It’s time for back-to-school shopping! Just a few more weeks until classes start, so we’ve compiled our favorite gadgets, decor, fashion, and accessories for every college student’s apartment or dorm.
Get the grades and make new friends with some of our fave picks below:
Keeping a tool box in your college dorm room is paramount—and its importance is often overlooked. When parents bail and the real unpacking begins, your new floormates will be desperate for a screwdriver, hammer, or hex key. Swoop in to save the day (and make instant friends) with this low-profile, 65-piece tool kit by Stanley, available for $49.90 shipped. With 4.5 stars from 827 reviews, the boy or girl with this tool box is guaranteed to be the most popular resident with their roommates and the RA.
The Accell Power Squid outlet surge protector is an affordable way to organize and quickly access electronics and charging cables within a small space. Available in both black and white, this 3 foot heavy duty cable features 5 independent, flexible outlets, eliminating that pesky situation in which one charger covers two plugs (#thestruggleisreal). The Power Squid goes for $19.93 Prime shipped.
Bring (or wear!) your favorite book to college with Litograph’s series of literature-inspired t-shirts, posters, and totes. From Darwin’s “On the Origin of Species” to “Jane Eyre” to “The Works of Edgar Allan Poe“, each piece is created by using the actual words from one of more than 100 books to create an image using text, color, and negative space. Purchasing from Litograph also helps promote literacy; according to their website, for each purchase of a t-shirt, poster, or tote, Litograph sends a high-quality book to a community in need. T-shirts are $34, posters range from $24–29, and totes cost $29. Shipping to the US is free.
Even the most dedicated gadget lovers sometimes turn to pen and paper for notes. For the best of both worlds, the Moleskine Evernote notebook is a great standby. With this specially designed smart notebook you can write, sketch, and tag your thoughts, then take a snapshot of the page to make it digital. More than just a camera app, taking a photo adds your work directly into the Evernote app, creating a seamless stream of content from your physical notebook to all of your digital devices. Head over to Amazon to pick up a 2-pack of soft cover journals with $14.79 Prime shipped, or a hardcover journal for $25.82 Prime shipped. Both notebooks come with Evernote smart stickers for easy tagging. The Evernote app is available in iTunes and on Google Play, and each notebook comes with an Evernote premium subscription (durations vary).
Dorm safety is paramount for every college student, and the highly rated GE Personal Security Dorm/Apartment kit is an inexpensive way to protect your space and keep yourself safe. The three piece set comes with a doorstop, window unit, and keychain that emit a 120 decibel alarm when activated. Low profile and easy-to-use, this security set up requires no wiring and can be purchased on Amazon for $15.97 Prime shipped. For an apartment or dorm room with more than one window or entrance, each piece can be purchased separately to ensure a safe and secure space.
Add form and function to your classic extra long twin with this Room Essentials microfiber sheet set from Target that features a super convenient storage pocket for books, phones, and other gadgets. This sheet set, available in 8 colors/patterns, comes with flat and fitted sheets as well as a pillow case. It is currently available at 10% off for $14.24 with free shipping until August 8th. Pick up a 4′ x 6′ Threshold Fretwork rug for $53.99 (also 10% off and free shipping). This geometric rug is available in a variety of sizes and colors.
The aesthetics of a dorm or apartment can make your space feel like home, and 2015 collections feature some lofty, lighthearted trends. ModCloth is currently offering 15% off decor with the code STYLE101 when you spend $75 or more. This Home Free Tapestry from ModCloth makes a great bottom-bunk drape or wall hanging ($70 shipped). This monogram hook from Urban Outfitters, currently on sale for $10 each or 2 for $15, is great welcome gift for your new roomie.
Also worth noting, ModCloth offers free shipping for $50+ as well as easy returns and free exchanges. Urban Outfitters is currently offering free shipping on every order throughout the month of August; returns are always free.
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