8 Apartment Living Essentials for Today’s Student

The beauty of student housing is that most contemporary student apartments come fully furnished. Students leaving their family homes for the first time don’t need to worry about purchasing housing essentials like beds, sofas, and whiteware. While many things are supplied, most students will need to bring some apartment living essentials with them to turn their apartments into homes.

Photo of a man bringing two suitcases into his apartment - Apartment Living Essentials
Getting your first place? Do you have everything you need? | Photo by ConvertKit

In this piece, we’re here to help you cover all those bases. Once you’ve secured your new apartment, make sure the following items have been checked off your list. 

1. Bedding and Bedroom Essentials

When you move into student housing owned by leading providers like Alma, there’s very little you need to bring to enjoy a comfortable living arrangement. However, bedding and bedroom essentials are undoubtedly some of the most important things to add to your list before moving. 

Pack two sets of bedding, including sheets, duvet inners, covers, pillows, and pillowcases. Having two sets will mean you can make your bed with fresh linen while you wash your soiled set. Alongside bedding, you might also like to bring an alarm clock and lamp to place beside the bed and a laundry bin to keep your laundry organized. 

2. Bathroom Essentials

Your student housing will have a bathroom with everything you need to manage your hygiene needs, such as a shower, toilet, and vanity. Now all that’s left to do is pair it with your bathroom essentials. 

Pack at least two towels, hand towels, washcloths, and bathroom mats for showering. Having bathroom cleaning supplies is also important to keep your bathroom clean and tidy. If you share your bathroom with others, purchase a caddy to store your hygiene products like soap, shampoo, toothpaste, and a toothbrush. 

3. Kitchen Essentials

Depending on your student housing type, most apartments come equipped with a fridge and stove. Sometimes, they even have a dishwasher for convenience. This means you only need to bring food, tableware, glasses and mugs, and basic cooking utensils. If you have a favorite appliance, such as a coffee pot or waffle maker, you might like to bring these with you. Many thrift stores have an abundance of kitchen essentials at affordable prices. Don’t be afraid to shop around and see what you can find to turn your new student house into a home. 

4. Comforts From Home

Transitioning from your family home to student housing can be overwhelming. Many people struggle to adjust to the change while also being in an unfamiliar environment without their support systems. If you know you’ll struggle with change, don’t be afraid to pack creature comforts from home. A favorite blanket, a soft toy, or even photos of your loved ones might help make moving more manageable. 

5. Medical Supplies

Here’s one of the apartment living essentials that you might forget about. Accidents happen. All students should have basic first aid kits with supplies for non-emergency wounds and ailments. It can also be important to ensure you have all the prescription and personal medications you need to remain healthy.  If you’re moving to a new town or city, write down phone numbers you might need to use in an emergency. 

6. Electronics

As opposed to the one above, here’s one of the apartment living essentials that you’re not likely to miss. You might find that some student accommodation already has advanced technology to make your stay more comfortable. Although, you’ll still need to bring a few things from home for study and recreation. Most students bring laptops and smartphones, including their chargers. You might also like to pack extension cables and any other electrical goods you use, like hair dryers and curlers. 

7. Decor

While not technically an “essential” many will consider decor to be something they can’t live without. But what if you don’t have much money? Well, good interior design on a budget is possible.

8. Study Essentials

Studying is going to be a considerable part of the college experience. Alongside involving yourself in group activities and making new friends, you’ll also need to set time aside to learn your new academic material. Having a comfortable area in your student housing for study can be crucial. While you might already be provided with a desk and chair, think of other things you might need to bring with you.

A comfortable cushion for your seat, a desk lamp, and a storage system for your study material might all prove useful. You’ll also need study materials like pens, notebooks, and folders. Most education providers will send a stationery list before the term starts so you’ll know the books and stationery you’ll need to start the year on the right foot. 

Knowing what to bring to your new student apartment can be challenging. There’s every chance you’ll forget something important! However, you might be able to reduce the risk of this happening by packing these apartment living essentials.

Tre Pryor, Realtor

Tre Pryor is the leading real estate expert in the city of Louisville. He is a multi-million dollar producer and consistently ranks in the top 1% of Louisville Realtors for homes sold. Tre Pryor has the highest possible rating—5.0 stars on Google—by his clients and is routinely interviewed by the local NBC news. Tre Pryor is a member of the RE/MAX Hall of Fame.