The “House Purse” Hack Is Perfect for Dorm Life, Actually
When I used to live in a dorm, I was always running in and out of my room. I’d stop in quickly before heading out to my next destination — friends’ dorms, common spaces, libraries, dining halls, or late-night hangout spots. But constantly being away from the little space that held all my belongings also meant constantly forgetting things I wished I had with me.
I recently discovered the idea of a “house purse” while scrolling on TikTok, and it instantly made sense to me. Originally designed as a bag of essentials to carry around a home, it’s also the perfect dorm life hack to solve the problems of a college student constantly on the go!
What Is a “House Purse”?
A “house purse” is a bag full of everyday essentials that travels with you around your living space. The trend first gained attention on TikTok last year, where creators shared their “house purses” in all forms — baskets, totes, shower caddies, beach bags, and more.
The contents of each house purse is unique to the person carrying it, but some classic items include a charger, journal, book, hygiene products and medication, headphones, lip balm, and comfy socks. Compared to a regular purse, a “house purse” is more like a portable comfort station — not meant for errands or classes, but designed to make everyday life within your home a little easier.
Why It’s So Great for College Life
“House purses” are great if you live in a home with multiple rooms or floors, but the concept can easily apply to college life — it can function more like a dorm survival kit. On a college campus, the “house purse” transforms into more of a “hang out bag.” You can easily take it from your room to a friend’s dorm, the common room, the library, or the quad!
Fill it with one of your favorite college snacks, a portable phone charger, whatever craft you’re currently working on, your water bottle, your coziest sweatshirt, and whatever else you find yourself always reaching for before you dash out of your dorm to go hang out elsewhere. It’s not your school bag (stuffed with your laptop and notebooks) and it’s not your tidy going-out purse (containing only the mini essentials) — it’s your very own house purse, designed for everyday college life.
With a “house purse” handy in your dorm room, you can head out knowing you already have everything you need with you. That way, you never find yourself missing your headphones during a spontaneous study sesh or searching for a charger when the hangout goes longer than expected.
