06/13/2026
There seems to be a Facebook group for parents at nearly every college campus, and the same questions always come up: Is a printer necessary? What’s the best mattress topper? How high should we loft the bed?
My experience has been that every student is different. My son wanted very little in his dorm room because his roommate was bringing the TV, refrigerator, and other shared items. My daughter, on the other hand, wanted me to recreate the dorm setup I had designed for my older daughter, which eventually grew into Campus Canopies.
Rather than focusing on what everyone else is buying, ask your student to prioritize what’s important to them. Their dorm room should reflect their needs, study habits, and comfort level—not a checklist from social media. What feels essential for one student may be completely unnecessary for another. I hope this is helpful. 😊
