So I got to go to my little cousins High school graduation last weekend and it got me thinking, holy cow summer is almost over and the kids will be going back to school within the next couple weeks. My brain starting ticking on a bunch of memories from college. I had the best time! I also bought a crap ton of things that I didn’t need! (Newbie problems)… The question I came up with was, how can I impart my years of wisdom for the younger generation so they don’t spend their money, or mom and dad’s money, on things that will stay in the box? Yes, you’ll need notebooks, pens and paper – at least I think people still write things down…This list of 15 essential holistic dorm room items that you’ll actually use, is my little manifesto that I wish someone would have written when I was off to school years ago. I curated this list but I’m not an affiliate of any of the items, so I don’t get paid to tell you about them. I just like what they stand for and I provide the links if you want to check any of the items out. A few of the items may surprise you, but trust me, they all have a place and purpose to help you navigate daily life and keep wellness top of mind at school. They’re also going to add style and function to enhance your dorm room and not just take up precious real estate! This is a decorating blog after all. Let’s get into it, shall we?

Essential Holistic Dorm Room Items #1: Salt Lamps

Salt lamps are wonderful because they ionize the air by the same means that a plug-in ionizer would. They essentially emit negative ions into the air which helps to clean out impurities and allergens and other things that would be irritating. Unfortunately, a annoying roommate is not one of them, JK. They are great to put near computers, TV’s or other devices that produce electromagnetic waves because they absorb those waves which cause humans to become fatigued. Many salt lamps have dimmers so that they can be turned down at night and used as a night light. They’re a fantastic way to make your room feel more relaxed and chill.

Essential Holistic Dorm Room Items #2: Essential Oil Diffuser

Bring an essential oil diffuser to make your room smell nice and promote a bit of humidity on those dry winter nights. Just add a bit of water and your diffuser can go for hours, bubbling in the background, which is awesome “white noise” to help you sleep. They come in every shape and size and you’ll be able to find one that will enhance the vibe you’re going for. Most diffusers come with an auto shut off, so you don’t have to worry about falling asleep or leaving it on when you go to class.

Essential Holistic Dorm Room Items #3: Essential Oils

You can’t have an essential oil diffuser without essential oils! There are so many kinds of essential oils for different purposes. There are ones for relaxation and calming, or ones to energize or pump you up before a night out or long study session. If you want to achieve a certain felling, there is an oil that can get you there. This set from Amazon is great because it has relaxation and energizing and all kinds of different things to enhance whatever vibe you want.

Essential Holistic Dorm Room Items #4: LED Floor Lamp

This floor lamp is not only a great task lamp, it’s also mimics natural daylight at high noon. This will help you feel less fatigued, especially an all night study session or binge watching Netflix on your laptop.. You’ll be able to read for hours and the natural sunlight will help you sustain focus and to not get tired. This is important here in the Northeast, where we don’t see actual sunlight for most of 8 months out of the year. If you’re like me, a lamp that mimics daylight will help with your winter blues. You can actually leave it on while you’re in class because it will be great for plants as well.

Essential Holistic Dorm Room Items #5: Plants!

Speaking of plants, I wish someone would have encouraged me to learn about plants when I was in college. As I’ve aged, I developed a love for house plants and the felling I get when taking care of something else. You probably won’t have time for a four legged pet, but plants are still living and will need some attention. Yes, college is about learning and growing, but if you shift a bit of the focus onto something else that needs your attention too, you’ll feel more fulfilled. Plus, plants help to purify the air and add a feeling of home to your space. There are a variety of plants that are super hardy and thrive in lower light atmospheres. I love a Sansevieria or snake plant, mother-in-law’s tongue, whatever you prefer to call it, they are super hardy and resilient. You can also not go wrong with a ZZ plant. They are also quite adaptive to lower light and can adapt to less frequent water than other plants. That’s not to be confused with no watering. Get in the habit of watering and caring for your plants on a weekly basis. Seriously, it will take around 5 minutes for 1 to 5 plants.

Essential Holistic Dorm Room Items #6: Meditation App

This wonderful meditation app from Simple Habit is a great way to keep yourself motivated when you’re feeling a little bummed out or to give yourself a chance to chill after a long day. If you need a bit of a jolt, it has plenty of programs to energize you whenever you need it. I like it because there are many different contributors and meditation instructors from all over the world providing the content. You can choose to meditate for 3, 5, 10 or 20 minutes. Many meditations are part of a series that can go for a day up to a month. I use it every day and it’s become something that I look forward to. Simple Habit is also “gamified” where you see little rewards for staying consistent with the practice. You can also tag your friends on Socials and keep each other encouraged and motivated if you want.

