Take to Uni halls list and space saving tips

[SpaceHogger]

Eldest off to higher ed mid Sept. They have a place at halls. They have given him a list, but it’s pretty general e.g. bed linen, kitchen items.

I’m looking for a bit of a more comprehensive list and tips.

They will be sharing a kitchen, bathroom with 4 others in a flat type situation. The rooms are small, and they aren’t allowed to put anything on the walls, no blue tack or anything for posters (shame).

They suggest bringing a clothes dryer and bean bag, but there isn’t a lot of room, hence the ask for space saving tips.

I’ve seen a video of the rooms. They are small, but have a desk, shelves, bed (no storage underneath, but space underneath), wardrobe and sink. They aren’t modern at all and look pretty basic and bland in comparison to his own very lively room.

Obviously he can do all this himself, but he’s working, and I’m happy to get this together as it takes my mind off being sad at him going away :(

Take the absolute minimum, and then visit about 2-3 weeks in, and take him shopping because by then he'll have a better idea of what he wants (and can get away with, in terms of decor)

No idea what he'd do with a bean bag. Sit on it, but why? I can tell you that in all my years as a student (undergrad to PhD) I don't recall ever seeing a bean bag and I certainly never sat on one. If he loves a bean bag now, of course he can take it, but otherwise it's a strange suggestion.

What does he like to eat? Make sure he has the equipment to make that. Meat tenderiser (the thing you bang the meat with, since I just looked it up for the term and some look very different), large plastic bowl for mixing food items, bathroom bowl so he can soak things before washing if they need it and has somewhere to throw up in if he feels ill. Couple of pots, a pan, a sieve, a little kitchen scale, some small plastic containers for storing cooked food in the fridge in.

Bean bags are on the list of forbidden items in DS's hall. Inflatable sofas also. I'm trying to think what else was on the list - it seemed fairly random, more a list of things people had either set on fire or abandoned, or that just pissed off maintenance.

Bean bag that's a weird one

DS is planning on taking the train to his halls with the bare minimum despite my suggestion of basic necessities

I suppose he'll buy what he needs when he needs it

@SpaceHogger , if you are on FB join WIWIKAU or visit their website www.wiwikau.co.uk

The advice is over the top but there is a packing list and lots of other info that can keep your mind occupied!

Here are the tings we bought after DS had been in halls for a couple of weeks and realised he needed

Clothes rack for drying
Rug
Throw for bed/blanket
Sliders rather than slippers
Big flat plastic storage box for under bed
Lamp as the one provided was rubbish
Extension lead
Spices/herbs
Spare glasses

I remember it was useful to have about 4 tea/ coffee cups

Be fairly minimal with kitchen items because most student kitchens end up with about 5 cheese graters etc. More can always be bought later!

If he has his own sink then a little toothbrush holder might be nice. A little first aid kit is always good to have. Brightly coloured bedding. Most students pick up a few posters to brighten up the room at a Freshers fair but you could order one or two in advance.

Agree to minimal especially if you can plan in a visit after a few weeks and then buy the things he actually finds he needs.
Really useful things are a shower caddy to take things to and from bathroom, and somewhere to put/carry dirty clothes. A few mugs, plenty of forks and teaspoons! I also had a rug in halls which was really good.
I think concentrate on him having food he can make easily the first few weeks to stop him buying too much takeaway.

If he has under bad space ( which I guess you’ll only know when you get there) then medium size suitcases work really well. My dd had two, one for her sports wear and underwear, and the other for her fancy going out stuff and storage of extra toiletries etc….

There's probably a noticeboard so drawing pins for poster & photos.
Like a PP took a lamp.
Cushions make bed more sofa like for dayitme/socialising.
Clothes rack for drying will take up a lot of space - there were free tumble dryers so check.
Meat tenderiser seriously??
No mini fridges or kettles in rooms.

Oh yes agree a small rug makes the room feel less institutional.

Tempting though it is to do an IKEA/dunelm haul, I would strongly advise bringing the bare minimum, giving it some time and then getting an amazon delivery for things he needs.

Watching for friend who is also first time Uni Mum

Don't take too much stuff to start with.

A mattress topper for the improvement of the likely miserable mattress plus mattress protector would be my essentials, waste paper bin, lamp, throw & cushions from home.

No info from DC firm offer yet. I assumed more details on booked accommodation would come after acceptance

Check college handbook for rules - but fairy lights (either battery or mains, whichever is allowed) kettle (D1 was allowed a kettle but it had to be on a tray) We sent a mini coffee maker in her 1st term which she loved. I made up a mini first aid kit in an old (free) makeup bag - plasters, paracetamol etc

My son took:
Duvet and cover, pillow and laundry bag
Extension lead for phone charger and laptop charger, airpods.
Salt lamp! (optional but they all had them in my son's halls).
Hangers for wardrobe.
Hairdryer and electric toothbrush etc. towels and soap etc.
Storage boxes for under bed full of tins, noodles, etc food and kitchen stuff.
Couple of bottles of wine and glasses.

A mattress protector.
Bath mat.
A large tin of biscuits or similar to put in the kitchen for sharing and ice breaking.

Take enough to be comfortable for a week, take a look when you drop him off and Amazon deliver anything he needs so it arrives over the next few days.

He can buy his own cleaning essentials when he discovers the local supermarket.

Best tip seems to be take spare items from home so they can easily spot their plates/glass etc not the generic uni stuff everyone has from ikea/dunelm.
I’m sorting my cupboards and anything I think is spare or useful I’ve put to one side.
I’ve also asked dd to think about what she uses when she cooks so she isn’t taking unnecessary stuff.

DD was a long way from home but took very minimal clothes, cooking equipment etc. She did take a mattress topper. Things she then got a few weeks later were…hangers, magnetic pins for notice board, baking tray, small clothes airer.

If the bed base looks solid it might have storage that you access by lifting the mattress up. If you are willing to say which uni and which halls we might be able to advise.

Ds took bare minimum, one saucepan with draining lid, one frying pan. Best advice is walk room to room in your current home and work out what you use. No garlic crusher, buy a tube of garlic puree, no cheese grater just buy grated cheese. Teach him to cook, plate up, wash up pan immediately, dry and put away, it takes less than 2 minutes and then later it is just the plate/bowl and cutlery.

A Dishmatic sponge on a stick is really useful, Ds stored his in a mug in his cupboard. Herbs and spices, you can zhuzh up any bought dish with herbs/spices.

Use roll up vacuum bags to fit more stuff in cases etc good for pillows/duvets. Don't forget things like shaving stuff, nail clippers, tweezers, medicines, which is why I advise walking room to room now to see what he has access to. Also a tape measure to make sure stuff fits. Remember coats, hats, gloves, waterproof coat and waterproof shoes especially if they have to walk far.

I agree visiting a couple of weeks after they move in to reassess.

Does he know that he will have to take all bedding, including duvet and pillows, plus cooking equipment as well as his clothes?

Or is he planning on ordering bedding and pans to be delivered to his halls?

DS says the best thing I bought him was a multi-compartment hanging wash bag! Like this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07DPKQYHH?ref=emc_s_m_5_i_atc

There's never enough shelf space in bathrooms and it stops them having to put them on the inevitably yukky bathroom floors.
Yes to sliders, and we were having heatwave when DS went to uni so had to go and buy him a small fam for his room and some shorts for the first couple of weeks!