A college dorm room rite of passage is figuring out what to do with that old mattress to make it feel like a brand new mattress for you. It can be done! Here’s your guide on how to Make Dorm Beds More Comfortable in 6 Simple Steps.
This post is about How to Make Dorm Beds More Comfortable in 6 Simple Steps, so you can get the sleep you need all semester long!
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How to Make Dorm Beds More Comfortable in 6 Simple Steps:
Step 1 – Mattress Topper
If you’re wondering how to make dorm beds more comfortable, the first step is investing in a quality mattress topper. This is crucial, and the one place you want to go with high quality.
Most college dorm mattresses are thin, stiff, and designed more for durability than comfort. A twin XL mattress topper, especially a cooling memory foam option, is the best way to turn that uncomfortable mattress into a real sleep setup.
After doing some extensive research (you can find our ultimate college dorm bed guide here) we ended up going with the Lucid mattress topper for our two college students, and have been very happy with it.
Step 2 – Mattress Pad
We would be remiss if we didn’t also recommend that you combine the mattress topper with a mattress pad. This is like a fitted sheet that will wrap around your mattress topper, before you put on sheets. It adds an extra layer of softness while also keeping everything together.
Step 3 – Mattress Encasement
We call this step 3, because we think the topper and the mattress pad are the crucial elements to making a dorm bed comfy, but to us, a mattress protector is a must for hygiene reasons. We prefer the full mattress encasement to keep out bed bugs. This goes on first, directly on the dorm mattress.
Combining these three things – the topper, the pad and the cover – and you’ve just leveled up your entire college dorm bed situation. They are the foundation of a super comfy dorm room bed.
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Step 4 – Sheets
Once your base is cozy, it is time for the fun part.
Even though it seems the personal preference for a lot of college kids is to forgo the use of the top sheet (we will never understand!) you must have a good fitted sheet. Find the perfect color of your favorite high-quality sheets and sheet set to perfectly set up your dorm room look.
We usually gravitate towards cotton sheets, but whatever your fabric preference, breathable sheets like cotton, with a higher thread count, can help regulate room temperature, especially in those stuffy dorm rooms that trap heat.
Step 5 – Comforter
Once you have the sheets on the bed, then it is time to toss a twin XL comforter on top to create a great dorm bed!
Although the beds are twin XL sized, don’t be afraid to go a little bigger in the comforter size, especially if you have bed risers to elevate your bed.
There are sets that have the sheets and comforter included too!
Step 6 – Pillow
Last, but certainly not least, is the pillow.
A good pillow is KEY, and it can be so hard to find a good one. Trust us, we have gone through it! After testing many, many, many pillows, we have determined that there are two that clearly outshine the rest. (This goes for any bed, not just a dorm bed)
For side sleepers or stomach sleepers, memory foam pillows or functional pillows offer both support and style.
Step 6.5 – Bed Rail
This one applies to those on top bunks only, so we are going to give it a quick little mention here. Falls from top bunks cause serious injuries (or even the unthinkable), so we consider a bed rail a necessity if you or your student are in a top bunk.
Extras
The 6 items (or 6.5 ifyou are on a top bunk) listed will create an amazing upgrade to all of the dorm room mattresses you encounter on your college journey. Although we consider those dorm necessities, we also recommend adding things to really make it homey.
From fairy lights to throw pillows, small touches can make a twin XL bed feel like a comfort oasis worthy of college students. In a small dorm room, every simple purchase helps to make it cozy. Things like soft pillow covers, or even a bed tray for your laptop and water bottles.
Adding a throw blanket or cozy blanket is great not just for dorm room aesthetics, but also to add extra comfort and warmth both in bed, and also to drag into the common area for movie night.
Add some decorative pillows and a duvet cover to make your dorm room bed feel a little more like home.
How to Make Dorm Beds More Comfortable in 6 Simple Steps
College freshmen may not have much room, but that doesn’t mean you can’t create a space that supports good sleep, academic success, and the full college experience. Making a twin XL dorm bed cozy is one of the smartest and most affordable ways to improve your entire school year.
We have everything you need linked in our storefront, so check out all the options there for all your dorm room bedding needs or dorm bedding necessities.
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We hope this post on how to make dorm beds more comfortable in 6 Simple Steps was helpful! Best of luck to you or your favorite college student!
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