Our kids used the cheap foam “egg cartoncarton” style topper. It was enough. They tossed it when they moved and bought beds.
Great prices on all this stuff at TJMaxx, Ross, Marshall’s. My go-to stores for so many things.
Sometimes Tuesday Morning as well.
FWIW: I had my daughter’s Lands End camp towels monogrammed with her name in 1999. We are still using them. The name on them made sure no one ever borrowed them or made them disappear out of the laundry…
One of my kids received Company Store towels for a HS graduation gift in 2006. They still look brand new despite four years in college, and three here (the other two years were Peace Corps…those towels stayed here). They really are nice.
FWIW, we still have towels that the kids got over 20 years ago as toddlers with their names on them. They look FINE, but the kids refused to take them to college. They wanted new towels and we were fine with buying them two apiece.
We didn’t send our kids with kiddie towels with their names on them. We sent them with OUR plain towels…and we got new ones.
But then, our kids took the comforters off their beds when they went to college. And, horrors, one actually took a used old computer.
They both survived.
The college dorm shopping stuff is a huge retail thing…huge. It’s fine if the family agrees to this added expense and can afford it, but really, it’s not in the “necessity” category.
i have a great suggestion as my kid’s order just arrived and we are very pleased! The Company Store – a U.S. owned group out of La Crosse, Wisconsin, has a great selection of dorm sheets and towels http://www.thecompanystore.com/college-bound.html plus, your money is going to workers right around here…so you pay $3 or $4 or $5 more than you would at a walmart or target…but you’re keeping folks in work. And that makes me feel better about all of this dorm shopping!
Thanks!
Since we had 2 heading to college at the same time, I was looking to maximize savings on bedding, etc.! I started purchasing in the spring before their freshman year when things went on sale. We’ve had good luck with Lands End bath towels (set of supima cotton is$55+ with free shipping - includes 2 bath towels, 2 hand towels and 2 washcloths).
Have also had good luck with sheets & blankets from LL Bean, Lands End and Company Store. I usually buy when either a sale, coupon or free shipping (better yet - a combination of all 3). We used duvet covers from Pottery Barn Teen.
I did a lot of research on mattress toppers. If at all possible and practical, I recommend purchasing ahead of time and letting the pad air out and inflate. It will take more room in your vehicle but it was worth it for us. Obviously if you are flying to college, this isn’t practical but most mattress toppers do take a few days to air out and inflate to the full size. We ordered the twin XL topper for both kids from Amazon. Great price and great quality & highly rated. (2.5" LUCID Gel for $138) . Although XL twin, one kid uses it now on bed at home and it fits on a regular twin mattress - just need to use deep pocket sheets! It’s been used year-round for 2 years and looks great. The washable bamboo cover is a plus.
Costco has memory foam toppers on sale right now, starting at $60 for a 2". BB&B has a service called Pack & Hold - items are ordered (but not paid for) at your home store and then they are picked up at a store near your kid’s college.
Company Store has high quality merchandise, quilts, flannel sheets, but I believe only the comforters and pillows are actually made in the US (Imported in description means likely China) and they are pricey compared to local retail. I think they are mostly catering to adults, but they have some kids/teen patterns. Quilts and flannel sheets have lasted 10 years or more. Son outgrew the cowboy pattern before they showed any wear at all.
Pottery Barn Teen stuff looks beautiful but we have not yet washed anything. It’s more likely to satisfy picky teens, since very modern looking patterns and colors. You can even mix and match some patterns and decorate a bed, which is cool.
PBT merchandise was cheaper or same as IKEA for my deeply discounted clearance items. Shipping can be $17 or more. It looks really beautiful, is all cotton, and very soft. Personally, I hate blend sheets, they feel hot and clammy and many schools do not have air conditioning.
Both are running sales if you join their mailing list, CS especially today. All PB are offering 20% off today. CS has additional 30% off sale items through 7/28 for mailing list customers.