Last updated: 29/10/2020
Now that you’ve completed your first year at uni, you will likely be preparing to move into your first student house share with a group of your closest friends. Moving into your first house can be a daunting prospect, but it also comes with a huge sense of accomplishment and independence.
With so much to consider before moving - such as arranging bill payments and completing inventories - remembering to pack family photographs may fall to the bottom of your priority list.
To help you out, here are our 10 top hacks for organising your student house, as well as what items to bring with you!
Tips for getting settled in your student house
1. Get decorating
You’ll definitely want to take some of your home comforts with you, whether it’s photos of family and friends or wall art to make your student house feel more homely. Put your own individual stamp on your new bedroom, as this is where you’ll be spending the majority of your time studying, socialising and sleeping.
But before you start blu-tacking photos and pinning up posters everywhere, check your tenancy agreement to find out what you are and aren’t allowed to use on the walls.
2. Invest in a door stopper
Propping your bedroom door open with a door stopper is a great way to let your new housemates know you want to hang out. But if you’re planning on having your door open the majority of the time, make sure to be considerate and not keep your music on full blast!
You’ll also want to make sure you shut and lock your doors (and windows) before leaving the house, as leaving it open may invalidate your student contents insurance policy should the unexpected happen.
3. Plan your pans
You don’t need to bring the whole of John Lewis with you in order to cook a hearty meal, but you will need at least a couple of pots and pans. Saucepans are great for cooking any number of quick and easy pasta dishes, which will come in really handy during your time away from mum’s cooking - quick and filling is key when it comes to student meals!
Top tip: Decide with your mates beforehand who should bring what to the student house - you don’t want to end up with twenty saucepans and only three spoons… not to mention the fact that you might not have a lot of cupboard space!
4. Get a good night’s sleep
You’ll likely already know this from living in halls, but the mattresses in furnished accommodation aren’t always the most comfortable – at least, not as comfortable as you’re used to back home! But a good night’s sleep is important if you want to succeed at uni.
If you think you’re likely to have a few sleepless nights, a thick mattress topper will be your saviour – and they’re not particularly expensive either. You might also want to consider a mattress protector – it’s probably best not to think about it too much, but a fair few other students may have used the mattress before you, so you’ll probably sleep better knowing you’ve got that extra layer!
5. Don’t forget your toastie maker
It’s a well-known fact that everyone loves a good toastie – especially students. They’re warm, comforting, and can be adapted for whatever mood you’re in - and making food for the whole house suddenly doesn’t seem like such a chore when all you have to do is chuck in the ingredients and close the lid!
Not only this, but toasties make a great meal for breakfast, lunch or dinner, and are cheap to make if you’re trying to cut costs.
5 things you’ll need in your student house share
When you’re planning your move into your student house share, the first things on your list will be your clothes and gadgets. But what about those extra things you might need to streamline your living situation?
Here are 5 items that might make your life easier in shared student housing.
6. Laundry basket
While everyone goes to uni with the intention of doing their own washing, sometimes it just doesn’t get done in the midst of lectures, seminars, exams, and socialising. This means that, for the most part, it either ends up in piles around your room or in a bag to be transported back home for mum and dad.
But regardless of whether or not you plan to do your washing at uni, a laundry basket is an incredibly useful thing to have. It not only keeps your dirty clothes away from your clean clothes, but it’ll stop your room from getting too messy!
7. Clothes airer
If you do decide to do your own washing then a clothes airer will be a lifesaver when it comes to drying your clothes. You may not have too much outside space, and without the use of a tumble dryer (which aren’t that common in student houses) you’ll need somewhere clean and dry to hang your clothes up to avoid that damp smell.
Top tip: Try not to dry your clothes and towels on radiators, as the majority of tenancy agreements will usually exclude this. Put your airer near to a radiator or by an open window to keep your student house fresh and dry.
8. Extension lead
It’s likely that you’ll be taking quite a few gadgets to uni with you – between your hairdryer, your phone charger and your toastie maker, you might find that you don’t have enough plug sockets available for all of your electronics.
In these circumstances, an extension lead may come in handy, especially if the sockets are located in awkward places – there’s nothing worse than when your phone won’t reach the bed while it’s plugged in!
9. Toilet roll
There’s one thing you can guarantee, and it’s that you will, at some point, run out of toilet paper when you need it most – so keep a stash in your room, just in case.
Top tip: It may be worth setting up a shared grocery list for communal items - such as toilet paper, milk and butter - to ensure one housemate doesn’t always end up footing the bill.
10. Bedroom bin
Most student houses won’t include a bedroom bin, meaning your room may soon become a haven for balled up bits of paper and crisp packets.
If you don’t have one included with your room, it’s worth investing in one as they’re usually pretty cheap, and you’ll be spending the majority of your time there. A clean bedroom really will help you concentrate on those all-important essays and assignments. Just make sure to empty the bin on occasion!
Looking to protect your favourite gadgets?
Cover your gadgets against theft, accidental damage (including cracked screens!) and mechanical breakdown. Includes a 15% Endsleigh discount on up to two gadgets!
Find out more about Protect Your Bubble’s student gadget insurance.
Staying in student accommodation?
You may already have insurance through your accommodation provider! Check and confirm your cover today via the My Endsleigh app.