1. A shower curtain with pockets — a true space-saving legend you’ll be glad you bought freshman year. In the dorms, it’ll hold your endless shampoo bottles and face masks; in your first apartment, it might graduate to wine bottles, kids’ bath toys, or even a waterproof speaker. Trust me, it’s one of those “why doesn’t everyone own this?” items.

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Promising review: "This is by far one of the best inventions EVER! So, I started getting these in college instead of having shower caddies—all the girls got a big pocket and small pocket —GREAT IDEA! Way less bulk and soap scum around the ledges where normal caddies would get left. As there was an extra pocket, it was a great place to put your phone or even a speaker while in the shower (our phones having waterproof cases, of course). Much like other shower curtains, you can just wash them in the washer or by hand and they are like new! This super durable curtain can be useful if you have kids — you can put their toys! Dogs? Put a treat or tennis ball in the pocket to keep them occupied while bathing them. Need some personal time? The large pockets also easily fit a bottle of wine and can be reached while soaking in the tub. I mean the uses for this thing are endless!" —Ms. Mary 

Get it from Amazon for $14.50.

Read my colleague's Maytex Quick Dry Pockets Shower Curtain review for more deets!

2. A set of blackout curtains designed to turn “just five more minutes” into full-on hibernation. They’ll help you snooze through your 8 a.m.s now (oops) and keep streetlights from ruining your REM cycles in your future city apartment. Extra perk: they also muffle noise and help control the temperature, which means they’re pulling triple duty for years to come.

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If you don't want to drill into the wall to install curtains, we recommend going with either a tension rod, Command hooks or brackets that connect to existing blinds.

Promising review: "This is my third time buying these curtains, been using them since college apartments, and now bought them for our guest bedroom. Does a great job of blocking sunlight and more light. These pictures are of the grey curtains." —Edog

Get them from Amazon for $15.93+ (available in a variety of sizes and colors).

3. Some foam earplugs that'll be the unsung hero of your backpack. They’ll save you from all-night parties in the room next door, rescue your sanity during red-eye flights, help you stay focused in the library, and provide sanctuary from any future partners who snore like chainsaws.

Melanie Aman / BuzzFeed

Promising review: "I initially bought these to help during my college exams in a computer lab. The constant clacking of keys and clicks of everyone's mouse was distracting me. I only use one, and it completely drowned out the sound in that ear. I started using them when I sleep during the day (I work nights) and use them in both ears. It's silent. I can't hear anything. These are good. I highly recommend. I also have a child who doesn't like loud noises, and she used them during a fireworks show. They didn't fit all the way in her ear (I didn't force them either) and she said they worked well for her." —JAS

Get a bottle of 50 earplugs from Amazon for $16.49.

4. A lap desk so your “desk” can be wherever you want it to be. It’s a lifesaver for Netflix-fueled paper writing in bed. After graduation, it’s perfect for weekend emails, crafting sessions, or balancing your tablet while streaming a full season of your fave show in one sitting.

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Promising reviews: "I bought this for college. You don’t always want to sit at a table or bar. It can be uncomfortable after a period of time. You can chill on your couch or recliner and use this. It works great. I should’ve bought this a lot earlier." —David

"Going back to college has been a challenge for me working two jobs and having four kids. This has made it so much easier to sneak off in my room to do my school work!!!" —Ashley

Get it from Amazon for $33.24+ (available in nine colors).

5. A memory foam seat cushion that's basically an apology letter to your tailbone. You’ll love it for marathon study sessions now, and it’ll stick with you for remote work days, long gaming sessions, or anytime you’re trapped in a chair longer than you planned.

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It's designed to relieve pressure on your tailbone, and reviewers say it's great for reducing lower back pain.

Promising reviews: "I’m a college student, and I just moved not too long ago so a lot of my free time is spent sitting in my office chair (probably 10 hours a day). I have one of those gaming chairs that are really common, and in no time at all, the cushion decayed. This product has revolutionized my chair, making it feel brand new. I will probably continue to buy these over brand-new chairs every so often. This is cheaper and equally, if not more, effective than buying a new chair. 💯!" —cody

"I broke my tailbone and was in excruciating pain for over 4 months. I got this cushion when I first broke it and was able to sit down, and it was AMAZING. Seriously!!! It allowed my tailbone to heal because it wasn’t pressed down on when I sat down. It’s been over 6 months (still in pain, but it’s way less pain), and I use it every single day. It got me through some of my studies as a college student with mostly online classes. I now bring the cushion to the couch, dinner table, etc. I recommend this to people without injuries, too. It has helped improve my posture so much and takes away the strain of trying to maintain a good posture if you are injured or just too tired to sit up straight. Love this thing. Buy it, please." —Kel. C. 

Get it from Amazon for $45.99 (available in six colors).

