Top 10 Holiday Gifts for Dorm-Life!
Whether you're loved one is already on campus or starting their journey next year, the holidays are a great time to give thoughtful gifts that can be enjoyed now & during their college years! There are also some great sales you can leverage to spread out the costs of moving day. So let's dive in!
GETTING ORGANIZED
No matter where you call home, organization is key. Everything having a defined spot reduces clutter and helps mental clarity! These are some of our favorite storage solutions for dorm and apartment life :
Narrow Shoe-rack cabinets. These are often UNDER 10 INCHES deep making them easy to slide into small spaces. Great as an entryway piece, in a closet or tiny bathroom wall they hold A LOT of shoes in an organized way and also give you a top surface to use as an entryway organizational spot (add a lamp and bowl for keys/wallet) or a dressing area (jewelry box, lighted mirror - see below) click on each pic for more info.
GETTING PERSONAL
Even the most independent of us get homesick so reminders of loved ones are important! Lightweight wall photos, socks with pictures on them or life-sized pet pillows are huge hits. Smallwoods.com and MixTiles are fantastic go-to sources for wall sized photos that are light weight and easy to hang on command hooks in dorms and apartments. They both also have quick turnarounds. These are some of our other favorite ways to add a quirky touch of home:
Personalized face socks, mugs and pillows are year round favorites, add a laugh and get used a lot! It's a quirky fun way to bring home out into the world with you! Pet and family funny faces or super serious grandpa are great additions!
Speaking of pets, these custom pet pillows are great for anyone moving away from their favorite pooch! (or cat, and I'll bet they could even do bird/lizard/guinea pig). Face front pictures are best. We've gotten these for people's birthdays and holidays and they are always a huge hit.
Making a dorm or apartment space your own is easy with a custom light weight tapestry flag. Photos of favorite places, trips, buildings from home - team logos, group photos or a favorite quote. Lightweight makes them easy to hang without damaging walls.
Friendship lamps connect to wifi or to your computer and "talk to each other" via the internet. If person A touches their lamp, person B's lamp across the country will glow and vice versa. It's a sweet way to show you are thinking about them by changing their color too.
Message boards are big in college apartments and dorms. Whether they are leaving notes for each other or boosting their own self esteem before a big test, they make a great home-warming gift that can be used in any space.
Custom neon signs are all the rage in dorms and apartments now too. They create a soft ambient glow like a night light and come in a variety of colors and fonts. Names are popular but so are city names, team phrases "Go Dawgs!" or inspirational words "Unstoppable" etc.
GETTING PRACTICAL
If you're planning ahead for dorm life next year, there are a number of things you can go ahead and grab while the sales are hot. There will be more sales over the summer but some things are more difficult to find at that time. Waterproof laptop backpacks, lighted vanity mirrors, and woozoo fans top our list. Grabbing universal things now can spread out the stress and the financial strain before crunch time. This is a quick list of dorm-specific needs that can be enjoyed before move-in :
GETTING PROTECTIVE
Safety is a top concern in our house so we always try to include one gift that is protection-geared. Your child's individual circumstances will vary based on their new location, living situation and transportation but it's always a good time to have those conversations. Our top safety related gift ideas :
Gift giving for people living in dorms or apartments can feel tricky but we hope some of these suggestions have helped! Time together making memories is always the best gift. Happy Holidays, ya'll!
