If I only had $50 to upgrade my dorm room, these are the 15 fun yet practical back to school essentials I'd buy

Amazon deals — (Image credit: Amazon / edited by Gemini)

It's been a while since I lived in a dorm room — but after browsing Amazon's back to school section, I have to admit I'm a little jealous of all the clever, stylish and functional finds available to transform a space. Even better, most of these dorm essentials are surprisingly affordable.

If I only had $50 budget to decorate my dorm room, I'd be able to buy plenty of items to help maximize a small space, stay organized and add some cozy touches. Below, I've rounded up the items I think are worth grabbing for back to school. And you guessed it: they're all under $50.

Check out these 15 affordable items I'd recommend for any college student.

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Olivia is a Deals Writer at Tom’s Guide. She loves all things lifestyle, shopping, and sourcing the best deals from some of the top brands, retailers, and websites around. From fashion and beauty to smart home and tech, she has an eye for finding practical, stylish, and reasonably-priced items that help make life simpler (and a little more aesthetically-pleasing). Olivia has over five years of experience writing lifestyle, commerce, and branded content for Patch.com. In her free time, she enjoys trying out new exercise classes, binge-watching the latest viral TV shows, cooking, spending time with family, and taking long walks with her dog, Gus.