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Summer is just starting, but move-in day will be here before you know it.

I am a contributor and former editor who has been writing for BuzzFeed Shopping since 2017, with a focus on beauty, travel, and practical products, and in addition to writing, am in the process of getting my master’s in speech-language pathology.

Promising review: "I bought this for my son’s dorm room, and I never thought I’d be praising a bedside shelf, but here I am. It’s well-made, easy to mount, and not overpriced for what it is. He now has somewhere to put his water bottle, phone, tablet, a book (wishful thinking), or whatever else he wants. It’s far better than worrying about him knocking things off or rolling on top of it while he’s sleeping. And, of course, it’s way more convenient than climbing up and down his ladder to retrieve items. I also have to note that because his bed is high lofted, the shelf is not in the way, so he’s not constantly having to walk around/avoid it. Great buy!" —KatH

Get it from Amazon for $32.99+ (available in two colors and two sizes).

Promising review: "I am a college student and this is great for my dorm. It’s not very big, and it’s easy to use. Great for tea, oatmeal, mac 'n' cheese cups, and ramen. And it’s easy to clean — just a bit of vinegar at the bottom and then add water to boil. It also boils faster than a regular kettle in my opinion!" —Tan

Get it from Amazon for $27.99+ (available in four colors).

Promising review: "I bought this for my daughter when she moved into her dorm, and this is perfect. The mattresses that they provide are 'questionable,' and this functional thick cover just helps with an added layer of protection. I would highly recommend that you purchase this! It is easy to put on the mattress, and the cover fits like a glove. It is also easy to wash." —Gina

Get the twin XL size from Amazon for $23.99 (available in 10 other sizes).

Promising review: "Very comfortable! Adds great padding to my college dorm mattress. Upon arrival, I washed the topper, then put it in the dryer on a low tumble setting. Fluffed up a good amount! Great purchase, would buy again!" —Grace

Get the twin XL size from Amazon for $39.89 (available in six colors; also available in seven other sizes).

Promising review: "This works as described and handles the load that my daughter needs. She uses it for her laptop, iPhone, AirPods, curling iron, and light. The cord is plenty long to go behind the desk. I would buy this again and definitely recommend it for a college dorm room." —K. Nelson

Get it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in four cord lengths and two colors).

Promising review: "Great for college students! My son keeps all his bathroom necessities in this caddy, and it’s easy for him to take it to and from his dorm. Holds a lot of items. Lightweight mesh. Easy to clean." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in 11 colors and packs of two).

Promising review: "I’m currently in a dorm, and our walls are super thin, so it’s very hard to fall asleep when everyone else is still up. This machine has saved my sleeping schedule!! The volume is surprisingly high given its size. I usually keep it in the middle, and it blocks out everything. EVEN YELLING. Honestly, a blessing for college students or people who share an apartment/house or live in noisy neighborhoods. My only regret is not purchasing it earlier!!" —Britney Michelle

Promising review: "Cannot recommend enough if you're in a dorm. My roommate is kind of noisy at night, making it difficult for me to fall asleep. I am a light sleeper, and these have improved my sleep quality. I don't wake up at random times during the night because they are making noise. Do try all the sizes on. I had a couple of times where they fell off while sleeping, but once you know your size and insert them well, they don't bother at all." —Mia

Get them from Amazon for $24.95 (available in four colors).

Promising review: "Perfect for your college student, especially dorm life. It’s comfortable and keeps the laptop's heat off their laps while they lie in bed doing their assignments. Easy to use, perfect size to have a mouse, and not too heavy!" —Ashley Trayal

Get it from Amazon for $34.99+ (available with or without a wrist rest and nine colors/prints).

Promising review: "Living in a dorm my first year of college, I knew I wasn’t going to have access to filtered water through a refrigerator, so I had to find another way so as not to buy plastic water bottles all the time and carry the case across campus from my car. I purchased a Brita bottle before school started and ended up using it so much I bought a second so I could always have one filled and waiting for me in the fridge." —Erika

Get it from Amazon for $22.99+ (available in two sizes and four colors).

Promising review: "Going to college? This may help you. My son keeps it near his desk to hold extra supplies, dry snacks, and more. With minimal space in dorm rooms, this gives you just a little bit more to store stuff on. It is not very big and doesn't take up a lot of space." —D Ruple

Get it from Amazon for $25.97 (available in five colors; also available in three other sizes).

