A key milestone is when you send a child off to college – it can be a difficult time of transition for both parent and child and much has been written on the subject. Emotions aside, there is the very real need to ensure that basic housing needs are covered – you will need to acquire a host of college and dorm supplies. The best way to accomplish this is with a checklist –typically the school or university will provide one and that is a good starting point. Many college –provided checklists will clearly define what items are pre-existing such as a bed, desk and bureau along with what sorts of things might be prohibited so it’s a good idea to review them carefully before you begin accumulating too much stuff.
Another great option is to take a look at the websites of the major bath and bedding stores – many will actually deliver goods directly to the dorm in advance of your child’s arrival. Digital college checklists are useful for both parents and kids; the checklists can be shared on social media with future roommates to help agree on décor ideas and avoid duplication plus they make it easy to coordinate between parent and child when purchase decisions are being made.
Since storage space is typically at a premium in dorm rooms you will find that a set of bed risers is essential. These help to elevate the bed anywhere from four to six inches in order to create storage space in an otherwise underutilized area. Bed risers will work on beds with or without headboards although they are generally not recommended for use with bunk beds.