11 Dorm Room Essentials

These budget-friendly recommendations from the Good Housekeeping Research Institute will help you set your favorite student up in style.

1. Dorm Décor
She'll want to put her own stamp on her space, and the easiest way to do that quickly is with colorful bedding. Since she may be using the same set for all four years, you'll want a durable topper like the Residence Hall Linens Extra Long Extra Warm Reversible Comforter ($40). This affordable blanket held up well after numerous washings and comes in a wide array of patterns and colors.

2. Better Bedding
Dorm beds aren't always the most comfortable, but the generous Wamsutta Pinpoint 360 Sheets ($15 twin, $25 XL twin) leave plenty of room for a cushy mattress topper and come in eight colors.

Related:Find the Best Dorm Bedding

3. Terrific Towels
You'll want to send him off to school with a towel set that can take plenty of abuse. Lasting Color Towels ($3.99-$5.99) from Bed, Bath & Beyond are absorbent and quick to dry, and didn't bleed in the wash in our tests. Plus, at this price, you can get one in every color!

4. Wake-Up Call
Late-night study sessions can make it tough to get up for early classes. To the rescue: the Sonic Alert Sonic Boom alarm clock ($39). If the wake-up tones aren't enough, this model comes with a vibrating disk that can go under her pillow for that extra push out of bed in the morning.

5. Hydration Help
He can save money on bottled water and the environment at the same time with a reusable bottle like the Fit & Fresh LivPure ($13). This container comes with a built-in water filter for removing chlorine from tap water and it's made from polyethylene, a plastic manufactured without BPA.

Related:Great Gifts for College Kids

6. Joe-To-Go
If he's counting on caffeine to get him through the long days, your student will appreciate the Contigo West Loop Stainless Steel Travel Mug ($20). With its patented Autoseal technology, this container promises to cut down on leaks and spills.

7. Cool Tunes
We had a hard time finding anything negative to say about the Philips SHE3580 Headphones ($15) and your favorite student probably will too. We found that these inexpensive earbuds boast excellent sound quality and a comfortable fit for long study sessions. Plus they come in 6 colors!

8. Perfect Pour
An electric teakettle can come in handy for preparing a hot cup of tea on a snowy day or a cup of Ramen noodles for a midnight snack. With measurements in ounces on the outside of the container, the Toastmaster 1.2 L Electric Kettle ($20) is easy to fill and clean too. Its compact too, so its easy to store with limited space.

Related:Back-to-School Gear for All Ages

9. Power Cleaner
Keeping tight quarters clean is important when living in a dorm room (and with a roommate!). The Dirt Devil Gator Handheld Vacuum ($40) is easy to use for first time cleaners and offers plenty of runtime on a charge for bigger jobs. We found it did a good job removing dirt from a number of different surfaces including bare floors and carpets.

10. Pack-it-All Bag
Chances are your student has plenty to tote around between books, gadgets, and school supplies. The LL Bean Turbo Transit II ($70) promises to carry it all with a front stretch cord and extra compartment for a change of shoes for good measure. It comes in 7 vibrant colors.

11. Homework Help
Bulky, heavy and out-of-date textbooks are a thing of the past for most students. Save your student's back with a Kindle ($109) for electronic textbooks. This lightweight device offers built-in Wi-Fi for easy downloads and will automatically sync with his laptop and smartphone if he downloads the Kindle app. Plus, he can tap into his local library's collection, with the Kindle's handy book borrowing program!

More from Good Housekeeping: