Back to Uni home essentials

After more than 18 months of really weird times, universities are finally going back to face-to-face teaching this month… and that means freshers’ week, hungover lectures and moving into accommodation. Hooray!

Setting up your uni living space is a real rite of passage – there’s nothing quite like buying your first colander (that you’ll never use), sticking a load of Polaroids on the walls and finding the perfect throw to cover that horrible sofa in the living room. Student housing is notoriously unhomely – from dingy shared houses with damp walls to bare and basic halls with absolutely no character. Not a particularly welcoming prospect, is it? Luckily it’s nothing a bit of interior flair can’t fix, and we have a whole host of products to ensure you’ve got both the essentials and the extras covered.

Uni kitchen must-haves

You might not plan on doing much cooking at uni, but it’s a good idea to have a good collection of kitchen essentials… just in case that sixth takeaway of the week is a bit too much!

Start with a basic cookware set, like this smart purple style. We love that it has a range of pan sizes with one clip-on handle – great for space saving in your allocated kitchen cupboard.   

When it comes to utensils, don’t go overboard – when was the last time you used a melon baller? Exactly. We love this sleek black and rose gold set, which has everything you need for culinary success – a pizza cutter, basically!

If you’ve already been chatting to your new housemates about stuff you might need, we bet a kettle is top of the list. That post-night-out cuppa is non-negotiable, and your kettle might as well look good while it’s doing the job. This Scandi style Nordic kettle will look lush in a minimalist kitchen space.

Shared space stuff

The living room space in uni accommodation can be a great place to hang out with your housemates, get to know each other, play Ring of Fire, watch Love Island, etc. It might look drab and and unloved on first glance, but with a few well-placed pieces you can transform it into a cosy, homely spot.

Start with the sofa – if it’s looking past its best, a chic throw can make a huge difference. We love this soft grey chevron style is super cosy for snuggling up under and will look great casually draped across your seating.

Adding soft lighting to a room can transform it from a stark, cold space to one that feels just like home. A table lamp like this tonal style will look great on a side table.

And finally, if you need to hide a seriously dodgy carpet, look for a classic block colour rug – one with a simple monochrome pattern like this will help distract from the carpet crimes beneath.

Practical pieces for your bedroom

You’ve probably got your bedroom bits sorted – nice new bedsheets, stylish lamp, quirky prints for the wall, all that good stuff. But what about the more practical pieces that will help with storage and study?

The Arreglo range is perfect for a student bedroom – it looks sleek and stylish, but is super useful for everyday organisation. This stationery tidy will keep your desk neat and tidy, while this metal crate is great for hiding away chargers, cameras and other techy bits.



You might not have a huge amount of space in your uni wardrobe, so space-saving hangers are a must – these flocked velvet ones won’t take up much room and will keep your clothes crease-free. And this over-door shoe rack is really handy for saving floor space.

To finish off – if there’s one thing we’d recommend all students invest in before they embark on their university journey, it’s good towels. There’s nothing quite like a hot shower after a heavy night, or a Sunday afternoon bubble bath… and wrapping yourself in a big, fluffy towel is all part of the experience. These organic cotton towels are super soft and come in loads of colours to match your décor. Aaaaaand relax!