I can still remember opening the door to my dorm room on my first day of college and quickly realizing that the five suitcases' worth of items I packed were not going to fit – at least, not in the one wardrobe provided by my university. To save the day, my mom drove me to the local IKEA store, and we stocked up on shelves, side tables, and organizational essentials, some of which I still have over a decade later. Not only did all my clothes fit, but my dorm room somehow didn't feel cramped despite the addition of a few extra pieces.
"For most college students, cramming their entire lives into a 200-square-foot, minimally furnished dorm room is one of the most difficult parts of moving out," agrees fashion editor Devin Toolen. "Without a plan, the room can quickly turn hectic, and it'll constantly feel cluttered. That's why the best dorm storage essentials should be top of the shopping list prior to move-in."
If you or your teen are heading off to college this fall, don't make the same mistake I did. Plan ahead with the new IKEA PS 2026 collection. The selection of colorful, unique, and practical pieces is designed to blend function with style, so you can infuse a bit of personality into your space.
Since my mom saved the day with IKEA all those years ago, I decided to ask her why she chose IKEA and not some other retailer on my college campus. Here's what she had to say.
Affordable Options
As my mom so quickly reminded me, the private college I chose to attend was quite expensive. "I needed a store that offered reasonably priced solutions but also long-lasting, quality pieces, so I wouldn't have to replace any of the items, and I knew I'd find quality pieces at IKEA," she says.
"I also knew that no matter how practical an item was, you weren't going to want it if it didn't match your aesthetic," my mom continues. "IKEA checked my boxes for pricing and quality, and it checked your boxes for style and design."
Multitasking Solutions
"We had limited space to work with," my mom recalls of my dorm room, "so I knew I needed pieces that doubled as more than one thing." We grabbed baskets that looked decor-worthy, stackable stools, and furniture that doubled as storage, so I could truly optimize and customize my space.
"We also needed to be mindful of your roommate," my mom continues. "You needed to have storage without infringing on anyone else's space, and I knew IKEA would have options that satisfied both needs."
Easy and Convenient Shopping Experience
And last but not least, my mom favored IKEA because after a long day of moving, it offered the most convenient shopping experience. IKEA has multiple store formats, pick-up points, and shipping options. You can even make a fun day out of it and visit one of its big blue box warehouse stores with showrooms and cafeterias. Instead of running from store to store, we knew IKEA would have everything we needed.
Shop the IKEA PS 2026 Collection
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