What to bring when you move in to halls

Before you go out and blow your budget on items you won’t need, here’s what you really need to take on moving-in day

Before I moved to halls, everyone (I mean everyone) told me, ‘You don’t need to take everything you own’.

I still managed to fill two car loads with prized possessions on moving in day. But, hopefully this blog will help you in making sure you bring the things that are actually needed, and possibly make you leave a few items at home.

I have included a scattering of juicy finds that will really up your moving-in game throughout this post. You’re welcome :)

What’s there already?

There are many stories of students bringing a kettle and other kitchen gadgets, to only realise that one is already provided. So, to make sure you don’t double up — here is the list of what is already provided.

All of our student rooms are furnished with a bed, desk, chair, wardrobe, bookshelf and (yes) a bin. In the kitchen there is already a kettle, toaster, microwave, fridge/freezer, iron and ironing board, and a vacuum.

Helpful tip: even those who don’t drink tea will be your friend if you offer them a cuppa. It might be worth packing some tea bags to break the ice with your new room mates!

What you cant bring (sorry!)

Before you get upset that you can’t bring something that you already purchased — I promise that all of these rules are for YOUR benefit.

You can’t use blue tack in halls or most private student accommodation places — but Command are amazing for putting things on the wall and not leaving a mark!

A full list of prohibited items is provided in your T&Cs so please read them carefully.

For the bedrooms, you aren’t allowed to bring any more furniture, which includes chest of draws and blow-up furniture. You are allowed to bring under-bed storage and soft furnishings such as extra cushions, pillows, and blankets. With electrics, the rule of thumb is that things that have to be left plugged in aren’t permitted, such as plug in fairy lights (battery operated are okay though), little fridges and extension leads/adaptors.

In the kitchen, the three main no-nos are deep-fat fryers, pressure cookers, and slow cookers — mainly due to the fire hazards they possess. However, rice cookers, and toastie machines are allowed.

What to bring…

You should probably set aside a whole afternoon if you are buying a new matching bedding, it is both a thrilling and stressful experience.

Right, here’s the fun bit, make this list your own, but don’t add too much to it.

Personally, here was my list of things that I bought when I was moving in to halls;

1. Bedding,
2. Toiletries,
3. A suitcase of clothes,
4. Kitchen bits — A wok, (which I learnt to cook literally everything in!) Sauce pan set, mugs, and cutlery,
5. Lecture bits — Rucksack, note pads, pens, laptop,
6. TV (and PlayStation, cause, y’know).

And that was pretty much it. Really, what else do you need? After moving in I went and did a food shop with the help of my mum and her debit card, and that was it… I was moved in.

Although you have your own cupboards, space is still limited — something like this might come in handy.

If you have the luxury of an en-suite, you may also bring a small bath mat.

Honestly, the best advice I can give about moving in is to do so with the basics and a few luxuries to make it home, then once you are there — suss it out and add to it as you go.

I hate to say it, but it doesn’t matter how fancy your cutlery looks — by the end of the year you will almost definitely only walk out with one fork, and it will be someone else’s.

With all that said, there is something special about your room in halls, although the rooms are all based the same, each room is so different once everyone has moved in. I’ve seen rooms dazzled with fairy lights, rooms with nothing but a bed and a desk, photo walls, and of course, the rooms so messy you cant see the room any more.

So of course, do have fun, and make the room yours — its going to be your home for a while after all.