6. A power strip so you can keep every gadget, charger, and hair appliance plugged in at once. It’ll be a dorm lifesaver when you’re sharing two outlets with a roommate — and in your next apartment, it’ll still be the reason your phone, laptop, lamp, and coffee maker can coexist.

Amazon

This power strip also doubles as a surge protector.

Promising reviews: "This is an excellent option for a dorm room. Dorm rooms generally have limited outlets, and colleges often have restrictions on what types of extension cords are acceptable. This round power strip works well under a small desk, meets the residential hall guidelines, and includes ports for directly charging phones and other devices. Perfect." —bsaucoin

"Y'all, I have had this thing since my freshman year of college (August of 2018) and I still have it!!!! It still works perfectly and I love it so so so so much! It’s an essential for me, and it fits anywhere; it’s great quality! They can be heavy, but I think that’s a good thing because it isn’t surprisingly heavy in weight. Great for the price, and the cord length has never been an issue for me from the bed or my desks in college! 5 stars all the way." —Gabrielle James

Get it from Amazon for $25.99 (also available in black).

7. A swivel desk chair which nails the sweet spot between comfort and style. It’ll make late-night cram sessions feel less torturous, and when you’ve moved on to your first real home office, you’ll be glad you didn’t settle for the squeaky, lumpy alternative.

Amazon

Promising review: "Excellent product for a reasonable price! The product description/details were accurate. I am a 61-year old female, who put this together myself in approximately 45-minutes. It is lightweight, yet sturdy. I purchased this chair for my daughter, who is a college student and studies long hours at the table. She confirms that the chair is so helpful! It looks nice, too." —Cheryl

Get it from Amazon for $129.99 (also available in white).

8. A pair of blue light–blocking glasses to save your eyes from the endless hours of screen time that college life demands. They’ll carry you through late-night essay edits, gaming breaks, and online lectures, then stick around for your first desk job when spreadsheets and Zoom calls are your new professors.

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Electronic devices emit a lot of blue light, which your eyes do a terrible job of blocking. Over time, blue light may strain your eyes and lead to macular degeneration, the leading cause of vision loss. Computer glasses that filter blue light can help reduce the amount of blue light you're exposed to, plus you don't need a prescription to wear them and they work even if you're already wearing contacts.

Promising review: "I work at a job that requires me to look at screens pretty much all day. I'm also a college student who takes my classes online and looks at my phone regularly. I began getting increasingly bad headaches and researched possible explanations. Constant blue light screen exposure was the most likely for my specific lifestyle. Since getting these glasses, my frequency and severity of headaches has gone completely down from before. Not only that, these glasses are adorable and can fit just about any face shape. Great quality and work wonderfully. Highly recommend." —Madison

Get them from Amazon for $11.19+ (available in 34 colors and styles).

9. A cold brew maker here to single-handedly slash your coffee shop spending. Freshman year, it’s your antidote to overpriced campus lattes; later, it’s your secret weapon for Monday mornings when you’d rather roll out of bed than roll into a café line.

Amazon

It brews a quart (4 cups), so you should have enough java to get you through the day (and maybe some left over to share with your favorite coworker).

Promising review: "Bought this several times. Originally recommended by a friend and now we can’t live without it! So easy to use and no bitterness. Only problem is we go through the cold brew so fast I usually put it in a separate pitcher so I can start brewing the next batch so we never run out!. We ended up using it so much I had to buy my daughter her own to take to college. The pitcher is plastic and I was initially disappointed but it turns out it is so much better in plastic and easy to use and clean." —OCMomEsq

Get it from Amazon for $24.14+ (available in two sizes and three colors).

10. A white-noise machine for transforming chaotic dorm acoustics into a calming backdrop of rain, ocean waves, or gentle thunder. After graduation, it’ll keep your sleep sacred in noisy apartment buildings, during hotel stays, or even in your own home when the neighbors get too chatty.

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It has six built-in sleep sounds — rain, brook, ocean, thunder, white noise, and summer night — as well as an auto-off timer that you set for 15, 30, or 60 minutes. Plus, it's lightweight and portable so you can bring good sleep with you anywhere.

Promising reviews: "This product is amazing as I have just moved into my college apartment. It perfectly drowns out the noise as you can adjust the volume and change sounds depending on which in you like. Personally I enjoy the white noise feature and I leave it on all night. I also chose to plug it into an outlet since it comes with the plug and block but you may also decide to use batteries. If you use batteries I suggest you leave it on the timer setting which allows for a 15,30, or 60 minute timer and then it will automatically turn off. It’s been a game changer for my sleep and I highly recommend!!!" —Gianna Moraci

"I use this every night! My roommate in college got me hooked on a rain machine to help me sleep and even years later, I still have to have it to sleep! Great quality and awesome functionality." —amb0319

Get it from Amazon for $17.99 (available in two colors).

