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Heading to university this year? Make sure you’ve got these uni room essentials to make life 100x easier!
It’s not enough to head off to university or college with only a large suitcase brimming with clothes, toiletries, and other daily essentials. To live comfortably in your new accommodation, there are so many uni room essentials to consider purchasing.
From must-have bedding to super cool electrical gadgets, timeless decor and practical storage, we’ve dwindled down the dorm room essentials every student NEEDS.
(Psst… scroll to the bottom for a free printable PDF covering all the basics listed in this post. College and university prep has never been simpler!)
Uni Room Essentials for the Best Night’s Sleep
Bedding
The first thing on your list? Bedding, including duvet cover sets, pillows, fitted sheets, and a duvet. Even if your uni provides this for you (who are we kidding? They won’t), we would advise against using them for hygiene reasons…
And, given you’ll be lodging in uni accommodation for 3-4 years, neutral bedding is undoubtedly the most timeless option that will complement any interior style.
Shop Duvet Cover Sets:
Shop Fitted Sheets, Pillows & Duvets:
Reading Pillow
Let’s get real… Your desk is reserved for serious stuff only. You know, those stressful late nights when you’re rushing to complete an assignment? (It’ll happen!)
So, 90% of the time, your bed will be your workspace. That’s why a supportive reading pillow is one of the first uni room essentials you need to invest in – if not for your university grade, but for your physical health.
Mattress Topper
If you think you’ll be living a life of luxury when you arrive at university, think again. Your accommodation will probably use the cheapest, springiest, and most uncomfortable mattresses going.
So, adding a mattress topper helps you get the best sleep every night. Plus, it’s an additional protective layer between you and the mattress, because who knows the history of that thing…
looking for university room decor ideas? We’ve got 5 super easy interior style every student can copy this semester.
Electric Blanket
For all the homebodies out there, an electric blanket isn’t a want, it’s a need.
Believe us, on those days when you’re missing home a little more than usual, there’s nothing better than getting snuggled up with a toasty blanket and sticking on your favourite nostalgic movie.
White Noise Machine
If you’re a pretty light sleeper like we are, a white noise machine will come in way more handy than you’ll ever know.
On those nights when your roommates are partying late whilst you’re trying to catch up on sleep, this will block out the noise and help you relax to fall asleep with ease.
Decorative Pillows
Okay, decorative pillows don’t offer much more than a cute aesthetic, but that’s exactly why they’re one of our favourite university room essentials. Gotta make your dorm feel like your own, right?
Don’t forget the pillow inserts:
Uni Room Essentials for the Bathroom
Towels
Duh. This one is pretty much a no-brainer. However, you only really need two bath towels, two hand towels, and a few face cloths, so don’t go buying a family-sized bundle for the sake of picking up a bargain.
TOP TIP: Buy brightly coloured towels instead of white if you know you’ll be sharing a bathroom with your roommates as this helps to differentiate whose is whose. Plus, they definitely make stains less noticeable!
Portable Bathroom Caddy
We know not everyone has a private en-suite in their dorm. So, one of the most practical uni room essentials is a lightweight bathroom caddy.
Perfect for stuffing with all your shower must-haves, simply haul it to the bathroom as and when you need. This means you can keep all your fave toiletries safe in your room and avoid them being used or taken by your roommates.
Uni Room Essentials for the Desk or Vanity
Portable Fan
During the summer months, it can get pretty hot and stuffy inside university dorm rooms, especially if your accommodation has window restrictors (designed to prevent opening beyond a certain point).
A fan will help to keep your space cool all day. And with some of the most sleek, modern designs out there, it won’t take up too much space either.
Battery Powered Desk Lamp
Trust us, for those late night (AKA last minute) study sessions, you’ll need a good light to brighten up your desk space. But you don’t want to use valuable plug sockets, so a battery powered desk lamp is essential.
Light Up Mirror
Another issue with university student rooms? Sunlight is a rare gift.
Whether first thing in the morning before a seminar or late at night prior to hitting the club, a light up mirror is one of those uni room essentials that will change student life for good.
Not into the classic feminine pink decor? We know, when you reach your late teens, a more mature aesthetic is likely way more your vibe. So, here’s the best room decor for teens who hate pink!
Laptop Stand
Again, this isn’t one of those things you’ll have at the top of your uni room essentials list. In fact, we’d suggest not buying it until you absolutely have to.
When moving into your dorm, the desk will be pretty bog standard – as will be your desk chair. Sometimes, the setup won’t feel comfortable enough to support all-day studying. So, customising the space with a laptop stand is a great idea.
Uni Room Essentials to Keep Organised
Rollable Under-Bed Storage
A general rule of thumb? Never ever ignore unused spaces because you “can’t fit anything” there – there’s always a solution. Even awkward areas like under your bed can be put to good use.
Rollable under-bed storage makes it easy-peasy to store things such as shoes, chunky sweaters, food, or spare bedding and blankets.
Small Woven Baskets
Trust us, if you’re sharing accommodation with a bunch of other girls, you’ll rarely spend time getting ready alone. So, having lightweight woven baskets to chuck your hair tools, products, and makeup into is a great idea, and helps you move your things from room-to-room with ease.
