The Right Bedding for Every College Dorm Room

by: Michael O'Brien

So your son or daughter is going off to college and facing the challenges of life in a college dorm room. In addition to the lack of space and living in close quarters with a roommate, another challenge awaits those students who have never lived in a college dorm before. Some perspective students and their parents’ discover, often to their dismay, that they must supply a mattress for the bed. And not just the mattress but the bed sheets and linens, which for most college dorm room beds means a tall or extra long mattress.

The mattress for the average college dorm room is a tall twin mattress, otherwise referred to as an extra long. A standard size twin mattress is 75 inches long. A tall twin size mattress is 80 inches long and is made to fit on an extra long twin bed frame. The extra five inches may not seem like much until your student tries to put on the sheets.

Less expensive fitted bed sheets may not fit a tall mattress. The elastic banding that is used to hold the fitted sheet in place may be sewn only around the corner pocket. The balance of the edge seam is flat sewn. This type of bottom sheet will not fit on a tall or extra long mattress. Force the bottom sheet and it may rip or tear. Even a new set of bed sheets that fits right may not fit so well after a few washings. Even fabrics that have been preshrunk will shrink some more after being washed, sometimes by as much as two or three percent.

The answer is to by bedding that is especially designed for tall mattresses. The bottom sheet should have elastic banding sewn into the edge seam, around the perimeter of the bottom sheet. Elastic in the edge seam will help to ensure a good fit and keep the sheet from shifting and bunching.

When selecting bedding for a dorm room bed, remember there are a wide variety of fabric choices that are sure to please any preference. The most popular bed sheet fabric is still 100 percent cotton. Cotton is a renewable fiber and can be spun into durable and comfortable fabrics. Cotton and polyester blends are easy to care for, long lasting and comfortable. Fibers like bamboo can be spun into fabrics that are soft, resembling the feel of satin and silk. Bamboo fiber has a very unique property not found in other fabrics. Bamboo has a naturally occurring antimicrobial property that lasts for a very long time.

A key factor in buying dorm room bed sheets the thread count, which should be at least 200. Thread count is measured by the number of thread per square inch. The higher the thread count, the softer and more durable the fabric will be.

Always use a mattress cover and a mattress pad. A mattress cover is designed to completely encase the mattress, protecting from dirt and dust mites. A quilted mattress pad can add a layer of comfort to the typical college dorm bed.

So before your student packs off to school, check with the college’s housing office. Ask about the size of the bed and come prepared with the right bedding for that college dorm room bed.

About the Author

Michael O'Brien is Staff Writer for CollegeDormRoomBedding.com