Back to school stuff is everywhere.  Every store seems to have a checklist of all the things you will need for your first year in a dorm.  Throw out these lists.  You don’t need all of that stuff!  And you definitely don’t need to load up on everything from Bed Bath and Beyond (why does everyone seem to do this?).  My advice is to think about all the things you use on an average day.  You may want a coffee maker if you like coffee.  Or maybe you will want plates if you want to commit to washing them, if not, a good size pack of paper plates may be the way to go for you.  Don’t get lassoed into thinking dorm life requires tons of plastic milk crates and a body pillow.

My other bit of advice (I was in a dorm not too long ago, I got this!) is decorate with original items.  Like I mentioned earlier, EVERYONE gets their dorm stuff at Bed Bath and Beyond, that or Target.  If you enjoy decorating, you may want to mix it up a little bit.  Vintage is a great option for something unique for decorating your dorm.  Bed linens, lamps, wall hangings, are all things you can find at 2nd Street Emporium that would be great for your dorm.  This is in addition to all the great tchotchkes you would expect from an antique shop.

 Here are a few items in the shop that I would have loved to have in my dorm room!