11. A truly ~egg-cellent~ rapid egg cooker you can count on to make a delicious breakfast happen in literal minutes. You’ll rely on it for quick protein before class now, then keep it in rotation for speedy brunches, packed mornings, or lazy Sunday omelets well into adulthood.

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Promising review: "I got one as a gift in college, and my roommates and I ate so many eggs throughout the busy year, and I decided to get a second one for my mom. When we graduated, my former roommate said she also got one. Once you have one, you can't go back. It's so useful if you want a quick snack or addition to a meal, especially when you're busy with other things." —Joanne Ahn

Get it from Amazon for $18.99+ (available in two sizes and seven colors).

Check out our Dash Rapid Egg Cooker review for more deets!

12. A heavy-duty alarm clock that can *shake* you awake when your willpower won’t. Ideal for making sure you never miss an exam, and equally valuable years later when you have to catch an early flight or log in for a 7 a.m. meeting.

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Promising reviews: "I got this for my son, who is such a deep sleeper. He's at college now and there's no one to wake him up 10x every morning, just to fall back asleep. He texted me this morning and said that it was incredible! Said 5 units away from his apartment properly heard it, but it works!" —Katheryn Webster

"This is the best alarm clock I have yet to own. I am a college student and there have been times when I would sleep through my alarms and would miss class. I tried different methods, like changing up my alarm and setting one far away. I even used an alarm app that made me solve math problems to turn it off, but that failed because I would just delete the app in my sleep to shut it up. This alarm clock has been a lifesaver in making sure I wake up in time for class. It always startles me awake and gets my heart racing, so I don't even feel like going back to sleep. I like how it has the option for you to choose the pitch of your alarm if you choose to use the noise.

If you are a heavy sleeper, have trouble getting up in the morning, and have a risk of sleeping through your alarm, this is the alarm clock for you!" —Thomas R

Get it from Amazon for $43.99 (available in six colors).

13. A mug warmer here to rescue your coffee from the fate of going lukewarm mid-sip. In college, it’ll be your desk mate during late-night cram sessions; later, it’ll keep you caffeinated and happy through endless meetings or cozy weekends staying in and reading.

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This mug warmer does *not* have an auto-off feature, so we recommend also getting an auto-off outlet if you're prone to forgetting to unplug things.

Promising review: "I bought one of these before I went to college. It's been about 10 years and it's still going strong. I use it almost every day at work and have used it pretty consistently over the last decade. No issues whatsoever with overheating (even when I accidentally leave it on for longer than planned), and it keeps my drinks perfect. I also have one of those cute little iron teapots, and it keeps that thing perfectly warm for hours and hours. When (if?) mine dies, I will definitely buy another. I got my grandma a much more expensive one from Sharper Image, and it doesn't keep things nearly as warm, and it randomly shuts itself off every hour or so. This one isn't flashy, but it's definitely a great simple little gadget." —Alison

Get it from Amazon for $11.99.

14. A three-tier rolling cart that turns “where do I stash all my stuff?” into “dang, I’m finally organized.” It’ll corral your dorm toiletries, snacks, and mini-fridge essentials now, and later cruise beside your bedroom dresser, hold your kitchen gadgets, or even act as a mobile office triage station during those early WFH days. Featuring a sturdy metal frame, mesh-bottom bins, and smooth swivel wheels, it'll ~roll right along~ with your life as it changes. 

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Promising review: "I got this product to use in my dorm room in college, and I love it! It is not too big for the space, and it fits everything perfectly. It was super easy to assemble, and it is easy to move around when I need to rearrange things. Definitely recommend, especially for college use!" —Olivia Conk

Get it from Amazon for $34.17+ (available in four colors). 

15. A microwave pasta cooker guaranteed to take you from hungry to carb-loaded without dirtying half the kitchen. It’ll see you through dorm dinners *and* those nights when you just want comfort food without the whole boiling-water ordeal.

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Read our Fasta Pasta Microwave Cooker review for more!

Promising review: "When I first bought these, I was in the position where I needed to cook all of my meals in a college dorm without a kitchen and with limitations on which types of appliances I could purchase. I had a microwave, a toaster oven, a coffee maker, and a blender.

Needless to say, this microwavable pasta maker saved my life in college.

I cooked pasta (and ravioli/tortellini!) for nearly all of my meals, and this little tool made that process SO easy for me, AND could hold a hefty few servings of pasta on top of that! I just filled it with as much pasta as I needed to prepare, filled with water, added a splash of olive oil to prevent sticking, and my pasta was done in minutes! No waiting for a pot to boil, no needing to set a timer to avoid forgetting about your pasta, no need for a separate pot and strainer, AND it was super easy to clean." —Brenda Pelletier

Get it from Amazon for $16.99.

16. A memory foam mattress topper for transforming a dorm-issued slab into a bed you actually want to sleep in. And once you’ve moved, it’ll follow you to your first apartment, guest room, or anywhere a little extra cloud-like comfort is needed.

