Heading off to uni can leave you full of questions: what kitchen stuff do I need? How many mugs is too many? And where on earth do I buy coat hangers?!
There’s plenty to think about before moving into halls of residence or student digs, and it’s hard to work out what to take, so we’ve put together an ultimate list of uni essentials for you to tick off – and luckily, everything is available on wilko.com!
By Alex- 30th July 2024
- 4min read
What to pack for your uni kitchen
If you’re moving into a shared house, it’s always worth discussing what you need and what everyone is bringing, otherwise you may end up having a kitchen with one bowl, no bottle opener, and approximately 10,000 teaspoons.
It’s often a good idea to sort most of your kitchen kit after you’ve moved in. Do a big order on wilko.com and we can post direct, or take advantage of click & collect!
Appliances
Most shared kitchens will already have appliances, but it’s always a nice idea to have your own kettle in your room for mid-afternoon study cuppas!
Cooking & prep
Eating & drinking
Space is almost always limited in student kitchens, so chat with your housemates first to check what’s needed. You can always split the cost and get everything together if they’re cool with that!
- Plates & Bowls
- Mugs
- Glasses
- Cutlery
- Travel mug and reusable water bottle for staying hydrated on campus
- Food storage for bath cooking and lunches
Kitchen cleaning
If you’re house sharing, keeping on top of tidying is very important!
What to pack for your uni bedroom
Your bedroom at uni is your private sanctuary, which doubles up as your personal living room and study area. Here are the essentials & extras to make it yours, and check out our guide to duvets & pillows to work out what you need.
The must-haves
- Mattress protector
- Duvet
- Pillows
- Duvet & pillowcase sets
- Fitted sheets
- Bedside lamp
- Light bulbs
- Coat hangers - some uni wardrobes are full of these already
- Storage boxes – pop them under the bed, on top of the wardrobe, or anywhere else they’ll fit
- A small bin
- Over-door hooks
- Mirror
- Alarm clock so you're not late!
Make it personal
Being away from home isn’t always easy, whether it’s your first year or your third. Jazz your room up to make it feel like home!
- Photo frames
- A small rug to cover up what is often very uninspired flooring in student digs
- A door wedge is especially handy in your first week to let people know you’re free for a chat
Student laundry must-haves
Don’t wait to go home to do your laundry! With a few bits of kit, doing your own laundry is a doddle. Make sure you’re clued-up on what can be laundered by reading our guide to washing labels!
- Laundry basket for your room
- Clothes airer
- Laundry tabs or liquid – a must-have for washing clothes, we find pods or tabs really easy as you can just chuck one in with your laundry
- Fabric softener for soft, snuggly and fresh-smelling laundry. This is especially nice on your bedding
- Iron if you really think you’ll use it!
- Ironing board
Studying essentials
It’s not all fun & games – studying is a vital part of a successful time at uni, so make yours productive with our brilliant range of studying must-haves. Remember to check what furniture is provided before you move in, as some student homes come with desks and chairs already.
Stay ahead with tech
As with everything on this list, the items you take to uni depends on the course you’re doing, so check whatever you need off the list below:
- Laptop or tablet
- Monitor – you may find this easier on the eyes instead of your laptop screen
- USBs & SD cards
- Keyboard
- Mouse
- Headphones for concentrating on studying or travelling into town
- Wireless speaker for get-togethers
- Phone charger
- Extension lead
- Batteries
This may seem like a lot, but remember to use this list as inspiration – you may not need all of it! You can grab everything you need from this list from the wilko.com Back To Uni page, where you can also find some cheeky student discounts on your shopping!
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