9 Gift Cards for College Dorms to Spruce Up Your Living Space
College is an exciting time, and getting into a dormitory is, for many, the first time they are in a space of their own. This is great! Unfortunately, many students don’t put too much effort into making their dorms a safe and comfortable space, leaving standard wooden furniture as the dominating feature in their areas. A gift card can be the perfect way to incentivize a little decor shopping. College dorms are generally not the largest spaces, so it only takes an item or two to turn that space into something they really love.
We recommend the purchase of gift cards for college dorms because it leaves the actual purchase of the item to the college kid. We’d wager that most kids would jump on the opportunity to pick out something at Target or to the store of their choice. If you are struggling to figure out the best gift card for college dorms for this kid, we are here to help! We’ve compiled a list of the top 9 gift cards for college dorms so this young student can pick out an amazing decorative item for their new place. We’re covering topics along these lines:
- Gift cards for books
- Gift cards for supplies
- Gift cards for decor
Earn Cash Back On Gift Cards for College Dorms with Gift Card Granny
As a quick reminder, we’ve pointed out all of the retailers on this list that you can find on Gift Card Granny as of this writing. Gift Card Granny makes it easy to buy and send customized gift cards online and earn cash back while you do. Gift Card Granny carries thousands of local and national brands, including Visa gift cards, Mastercard gift cards, and gift cards for many of the awesome spots on this list.
Now that we’re on the same page, let’s jump right into our list!
1. Target
A gift card for decor, food, and much more
Target is one of our favorite options for gift cards for college dorms. Superstores like Target have an immense quantity of products so there is certainly going to be something for everyone. They have a lot of fun little decor items, a $5 and below section, and an impressive quantity of food and necessary products like soap, shampoo, and other hygienics. Giving a college kid a gift card to Target is a great way for them to go out on an amazing shopping trip. Shopping in college, when you have a gift card to spend, is one of the best feelings there is. It is a treat for them to have the agency to pick out the item that they want at Target.
A Target gift card for college dorms is also a great choice in the middle of a semester when the necessaries they brought from home start to dwindle. Not to jump to conclusions, but especially boys will forget to restock stuff like soap or toothpaste when it gets low, leaving them in an emergency situation when it runs out. Target is a great place to shop! While Target is not an available retailer at Gift Card Granny yet, check back soon!
2. Staples
A gift card for their desk
Staples is one of our most popular gift cards, and with good reason! Colleges and universities oftentimes have libraries and shared spaces where there are supplies, but when you are running late for class and have an essay to turn in, being able to staple and hole-punch it beforehand is a life-saver.
Staples is the go-to place for office supplies, and with so much work happening in college dorms, a gift card to Staples is an excellent and pragmatic gift card to give a college student to purchase some necessities. Office supplies are expensive, and a gift card makes that purchase a lot easier and may be exactly what they need to splurge on the good stuff.
3. Barnes and Noble
A home for readers
Buy a Barnes and Noble gift card
We love books here at Gift Card Granny. A gift card to Barnes and Noble is a great way to show your appreciation, and a little gift card providing a discount on their next purchase is amazing. Barnes and Noble serves two important functions for college students. If they have the time on their hands then picking up a few books for fun reading is a great way to unwind after a long day of going to classes, studying, and socializing. For more pragmatic individuals, Barnes and Noble is a great source of textbooks and other required reading. For students about to embark on a literature course, a gift card to Barnes and Noble is perfect!
They have such a diverse collection of books on their shelves that readers of all ages and interests can find a book that they enjoy. There is a certain pleasure in walking around the store without a specific destination, just looking at covers and titles as they catch your eye. Also, it could be the perfect occasion if they have a book on their mind and this spurs them to go and pick it up.
Buy a Barnes and Noble gift card
4. Michaels
A gift card for arts and crafts
On the topic of relaxation, Michaels is a great place for college students to pick out a fun craft for a night off. Micheals has it all. Have you ever taken a stroll through their store? It’s awesome! If the college student for whom this gift card will go is into crafts, then this is the gift card for you.
5. Shutterfly
A gift card to print out the latest batch of photos
Shutterfly is a huge website that offers loads of picture-based products. Lots of college students take a lot of pictures of their campus, their friends, and all the shenanigans they find themselves a part of. Printing out those pictures and framing them or hanging them up is a great way to spruce up a college dorm. Shutterfly also allows for the purchase of personalized items which is an excellent possibility for gifts as well. Personalized items of all shapes and sizes are amazing gifts for college students who always have a reel of amazing photos to choose from.
People always have pictures that resonate with them. Those photos can live on their camera roll, sure, but every now and again there is one that they want to display or make into an item. Even if they don’t have something to purchase right at this moment, we are confident that they will eventually have the perfect order on Shutterfly.
6. 1-800 Flowers
While candles are likely off-limits, flowers are a great way to freshen up the space!
Flowers are an amazing addition to many rooms, but few people go out of their way to pick out a bouquet of fresh flowers to decorate their space. That’s a shame! If you think that this college student would be amenable to a gift card that’s dedicated to the delivery of fresh and beautiful flowers then this is the gift card for you!
Fresh flowers are an amazing way to celebrate a special occasion and bring a personal touch to a college dorm. There are lots of possible times for flowers to complete the picture and give a fantastic overall ambiance to the dorm room. Also, with candles likely being off the table, flowers are a great way to give the whole room a great scent!
7. UberEats
A gift card for a special night in
College is a busy time, but everyone needs a night in with no commitments every now and again. On those nights, a trip to the dining hall is not the way to go. Takeout food is much better! An excuse to grab a meal from a local takeout restaurant and lounge while it is delivered right to your door cannot be beaten.
Always money-conscious, many college students might not take this opportunity, preferring to trek out to the dining hall for the standard offerings. Having the money in his app is a great incentive to take the option to get a delivery meal when the mood strikes. This is also a great app for get-togethers, where everyone can order their own meal rather than relying on the dining hall.
8. Amazon
This is the gift card of gift cards for college dorms
Amazon gift cards will always be one of the best gift cards for college dorms. If, even at this stage of the game, you aren’t sure what to get, an Amazon gift card covers basically all of the bases. On top of that, it is very easy to convert an Amazon gift card to cash in their Amazon wallet. From there, they are in no rush to purchase anything, and the next time they find something needed it will automatically be subtracted from the total.
This gift card is excellent in its far-reaching abilities, but it does not let them try something out-of-the-ordinary. If you are interested in finding a gift card more suited to him specifically, check out the many retailers on Gift Card Granny after going through this article!
Our favorite gift cards for college dorms
These are our gift cards for college dorms! We hope that this list has brought you to the right conclusion where you know exactly what card you are going to purchase for the college student. If not, you can always reach out to their family and see what gifts are a good bet for them! A little chat with someone who knows them well can go a long way in allowing you to cross items off your list as well as bring you closer to the right item.
College students are in a pretty significant state of flux. They are transitioning to their new life out in college with a dorm room, roommate or roommates, and the dreaded college workload. A gift card is exactly what they need!
Remember: many of the retailers on this list are available at Gift Card Granny, where you can earn cashback and rewards on all of your gift card purchases.
From all of us here at Gift Card Granny, happy shopping!