Whether it’s your student’s first year or their last, furnishing a dorm room can feel daunting. Especially if you’re starting from scratch. You can use credit cards to help furnish your space — just make sure you don’t go overboard with your spending.
How to Furnish Your Dorm Room
Set a Budget
Furnishing a dorm room can be fun, but it can quickly get out of hand if you don’t start with a little bit of structure. Before you and your student start shopping, help them make a detailed list of all the items they need and sort them by priority.
Do a bit of research and decide how much you’re willing to spend on each item. This will help you visualize what’s a need versus a want and where you’re willing to splurge or cut back.
[READ: Budget Breakdown: How College Students Spend Their Money]
Shop Secondhand
This might be a no-brainer but you can find some great furniture pieces at thrift stores. Just make sure you don’t go to a bougie one where they hike up the prices because the items are “one of a kind” or some other nonsense.
Also, scout dorms at the end of semesters. Students often leave behind appliances or furniture to avoid the hassle of moving. This could be the best time to find a new air fryer or gently used coffee table.
Check for Student Deals
So many stores have student discounts — they just don’t make them easy to find sometimes. For example, Ikea offers a one-time 15% discount (through Sept. 30, 2025) to all students once they verify their student status through Ikea Family.
It can get annoying trying to find all the deals on your own, but luckily, platforms like UniDays and Student Beans can help. Find discounts on food, clothing, software and more, all separated by category.
Best Credit Cards to Furnish Your Student’s Dorm Room
If you already have a Prime membership, this is a great place to start.
The Prime Visa earns:
— 5% cash back on Amazon.com purchases and at Amazon Fresh
— 5% cash back at Whole Foods Market (to help stock that mini fridge)
— 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase Travel (to make visiting your student easier)
— 2% cash back at gas stations
— 2% cash back at restaurants (dine-in and takeout)
— 2% cash back on local transit and ride-hailing services
— 1% cash back on all other purchases
From furniture to household essentials, an Amazon Prime Visa could help furnish your student’s dorm room without ever having to step foot into a store. And it has no annual fee. See Rates & Fees
Discover has quarterly rotating categories, which means you earn 5% cash back on different categories every quarter, up to the quarterly maximum, when you activate. Past categories have included retail chains as well as restaurants, home improvement stores, grocery stores and drugstores. The card doesn’t have an annual fee and earns 1% cash back on all other purchases. See Rates & Fees
U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature Card
The U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature Card allows you to earn 5% cash back in two categories of your choosing. The only caveat is there is a cap of $2,000 each quarter. So keep that in mind if you decide to use only this card to furnish that new dorm room.
The U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature Card comes with no annual fee and earns:
— 5% cash back on your first $2,000 in combined purchases each quarter on two categories of your choosing, like department stores, electronic stores and furniture stores
— 2% cash back on one everyday category each quarter of your choosing, like restaurants, grocery stores and gas stations
— 1% cash back on all other purchases
Let’s break it down. Choose from 12 categories to earn 5% cash back, but just know that Walmart, Target and Costco don’t count as department stores and only earn 1% cash back. There’s a full list of what counts and what doesn’t on the U.S. Bank website.
Best Credit Cards for Students to Furnish Their Own Dorm Room
It’s important to remember that your student can’t apply for their own credit card unless they’re 18 and can provide proof of income. But if they qualify and are interested in furnishing their own dorm, these credit cards could help.
I don’t usually recommend retail cards, but the Target Circle™ Card is a good option for students who are just starting out with credit and consider Target their go-to store. The card comes with a plethora of perks for the Target loyalist, including 5% off on all Target purchases — and that includes the Target Starbucks.
As for rewards, the card earns cash back in the form of Target gift cards. Cardholders earn 2% cash back on dining and gas purchases and 1% on everything else outside of Target. So you could use this card to furnish your dorm room and pay for the pizza afterwards.
Discover it® Student Cash Back
If you’re interested in something a little broader, the Discover it® Student Cash Back is always a stellar option. The only thing is you’ll need to keep track of categories. So this might not be the best card if you want something a little simpler. You earn 5% cash back on different categories each quarter, up to the quarterly maximum, when you activate. Previous categories have included Amazon.com, Target, restaurants and wholesale clubs.
The card doesn’t have an annual fee, earns 1% cash back on all other purchases and comes with an unlimited cash back match at the end of your first year. See Rates & Fees
Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
If you want a simple general rewards credit card, the Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is a good option because it earns 1.5% cash back on every purchase. So no need to keep track of categories or check merchant category codes.
The Quicksilver Student card comes with no annual fee and has no foreign transaction fees, so it’s also a good contender if you plan to study abroad. See Rates & Fees
[READ: Best Credit Cards for Students]
Tips for Students on How to Avoid Credit Card Debt
If you decide to apply for a credit card to help furnish your dorm room, don’t go crazy with your spending. Keep these tips in mind, and you’ll be able to furnish your dorm and build credit.
— Keep credit utilization low. Let’s say you were approved for a credit card with a $1,000 limit. That doesn’t mean you should use all of that credit. Your credit utilization makes up 30% of your FICO score, so it’s important to keep it low. Rule of thumb is to keep it under 30%. So if you have a $1,000 limit, that means you should only spend $300.
— Pay your bill in full every month. If you keep a balance on your credit card, you basically lose out on any rewards you earn. Treat your credit card like a debit card, and only spend on it when you know you can pay it back right away. And automate your payments if you can.
— Check your credit report. You can do this for free every week at AnnualCreditReport.com. It’s important to keep an eye on your report to make sure there are no errors. If you want an idea of just your credit score, check your banking or credit card app. Apps like Credit Karma also allow you to view your VantageScore for free.
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How to Furnish Your Student’s Dorm with a Credit Card originally appeared on usnews.com
