Six Dorm Room Essentials

You and your roommate will each get a free-standing closet that has a few built in drawers. A hanging shoe rack is a great way to maximize your closet space and provide additional storage. Don’t want to give up hanger space? A stackable shoe rack tower, which can go next to your closet, is the perfect solution.

There’s no such thing as too many outlets in this day and age. From laptops, to tablets, to desk lamps—make sure you’ve got all your electronics covered by picking up a power board from Taobao. It’s a surefire way to not only keep the peace with your roommate but make sure you’re living your best fully charged life inside and outside the classroom.

A benefit of having a free-standing closet is that you can make use of the space above it! A few stackable plastic shelves easily add storage space for more clothes or whatever else you need. Depending on how tall you are (or how high you stack the shelves), you may also want to invest in a step stool.

Every other floor has a washer and dryer in the same location as the communal kitchen. NYU Shanghai provides basic cooking utensils as well as pots and pans. However, you’ll need to pick up your own laundry detergent if you want to use the washer and dryer. Many students have a collapsable drying rack to air dry some of their clothes. It’s a great solution that’s also great for the environment.

Whether you purchase a desktop mirror or spring for a full-length one to hang behind your door, most NYU Shanghai students say this is a must-have. Each floor has communal bathrooms (typically one bathroom per two students living on a floor), which come complete with mirrors. This one simple purchase will have you doing that quick outfit check from the comfort of your own room rather than the bathroom down the hall.

IKEA sells a small rolling cart that comes complete with plastic drawers. The best part? It’s the perfect height to fit under your desk and provides additional storage. NYU Shanghai students are all about finding smart storage solutions that help them get the most out of their dorm room. A small rolling cart is one of the easiest ways to help accomplish that.