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Promising reviews: "I was in search of a mattress topper when moving off to college and this one has satisfied all of my needs. It has just the right amount of firmness and softness allowing for a good nights sleep. After placing this mattress topper on top of my hard mattress, I no longer experienced restless nights of sleep. I would highly recommend this product if you are moving into a dorm or apartment." —Brynlee Urbantke

"AMAZING! It slides around a little bit and that’s the only con. I got it for college and it’s so amazing I’m getting one for my bed at home while I’m there in the summer too. Very comfortable and soft, I was worried but I’m glad it worked out exactly how I wanted it." —Liz K.

Get a two-inch topper from Amazon for $39.99+ (available in sizes twin–California king as well as a three-inch-thick version).

17. A velvety soft microfiber duvet ready to earn permanent status in your bedding lineup. You’ll love it for movie nights in your dorm now (and using it to make your bed for years to come).

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Promising reviews: "I bought this comforter for my son for college and it is perfect! It's medium warmth, very soft and fluffy. Exactly what I was looking for. The square stitching keeps the stuffing perfectly in place. My favorite feature is the loops on the corners that tie to a duvet cover to keep the comforter from shifting. I loved this comforter so much, I ordered one for my other son and am going to order one for every other bed in the house. An amazing find! Love everything about it!" —Sonja M. Ocker

"Bought it for my daughter’s college apartment. She absolutely loves it! Super comfortable! Not too warm. Perfect!! She wants to buy another for her bed at home for when she visits! :)" —Shannon D. 

Get it from Amazon for $29.99 (available in sizes twin–California king and six colors). 

18. A combination oil diffuser and humidifier for when your dorm smells… lived in. It’ll make your air fresher, your room calmer, and your sleep better — and you’ll keep it for every future home that needs a little mood and moisture boost.

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Promising review: "I bought this as a gift for my teenage daughter, and she loves it! I also purchased a set of essential oils. The scent is very light, not too strong and very spa like. I like to borrow it whenever I take a hot bath. The colors are beautiful and makes it extremely pleasing to the eye. I now want to purchase one for myself, especially since I know she will be taking it with her when she leaves for college!" —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in three colors).

19. A Brita water dispenser proving staying hydrated doesn’t have to mean hauling 24-packs of plastic bottles up three flights of stairs. You’ll appreciate it in the dorms, and even more in your own kitchen years later when cold, clean water is just a fridge-door pull away.

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This comes with one filter to start off, but you'll need to grab more filters eventually because it's recommended to replace the filter every two months. Plus, Brita's filters have been certified by the Water Quality Association, so you know you're getting the best of the best when it comes to water filters. 

Promising review: "Originally bought this for my college dorm when my roommate suggested we get one. I loved it for that year and continued to use it now that I live in an apartment. I hope to use this pitcher for as long as I can! Its size is ideal for one or two people (not so much a family). Refilling is easy and you need to buy a new filter every couple of months but that is expected. Great buy." —Morgan

Get it from Amazon for $31.48+ (available in three styles and three colors).

20. A huge backpack laundry bag that lets you transport a week’s (or two’s) worth of clothes without breaking your back. Great for laundry room treks in college, and just as handy for trips to the laundromat or packing up linens as a grown-up.

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Promising review: "I think that this was one of the best purchases I made for college. But this could be used for any sort of having to transport laundry to a different location than just your dorm room or your apartment. It has lasted me two years and has carried and fit about two weeks' worth of laundry without dropping or ripping. I also enjoyed having the pocket in the front to store laundry detergent pods as well as dryer sheets and other laundry-related items in order to be hands-free to push elevator buttons, open doors, or carry my phone among other things. It has a little bit of wear and tear now because it has been used and somewhat abused throughout the last two years (all the extra washing of clothes due to COVID and stuff) and has continued to hold up, so much so that I could use it next year if I didn't have washer and drying in my apartment itself. Great Buy!" —Nitya

Get from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in 12 colors).

21. A pair of hybrid over-ear headphones here to turn any noisy dorm hall into a personal study bubble. With up to 60 hours of juice (40 with noise cancelling on) and fast-charging that gives you four hours of playback from just five minutes plugged in, they’re a nonnegotiable for late-night cramming (and they’re not going anywhere when you start making caffeine-fueled commutes).

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Promising review: "I bought my college-age son a pair of these, and he liked them so much, I bought myself a pair and I’m glad I did. I use them mostly at the gym and the sound quality is very good. They are comfortable to wear and have a very good battery life. The noise cancelling mode is great, knocking out most of the background noise you hear, so I’m not blasting them so loud. They are also well-made and sturdy. Would recommend!" —Gregory M

Get them from Amazon for $39.99 (available in four colors). 

Reviews for this post have been edited for length and/or clarity.