Head back to school in style

Moving into a dorm room takes more than packing luggage and showing up on move-in day. The guide urges students and parents to start early, plan the look, and buy essentials with long-term use in mind. It recommends Heavy Duty Blue Moving Bags ($19.98 for 4 on amazon.com) over cardboard, plus a dorm-sized Solid Reversible Washable Rug ($129 on dormify.com). Bedding suggestions include Aiden striped comforter sets ($34.99 on macys.com) and extra-long dorm options, with sheet sets from Quince ($79.90) and Naturallife ($89). Storage and convenience items include a six-tier hanging closet organizer ($49 on dormify.com) and a mesh shower caddy ($10 on target.com).