They’re also a fab way to store snacks or keep cables organised when not in use.
Unsure how to style your new dorm? Here are 24 budget-friendly university room decor ideas!
Drawer Organisers
Okay, we admit drawer organisers aren’t exactly a *must-have*. If you’re on a tight budget, this is definitely one thing you can take off your uni room essentials list.
However, as a busy student settling into independent adult life, it helps your day go a little smoother if you can find what you’re looking for with zero stress. And the best thing is, you can buy drawer organisers for your clothes, makeup or skincare, and even your study essentials.
3 Tier Drawers
There’s a pretty good chance your dorm is already kitted out with a chest of drawers. But is it big enough?
We definitely recommend taking a smaller set of drawers – bonus if it fits underneath your desk. Fill it with socks and underwear, pack it with study notes, or stow away snacks. If you don’t put it to use straight away, we can guarantee it’ll come in handy throughout the academic year.
Door Organiser
Not got the floor space for clunky drawers? Door organisers are a genius way to store small, lightweight items like shoes, underwear, jewellery, or study essentials. And with a super slimline design, they utilise virtually zero space, making them perfect for the teeniest of dorm rooms.
Stool with Lid
Extra seating is always a good idea in your dorm room, especially for those late-night hangouts with your friends. But we definitely recommend finding a multipurpose design, like one with a lid (when floor space is limited, you can’t afford for it to be wasted!).
Great for hiding extra blankets, bedding, or snacks, this is perhaps one of the most underrated uni room essentials.
Struggling to master your organisation game in such a small space? Coming up with compact organisation ideas is way easier than you think!
Trash Can
You’ll be surprised how much waste one student can rack up in a short space of time. And keeping a small trash can in your dorm means you can keep the space clean and tidy – always!
Shoe Rack
Of course, you *can* just throw your shoes into your closet. But when you’re leaving in a rush to get to class, organisation is key.
Putting your shoes on a shoe rack means it’s super easy to find a matching pair every time, saving valuable minutes in your day.
Uni Room Essentials for the ‘Kitchen’
Stackable Mugs
When you fancy a coffee or a cup of tea, don’t go thinking there’ll be a clean mug in the kitchen. Shared spaces are a nightmare for completing basic chores, meaning most of the time, your only option is to sip from a mould-infested mug.
Keeping a set of stackable mugs in your room means you’ll always have something to drink from that’s completely yours – and completely clean, too!
Miniature Coffee Machine
This definitely isn’t essential and is certainly a little more of an investment purchase. But if anyone is in need of a strong coffee before that 9am lecture, it’s a student who’s been out partying all night, right?
Plus, it means you’re less likely to spend your student loan in overpriced coffee shops!
PSA: DO NOT put your coffee machine in your shared kitchen. If there’s one thing students don’t give a sh*t about, it’s being respectful of what’s not theirs!
Syrup Organiser
Let’s get one thing straight – coffee will always taste better with a little syrup, right?
So, if you’re adding a coffee machine to your dorm room, it’s only right to make your sugar addiction look pretty with a clever organiser to house your syrups!
Uni Room Essentials for the Closet
Space Saving Hangers
Believe us, if there’s one thing that’ll really shock you when you step into your university dorm for the first time, it’s the teeny-tiny wardrobe. The sensible thing would be to pack less, but why suggest something that we’d never in a million years do ourselves?
Space saving hangers will be your bestie. Trust us.
Got a tight budget but eager to keep your dorm clean and tidy? We know exactly how to organize your room without spending a dollar!
Laundry Basket
Has reality just sunk it? Yep… you’re on your own now. Nobody else will be there to make sure your clothes are clean.
When picking a laundry basket, we’d opt for one with separate sections for lights, including whites and colours, as well as darks. It might require a little more space, but it’ll save you SO much time organising when washing.
Large Clothes Airer
We bet you a million dollars that you’ll put off doing your washing for days, if not weeks, resulting in a humongous pile and leaving you with nothing to wear.
So, a decent sized clothes airer will be your bestie on marathon laundry days.
Miscellaneous Uni Room Essentials
Command Hooks
Command hooks aren’t exactly an aesthetic decor addition to your university dorm room. But we love them for providing extra hanging space wherever you need it.
Plus, you can remove them super easily, leaving zero evidence behind.
Power Extender
Why is it that when you need a million plug points, there’s one – maybe two – if you’re lucky?
A power extender or plug adapter is one of the most valuable uni room essentials money can buy. Giving you space to plug in hair tools, phone chargers, lamps, electric blankets or otherwise, you’ll be kicking yourself if you haven’t got one or more of these in your space.
Low Pile Rug
Note: super cute fluffy rugs might look more aesthetic, but they’re not nearly as practical as low-pile alternatives like jute, which offers a dense and hard-wearing edge.
This is definitely the most sensible option for your dorm room if you want to add long lasting style and personality to your floors.
Folding Bedside Shelf
What do you do if your dorm doesn’t have a nightstand? Install a folding bedside shelf, ofc.
The perfect place to keep drinks, books, or your phone, it saves you putting your belongings on the floor.
Your Uni Room Essentials Checklist
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD & PRINT YOUR FREE UNI ROOM ESSENTIALS CHECKLIST!