If you're a student or a parent of one, it seems that almost as soon as summer really starts getting going... it's time to start thinking about going back to school! For university students who are moving into residence halls, it's also time to start getting those room storage ideas together and shopping organisation essentials for student digs to get the new term started smoothly.
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Since convenience is a must when it comes to shopping for these key items, we’ve created a list of the best space-saving uni room buys online to help set up a small student living space in a way that is comfortable, chic and practical.
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What should you pack for university?
Since uni will be your home away from home, you want to make sure you have all the essentials you need for daily life both in terms of comfort and practicality. You'll need to make sure to pack bed linens and towels, clothing for at least the season – or multiple seasons if you don't plan to visit home – and laundry detergent, as well as your personal toiletries.
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Think about the basics you'll need to turn your room into your daily living space: closet essentials such as coat hangers and a laundry hamper, as well as must-have kitchen items like mugs and a kettle.
For your studies, you will need your desktop computer or laptop, USB sticks, and, of course, stationery for all your courses. (We found some great deals on cheap student stationery to keep you on budget!)
Make sure you also have your important personal items at hand: at least two forms of identification, your mobile phone (and charger) as well as your medications.
And last but not least, don't forget your personal style! Check out our modern bedroom ideas or have a look on Instagram or Pinterest for inspiration.
What essentials do you need to organise your uni student room?
With communal areas in residence halls possibly subject to more restrictions following the pandemic, it’s even more important that your personal living space be a self-sufficient (and efficient) organised oasis. If temporary confinement is ever necessary again, you'll be grateful you planned ahead.
You'll need space-saving storage that goes beyond coat hangers, from closet organisers that make the most of the space in your wardrobe, to extra storage ideas – like over-door hooks and shelves that don't need installation.
And beyond your laptop, mobile and kettle, consider helpful electronic gadgets and charging stations, as well as compact appliances, that will help keep your dorm room clutter-free. Be sure to check with your respective uni about rules regarding the types of appliances that are permitted.
So... are you ready?
Here's our list of the best space-saving uni room essentials you can shop online.
Just the basics: A uni student starter kit
Overwhelmed with the amount you need to remember to pack? Buy a uni student starter kit that has all the basics you need, nothing less and nothing more, which will cut down on clutter.
Noah Student Starter Kit, £179, Amazon
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Noah's starter kits contain all the essentials – 65+ items total – from kitchen utensils and cookware (especially important for those who choose self-catered accommodation) to bedding, in the colour of your choice, and towels.
You can shop the kit on Amazon or straight from the Noah website.
Closet and drawer organisers
Let's start with the basics – how to keep your closet and drawers organised while also focusing on the efficiency of the little amount of space students have in their student accommodations. Drawer organisers, shoe organisers closet 'cubbies' and space-saving hangers are all a must.
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Drawer organiser, pack of 3, more designs available, £12.99, Amazon
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This set of three washable drawer dividers comes in a host of prints and colours
Amazon Basics hanging closet cubby, £18.44, Amazon
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Make the most of your closet space with a four-shelf cubby that also has a hanging rod.
Magic hangers, £10.99 for pack of 10, Amazon
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Create extra space in your closet with genius space-saving hangers.
Bedside storage and space-saving ideas
Optimise the space under and alongside your bed with some creative and super simple additions to your student digs.
Bedside storage caddy, £11.61, Amazon
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No-fuss additional storage at your fingertips - just slip the anchor under your mattress.
Amazon Basics under-bed storage box, £13.31, Amazon
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Make the most of the empty space under your bed with boxes to store seasonal clothes or linen.
Side table with wheels, £29.95, Amazon
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In addition to the table surface, which has a groove to insert your tablet, this movable side table has three shelves for extra storage
Clip-on lamp, also available in chrome finish, £13.99, Amazon
This flexible lamp has 360-degree adjustability and the lighting colour has two modes: white light or warm.
Laundry and bathroom storage ideas
Whether you're toting your toiletries, your detergent or your laundry, there are some very clever storage solutions that will make your life easier.
