I'm a recent graduate, and these are the 15 uni room essentials I couldn't have lived without
Sending your kid off to uni? Here are the things that made my small room on campus feel like home


Perhaps you're tired of hearing this, but alas, the time of waving your kid off to university is edging closer and closer – and with only a couple of weeks 'til the start of the semester, I can only imagine they've been nagging you about their uni room essentials and what to bring to university.
Truth be told, times have probably changed since you went to university yourself. Now, in the age of social media, the pressure to stay up to date on the latest home decor trends extends not only to our homes but even to the likes of a tiny box room in student halls. I know, I can hardly believe it myself.
However, don't worry. While you may not completely understand why your 18-year-old keeps hounding you for your 'cringe' Millennial interior choices (you can blame TikTok for that, by the way), I've got the lo-down on the things your kid actually would want to add to their list of uni room essentials.
Uni room essentials – 15 must-haves to make your kid's small room on campus feel like home
Just to preface, this is going to be a more self-indulgent list of 'essentials' rather than the nitty-gritty checklist items I covered in my general uni essentials list.
Aside from all the must-haves we know to bring, such as a mattress protector, a kitchen starter kit, and a couple of extension leads, there's definitely room for the more fun and dare I say it, 'aesthetic' stuff. Not to mention, these are certainly gems if your child's got plans to decorate their dream uni room.
If there's one thing that definitely got me through uni, it's a constant stream of music in the background while I was studying. Of course, I wouldn't be a nuisance with it, but it'd be loud enough for my own enjoyment, as well as focus, for those tougher study sessions.
Anyone who knows me knows that my second-year uni room was riddled with artificial, decorative vines as well as a collection of (real) houseplants. They just make a room feel so cosy. My top tip is to pair them with some fairy lights and it instantly makes a room feel like home.
If your kid is lucky enough to get a TV in their flat, either in the communal area or maybe even in their own room (lucky them) then a Fire Stick is a must-have. My flatmate brought a TV with him in second and third year, and we had this hooked up to it for easy watching every day
Hopefully, after this, you'll know what to keep in mind when you're shopping for your kid's essentials. After all, we know how much of an impact our surroundings have on our mood, especially in a home.
Even years later, they'll still remember their uni room essentials and how they acted as comforts for even the toughest moments they may endure at uni. Because I definitely do, and anything reminiscent of my uni rooms through the years always gives me that little kick of nostalgiacore.
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So, believe me when I say it pays to help them curate a true home away from home – with all the bells and whistles attached.

Jullia was Ideal Home’s Junior Writer from 2022-2024 and the Ideal Home Certified Expert in Training on Vacuums having spent over 60 hours testing different models. She’s always loved all things homes and interiors, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Architectural Studies from the University of Nottingham where her love for writing blossomed following her internship at ArchDaily. Now focused on home tech and cleaning, Jullia works on writing features and explainers to help people make the most of their home appliance investments, putting the newest launches through their paces. When she isn’t writing, she loves exploring the city, coffee shop hopping, and losing hours to a cosy game or book.