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Higher education

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Original poster

Home comforts to take to uni.

39 replies

EauDeChlorine · 18/08/2019 14:51

DD will be off in a few weeks time so need to get ourselves organised... She will be staying at the Uni’s on campus accommodation. The room is a reasonable size but ever so bland! She has a small on suite bathroom and a few shared cooking facilities. Apart from the obvious items any recommendations of things to take? I’m trying to put a bag together with bits and pieces to make the room a bit more comfy and less bland. Recommendations greatly appreciated. Thank you

OP posts:
BubblesBuddy · 18/08/2019 15:00

I would ask her to do it! Usually photos, a cuddly toy (one of mine took a bear, the other a unicorn), a poster or two if there is a notice board in the room - don’t ever use blu tak. A keepsake box for whatever she wants to put in it. They will charge for removing it. Mine tended to collect “stuff” as they went along. Fun blanket or duvet covers.

BubblesBuddy · 18/08/2019 15:01

They will charge for removing the blu tak I meant!

ArthurtheCatsHumanSlave · 18/08/2019 16:05

Fleece blanket/throw, cushions, rug, fairy lights, cactus, framed photos and prints, there is special tape you can get now which is really strong but doesn't leave a mark (sorry can't remember what it is called), a bean bag if there is room and it can fit in the car!

Ligresa · 18/08/2019 16:33

Mine will take
Mattress topper
Bedding
Cosy throw and lots of cushions and pillows
Desk lamp
Bedside lamp
Framed photos of family and horse! (Although shes hiding the horse one in case they think shes a posh idiot)
Cactus
Bath mat
Towelling dressing gown
Fluffy socks
Battery fairy lights

raspberryrippleicecream · 18/08/2019 16:36

Yes to all the above. Mine had a notice boards, do drawing pins/fancy pins.

DD's room last year was very, very hot (top floor, window only opened a little way). Her desktop tower fan was invaluable.

raspberryrippleicecream · 18/08/2019 16:38

DD also appreciated Ribena for some TLC when she was poorly.

proseccoaficionado · 18/08/2019 16:39

Ohhhh I just got a bit nostalgic... back in the day when I came to uni in Scotland (from an European country) I was 18 and knew no one! I had my teddy bear(a small teddy bear named HansBlush) and a lot pictures and a few smelly candles

Mitebiteatnite · 18/08/2019 16:42

A nice houseplant Grin
Depending on the light levels a Pothos is a good choice, or a ZZ plant if not much natural light. I think it always makes a room feel complete somehow, it's my go to present for someone leaving home for the first time or moving house.

Mitebiteatnite · 18/08/2019 16:42

Also a Reed diffuser if they're not allowed candles (a lot of uni accommodation doesn't)

latedecember1963 · 18/08/2019 16:50

My DS took a fleece blanket, some photos, a couple of favourite books, his slippers,a door stop and a small fluffy polar bear called Henry that he'd won in a tombola way back in primary school.

The door stop was at the suggestion of mumsnetters as a way of being sociable in halls where the room doors are self closing.

He's currently having a study year in Australia and the door stop and Henry went with him.

HettyStThomas · 18/08/2019 16:56

A rug. I remember taking my younger brother to his halls many years ago. A rug and a nice plump duvet and cushion helped to make it seem nicer. If she's allowed to have posters on the wall they'll help to brighten the room too.

rosedream · 18/08/2019 16:57

I bought mine a rug from Aldi good size and only £6 . It's made the room look cosy.

Also bought room reed air fresheners from wilko. They were about £3 each. One for bedroom and one for bathroom. The vanilla one smells lovely and lasts.

More extravagant. Bean bag seat to put in sitting area as not enough room on sofas for all of them.

Picture hangers that stick to the wall and don't leave a mark when you pull them off.

Bakeandyarn · 18/08/2019 17:23

One small thing I did was wash all his new bedding so it smelt like home, and it made me feel a bit better knowing I’d done it. He had a treat box too, sweets and chocolate mostly!

Bakeandyarn · 18/08/2019 17:24

He was also really glad to have earplugs too for the first few weeks, halls were pretty noisy and it helped him get used to the noise and get some sleep.

Serin · 18/08/2019 19:28

My lovely sister has bought him a tub filled with all sorts of student essentials, marmite, nutella, peanut butter, chocolate bars, muesli, biscuits, energy bars, batteries, malt loaf, toiletries. She is an angel.
We have already done the IKEA trip and got a rug, throw, mugs and an octopus sock hanger.

Mustbetimeforachange · 18/08/2019 20:37

Condoms Grin
DS just announced that he needed to sleep under any new covers for a night to make sure they are ok! He has always had Ikea ones (100% cotton) and I recently made the mistake of buying him a sainsburys one in the sale. He says it's too "nylon-y".
Yes to fleecy blanket. I made A3 photo posters with pictures of family, friends & animals which will fit on the notice board.

Rosieposy4 · 18/08/2019 20:42

Mine is sad he isn’t allowed pets, apparently he had intended to take his favourite of our cats!

Itsnearly2020 · 18/08/2019 20:52

I had a cushion printed with a photo of our cats, my son’s loved it!

Vasya · 18/08/2019 21:00

Soft furnishings (quilt, blanket, bolster, cushions)

Fairy lights

Rug

Posters

Have a look at the 'dorm room' tag on Pinterest - there are lots of good ideas there.

Bronzegate · 18/08/2019 22:03

In terms of going-to-university gifts:

  • His younger siblings clubbed together and bought him a personalised mug with the (non-embarrassing) family nickname they have for him.
  • I bought him an enamel cat keyring with the same colouring as the family cat.
  • We had a small photobook printed of his life from 0-18
  • I gave him a large art print of a map of his university city, because the noticeboard in his room was vast and because he is notorious for getting lost.

In terms of physical comfort, he took:

  • A double fleece blanket.
  • A large Ikea cushion so he could prop himself up in bed and work on his laptop.
  • Fuzzy socks.
These were all things from his room at home, not bought new for going to university.
Bronzegate · 18/08/2019 22:09

A rug is useful in case the carpet is threadbare or stained. It doesn't have to be a thick rug.
They were not allowed candles. DS took a pot of fragrance spheres.
The hall of residence gave out free cacti on moving in day and then there was a houseplant sale in Fresher's week.

Definitelyrandom · 18/08/2019 22:31

Mine had enough mugs (football, cricket teams and so on) to open a shop. Beer glasses. Prints/lithographs from their bedrooms at home, photos, favourite books, interesting calendars. Neither DSs took cuddly toys from their bedrooms, unsurprisingly.......(as far as I knew). Duvet covers that they had used at home. Cushions.

MillicentMartha · 18/08/2019 23:22

I put a £10 note in a frame with ‘In emergency break glass’ on it. It was DS’s birthday a few days in so I gave him a covered shoe box with lots of cheap treats in, chocolate bars, mini cereal boxes, haribo, some beer etc. Also a few tools like two screwdrivers, pliers etc, just in case and a torch.

He had a cactus from home, a colourful fleecy throw for his bed. Best present was a memory foam mattress topper!

BasiliskStare · 19/08/2019 03:26

I would say another side lamp apart from desk light as ( in DS's experience ) the rooms were well lit but very "big light" - nice to have two side lamps which makes it feel cosier and one for reading in bed etc on bedside table rather than just on the desk . When I say side lamp I mean just something like another cheap ikea desk lamp not some designer affair. But in the evenings I do think having a little light by the bed is cosier.