headboards are made to fit with standard dorm beds, and slip right into the existing posts?)

• Comfiest wedge pillow (with phone holder!) by Fresh Frenzy for those late night study sessions

• Wood LED desk lamp with USB charger by West Elm

• Favorite Tee Organic Comforter (in size extra-long twin) and bedside storage caddy by Pottery Barn Teen

• Underbed storage tote (for shoes, off-season clothing, snack stash, etc.) by Dormify

In the 'Boho Chic' mood board, we are featuring:

• Macrame bed skirt, bedside tech shelf, and under-bed storage tote by Pottery Barn Teen

• 'Floral Play' Peel-n-stick wallpaper and gallery frames wall decals by Chasing Paper. (For a great resource for artwork inside the frames, try Mixtiles for a self-adhesive no-nail art solution!)

• Natural hemp fiber bedding by Crate and Barrel (again, size XL Twin)

• Neon sign by Amazon

• Velvet rounded headboard with USB charger by Dormify

When I moved my son across the country (from Sonoma to Cornell) last year, we learned some things about long-distance moving that we wanted to share. First, did you know many universities offer a "concierge" type service, where you can ship boxes beforehand, and they will have them staged and waiting in your room for you?! This was an absolute lifesaver to avoid trips up and down on a crowded elevator on move-in day! It feels very indulgent but it will save you time, ease stress, and your back with thank you for it!

Here are a few more tips from our move:

• Microwaves and small refrigerators are usually available for rent by the university and we encourage you to go in on a combo unit with your roommate if possible. But, if you want an adorable alternative, check out this fun mini beverage fridge from Frigidaire, available on Amazon!

• Play it safe with your dorm room color scheme by opting for mostly neutrals, unless it is possible to coordinate with your roommate in advance.

• Get a jumpstart on your space planning by asking for a floor plan ahead of time or finding it online. You can find lots of helpful room tours of your new place online with a quick search.

• If moving from coast-to-coast (or long distance), ask the university about moving in early. They may just say yes! (Ours did.) Again, this can be a huge timesaver versus fighting the crowds on move-in day.

• Once moved in, leave your door open, even if you’re an introvert! People will stop by and say hello this way and you will quickly make friends. Say hello to others as they move in. Offer to lend a hand if you can. Invite them over for a cold beverage to see how you laid out your room. This is an exciting time for everyone and you are all feeling nervous excitement!

• Bring a medical kit. The kit should include remedies for flu, digestive discomfort, pain reliever, etc. Bonus: this is another great way to make friends because you’ll have what someone else needs! I got a shoebox sized lidded basket and filled it with more frequently used items like Tylenol, Band-Aids, antibiotic spray, Theraflu, Tums, Sudafed, cough & throat lozenges, and digestive aids.

• Start taking your vitamins now to boost your immune system, especially if going to another state. Your body may not be used to those germs! It’s like Kindergarten all over again getting every single cold/flu going around. It happens to the strongest immune systems.

• If you don't already have one, consider getting an iPad and Apple pen. Load it with the GoodNotes 5 app. After receiving this bundle as a Christmas gift my son said it was a total game changer in regards to taking notes during lectures and studying.

Here's a downloadable version of our complete dorm room packing checklist:

Dorm Room Packing List.pdf

Download PDF • 96KB

We hope this post is helpful and wish you all the very best in this exciting new chapter of your life!

My son, Hunter, in front of his dorm at Cornell