Umi rolling laundry basket, more colours available, £21.99, Amazon
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The ultra-slim form of this washing basket with wheels makes it easy to stash just about anywhere.
iDesign Orbz shower caddy, more colours, £15.22, Amazon
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A handy caddy with nine compartments and draining holes at the bottom, just what you need to tote your toiletries to the shower. It comes in a host of colours from white and grey to pink.
mDesign portable organiser, £21.99, also in grey, Amazon
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A plastic all-purpose caddy with a stylish wooden handle.
Travel laundry bag, £15.99, Amazon
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This nylon laundry bag has hooks to hang from a door and turns into a backpack when it's time to do the wash. Genius!
Desk organisers
To get the most out of your desk, look for space-saving mini shelves, organisers and stands that will help clear off the surface as much as possible to give you additional working space.
Mini desk shelves, £24.95, Amazon
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This mini-shelf is modular so you can configure it in a host of ways. It also comes in black or in a brown wood finish.
Space-saving laptop stand, was £29.99, now £14.38, Amazon
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A laptop stand will lift your computer to eye-level which is better for your back and neck, and also helps keep your laptop cool. But there's another bonus: it frees up desk space underneath.
Compact appliances
Regardless of the restrictions following the pandemic, it's always handy to create a personal space that is as self-sufficient as possible. Mini coffee makers or tea kettles, mini-fridges and other small appliances can be a major convenience and reduce your need to be in common areas.
Mini fridge in pink, more colours available, £39.99, Amazon
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This portable mini-fridge, which comes with AC, DC and USB power cables, can cool up to 18°C below the ambient temperature or even heat up to 60°C to keep food warm. It also comes in black, white, blue or grey to match your decor style.
Brita Instant filtered hot water dispenser, £70, Amazon
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This hot water dispenser with Brita filter technology boils a cup of water in under 50 seconds – perfect for everything from tea to pot noodles.
Russell Hobbs Brew and Go, £41.99, Amazon
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You can brew coffee or tea with this one-cup machine that comes with a stainless steel travel mug and has a permanent filter.
Best over the door hooks, hangers and shelves
Student accommodations are a temporary home, so no-adhesive, no installation storage solutions are a must.
Over the door hooks, £11.96, Amazon
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We love these over the door hooks in a chic copper design.
mDesign over the door storage, £19.29, Amazon
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Three roomy pockets to store shoes, handbags and more hang right from your door.
Multi-use and modular furnishings
With limited space, student digs definitely require furniture that does double or even triple duty! Look for compact furnishings that serve more than one purpose – footstools with storage that can also be used for seating, for example. To make sure your space is as adaptable to your needs as possible, look for modular furnishings you can customise or tables, shelves and trolleys with wheels for easy movement.
Storage footrest, more colours available, £33.59, Amazon
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This stylish piece can serve as a side table, footrest, extra seating AND extra storage! You can shop it in 4 colours.
Three-shelf trolley, £23.99, Amazon
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This cute trolley can be used to store just about anything and will add a pop of colour to your room.
Amazon Basics modular wire cube shelves, £33.81, Amazon
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You can stack these six modular cubes however you'd like to fit your space.
Electronics: Devices and storage
Technology can definitely make uni life easier or more pleasant, from high-quality wireless speakers to cool multi-tasking devices like Amazon’s Echo. We also have so many devices these days – laptops, tablets, mobiles, smart watches… the list is endless – so think about getting a practical charging station set up as well.
Bose compact Bluetooth speaker, from £99, Amazon
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This five-star mini-speaker with microphone has it all: you can answer calls, take it with you anywhere AND listen to your favourite tunes with quality Bose sound.
Amazon Echo Show 8, £99.99, Amazon
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If you want to stay organised, the Amazon Echo Show is like a personal assistant – not only can you easily make video calls to your friends and family with Alexa devices, Alexa will keep track of everything from your to-do lists to calendars, play your favourite music, podcasts or Amazon Prime shows and will even read your emails aloud at your command.
Charging station, £60.99, Amazon
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Keep your devices and cables organised with a table-top charging station with 10 ports for your mobiles and tablets.
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