Promising review: "I got this for my dorm, and it’s a great vanity mirror. It’s not too big and has different magnifications, which are helpful. The lights are so bright, and there’s a storage tray on the bottom, which I love. I use it every day and highly recommend it." —Vanessa Babcock

Get it from Amazon for $27.99+ (available in six colors).

Promising review: "The school my son attended had old dorms and a musty smell. This changed the air in his dorm room so much that it was unbelievable. He was able to sleep better and cut down on allergy meds." —DEBORAH YURKUNAS

Get it from Amazon for $44.99+ (available in eight models).

Promising review: "Purchased this for my daughter when she went away to college, and she said that it’s been very helpful in carrying her laundry to/from the dorm laundry room. It seems durable and has held up for a few months so far. Also convenient because it can fold flat for storage, so it won’t take up too much space in a small dorm room." —Hawaii customer

Get it from Amazon for $16.97+ (available in 12 colors/prints).

Promising review: "Bought this for when I went to college and used it every single day. It clipped to my bed frame and made night reading easy, and the different color lights were also nice. My roommate also bought one so we could use these as our primary light source in our small dorm room. I've had this lamp for about seven years now. Definitely worth the money and is currently in my office as a desk lamp!" —David

Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in three colors).

Promising review: "It's just so nice not to have to get out a big pot to make spaghetti. The consistency of the spaghetti is a little different from what you get when you cook it in a pot, but other than that, this item is perfect, and I love everything about it. If you're in a dorm, I think this would be a perfect thing if you really want to have spaghetti." —charlie landes

Promising review: "Bought this for my daughter who likes to cook ramen in her dorm room. She says it works very well! She had been purchasing ramen in the styrofoam cups and adding hot water. This cooks so much better, she says. Plus, there is no cup to throw away, so better for the environment too." —Jo VM

Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in nine colors; also available in a cup size and multi-packs).

Promising review: "Sent this with my daughter to college, and she not only uses it like a safe but a stepstool for her lofted bed in her dorm room. A real winner, especially for the money and durability/weight capacity!" —Kristine L Schwope

Get it from Amazon for $23.74+ (available in five sizes and five colors).

Promising review: "My son switched to digital learning this year, and we wanted to set up an area just for his schooling. Our space is very limited, so we wanted to use it a bit more. After we found the perfect desk, we started looking for pegboards. This was perfect for his pencils, tools, headphones, mouse, and other school tools. Installing it was super easy, and he was able to adjust the shelves to his liking." —The Tiki

Get it from Amazon for $37.99+ (available in two sizes and two colors).

Promising review: "Love everything about this fan! Very pretty and sleek design, and it has a remote control so you don’t have to get up every time you want to change the power level or if you want it to swivel. It also has a night mode that reduces noise. I loveeeee!" —Gabriela Alaniz

Get it from Amazon for $79.98+ (available in two colors).

Promising review: "We bought this for my daughter heading off to college, and she loves it! It is soft and comfy, and is perfect for her dorm bed." —Jennifer H.

Get it from Amazon for $24.99+ (available in two sizes and nine colors).

Promising review: "Took me a bit to try these out for my college dorm! I can’t have any nails or thumb tacks on my wall, so these are strong and great to hang up my heavy fairy lights and heavy shell decor!" —holly truong

Promising review: "Loved this for my freshman year of college dorm room! I can clearly write out my whole schedule and stay on top of work. The markers and magnets work great. Easy to hang with Command hooks." —Wyn

Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in three sizes and three colors).

Promising review: "Such a good product for cord organization and amazing for college life! I stuck them on at the beginning of the year, and they stuck on all year long, no issues! I love the variety in clip numbers, making it easy to either do all your cords or just one. When pulled off, it didn’t ruin furniture or leave behind sticky patches! Definitely recommend." —Alex Clarke

Get a set of 16 from Amazon for $7.96+ (available in two colors; also available in a 24-pack).

Promising review: "These are extremely sturdy, very easy to install, and add so much storage under the bed. My daughter was able to put two dressers under there. Great purchase — true game changer!" —RCash

Get a pack of four from Amazon for $18.99+ (available in two colors).

Promising review: "Came on time, seems to be good quality. The design is nice, but most importantly, it’s super helpful and sturdy. I use it to hang my towels, bags, and clothes in my dorm." —Lemon Lewis

Get a pack of four from Amazon for $6.99+ (available in two lengths, three other pack sizes, and 13 colors).

BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way.

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