Essential Holistic Dorm Room Items #7: Phone Case Wallet

Chances are wherever you are, you’ll have your phone with you. It’s the one thing that is like your right arm, right? But you may not have your wallet or ID with you all the time. Say you and some friends are hanging out in the dorm across the quad and you want to go for some coffee. Your wallet is back in your room and it’s a hike to retrieve it. This little phone case/ wallet combo is the perfect way to keep everything you need on you so you can go with the flow. There’s space for your student ID, credit card and some cash and it’s got a detachable wallet and, unlike other phone case wallets, you have full access to your camera lens so you can take pictures whenever you want!

Essential Holistic Dorm Room Items #8: Shower Shoes

It’s very important to have a pair of flip-flops shower shoes or something that is going to keep your feet off of the shower floor. I don’t want to gross you out but there’s all kinds of things like fungus is and bacteria that will probably be on the shower floor and having shower shoes on is going to keep your feet safe and clean. These are great because they’ve got some drainage holes to dry them fast and they can go from dorm shower to class in a snap!

Essential Holistic Dorm Room Items #9: BPA Free Shower Containers

These are really fantastic shower containers for those who don’t want a huge caddy to schlep with you every time you go take a shower. These are on a lanyard string and they’re made of silicone. They’re different colors so you can put your body wash in one, face wash in another and there’s still room for shampoo and conditioner and the other ones without getting confused as to what’s what. They’re not super huge, but you can refill them as needed.

Essential Holistic Dorm Room Items #10: Organic Cotton Bath Towels.

One more bath/ shower themed must have: Towels that are super absorbent and big enough to cover your whole body exactly what you need! These will do both, ‘nuff said

Essential Holistic Dorm Room Items #11: Natural Loofahs

These natural louvers are pretty wonderful. They come in a pack of six and they’re made of natural products that are antimicrobial, hypoallergenic and exfoliating. They’ll last for quite a long time and make your skin feel great. They can be rinsed and left to air dry.

Essential Holistic Dorm Room Items #12: Crystal Infused Water Bottle

The one thing that you’re going to need more than coffee every day is water. Chances are you’re going to walking all over campus and you’re going to need to stay hydrated. This crystal water bottle is great because it has an insulated cover you can slip on to help your water stay cold. There’s a natural quartz in a chamber at the bottom. Just set your intention as you fill the bottle and you’ll be ready for the day! It’s also made out of BPA free plastic that won’t break. You can be easily toss it in a bag or just carry it with you all the time. Cute!

Essential Holistic Dorm Room Items #13: Cotton Grocery Reusable Bag

These bags are fantastic for going out to the grocery store and not bringing back a ton of plastic bags that will just go into landfills, #wasteful! These are sturdy and multifunctional too. You can pack them full of books, tablets, lunch, you name it. The real benefit is that they are sustainable and you’re contributing to the health of the planet which is awesome!

Essential Holistic Dorm Room Items #14: BPA Free Food Storage Containers

These have lids so you can put all your snacks in them, keep food fresh in the mini fridge, put your leftovers in these containers and they’re great because they’re reusable and can be stored very easily. Just wash them out and use them over and over. Pro tip: Try eliminating the store packaging completely by going to the bulk food store and filling up what you need!

Essential Holistic Dorm Room Items #15: Natural Drawstring Laundry Bags

These are great because you can pull the drawstring shut, sling it over your shoulder and head on down to the laundry mat on laundry day. Or, pack up your whole wardrobe and head home on the weekends to visit the parental units and do some washing. These are super deep and you can tie off the drawstrings so your socks and unmentionables don’t fall out!

There you have it! 15 essential holistic dorm room items you’ll actually use In 2019. I’d love to hear what you’ll be bringing to college this year. What are some must haves that you can’t live without? Leave me a comment below! If you liked this one, here’s my 10 Easy Dorm Décor DIY’s that you might find interesting. I am so grateful that you stopped by to check things out. Until next week my friends!

Michael is Principal designer and blogger at Michael Helwig Interiors in beautiful Buffalo, New York. Since 2011, he’s a space planning expert, offering online interior e-design services for folks living in small homes, or for those with awkward and tricky layouts. He’s a frequent expert contributor to many National media publications and news outlets on topics related to decorating, interior design, diy projects, and more. Michael happily shares his experience to help folks avoid expensive mistakes and decorating disappointments. You can follow him on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook @interiorsmh.