:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/dont-bring-to-collage-GettyImages-1131111307-721f6a5d99bb4a38b3aade51810e9c07.jpg?w=1024&resize=1024,1024&ssl=1 "7 Things You Don’t Need to Bring to College")
With most colleges and universities sending out packing lists and countless back-to-college must-haves circulating online, it’s hard to know which items are truly essential and which will collect dust in the corner of your closet ‘till May. Your dorm should be a comforting oasis where you can unwind, not a source of stress—and too much clutter in a small space is bound to have you stressing out. Whether you are a first-time college student or a parent sending their third kid off to school, here are the items you should consider crossing off that lengthy college packing list.
- Andrew Mellen is a professional organizer who was born and raised in Detroit.
- Nicole Gabai is a certified virtual organizing professional and the founder of B. Organized.
- Laurie Palau is a professional organizer and the founder of Simply B Organized.
Too Many Books
No matter how big of a bookworm you are, try to limit the number of books you bring to just your top five favorites. “I brought way too many books my freshman year thinking I would re-read them all,” says Niamh Cahill, a student and two-time orientation leader at Kenyon College. “It was comforting to have books I loved with me, but I ended up not having the time to read them or the space to store them. Plus, with all the required reading for my classes, I rarely found myself reaching for my own books.”
Your Whole Wardrobe
Professional organizer Andrew Mellen stresses the importance of eliminating excess from your closet. “You know best what items in your closet you actually wear, so don’t bring anything you haven’t touched in months, because chances are you will continue to not wear them at college,” Mellen says. It’s also important to keep the climate of your school in mind: if you’re going to school in Vermont, you probably don’t need more than a couple pairs of jean shorts. Bonus tip: before going away, do a major closet clean out to ensure you’re heading to college with things you truly wear and love.
A Lap Desk
While they may be a great work-from-home solution (who doesn’t love taking Zoom calls from bed?) college students often purchase lap desks but end up not really using them, says Claire Lawler, recent alum of Clark University. Most students end up doing work in the library with friends or for a change of scenery, and if you are working in bed, a pillow on your lap does the trick. Not to mention, lap desks are big and bulky, making them challenging to store.
An Iron and Ironing Board
We all love nice, crisp clothes, but odds are you will not have room to store an ironing board, let alone floor space to set it up. Instead, opt for a steamer, which will have your clothes looking just as fresh as an iron while taking up half the space in your closet.
Your High Heel Collection
This one might hurt—who doesn’t love to dress up once in a while?—but practicality is key for a college packing list. Cahill admits she brought multiple pairs of heels her freshman year, and didn’t wear any of them a single time. “There were no events that warranted heels, and they ended up taking up too much space in my closet. I never brought them back.” If you do end up bringing some heels with you, opt for one walkable pair in a neutral color to increase your likelihood of actually wearing them.
Too Many Decorative Items
One of the most exciting parts of moving into a dorm is making it feel like home. With that being said, Nicole Gabai, certified virtual organizing professional and founder of B. Organized, says that an excess of decorative items is a surefire way for your dorm to feel crowded and unmanageable. Avoid bringing decorative items that serve no purpose and create clutter, such as trinkets and throw pillows. (Speaking from experience, those pillows will end up on the floor every night.) Instead, bring a few special decorative items that won’t take up floor space, such as a poster of your favorite band or string lights to hang over your bed.
Large Storage Solutions
This one may seem counterintuitive—where do I keep my stuff?!—but Laurie Palau of Simply B organized and Gabai agree that it’s a mistake to buy a ton of storage solutions before you see your space. Instead, they suggest waiting until you arrive so that you can measure your space (bring a measuring tape!) and figure out what will fit. There’s nothing more frustrating than spending money on storage bins and baskets only to have to send them right back home.
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