Your List of Back-to-University Apartment Essentials

Moving from your parents’ house or tiny dorm room to a more spacious student apartment is a huge step to make. Not only do you have to prepare a bedroom; you also get to organize your very own living room, kitchen, and bathroom areas.

Here’s a quick checklist of the things you’ll need to prepare for the move. Note that you no longer have to buy furniture if you’re staying in one of the fully furnished apartments Ottawa has to offer, such as 1Eleven.

Desk Essentials

Arm your desk with notebooks, pens, and highlighters. A good desk lamp will also help you survive an all-nighter, and a pair of noise-cancelling headphones can tune out any noise and distractions.

Get extension cords and power strips in case an outlet is far away from your desk, as well as a flash drive or external hard drive for additional storage.

Also, place an alarm clock on your desk so you’ll be forced to get out of bed in the morning just to shut it off. A picture frame that holds pictures of your family will also help to keep you grounded when times get tough.

Bedroom Essentials

Pack at least two sets of beddings: a mattress topper, bedsheets, pillows, pillowcases, and blankets. Having a spare set means you won’t have to do the laundry right away once you change bedding.

Add a floor or desk lamp for some late-night reading, and install blackout curtains so you can sleep in after a couple of late nights spent studying.

Personalize your room with posters and wall prints. Buy storage containers that you can easily stow under the bed or above the closet to store off-season clothing or extra linens. Also include hangers and a hamper on your list for simple clothes organization.

Living Room Essentials

Gather some accent pillows and throw blankets in your couch for a personal touch, and add indoor plants for a greener living space.

Install a darker area rug in the living area; it’s more forgiving when it comes to spilled drinks during your house parties.

Add shelves and bookcases if you need more storage space, and bring your game console so you can take a break from all the studying.

Kitchen Essentials

Cooking is easier if you have a complete set of tools and equipment in your arsenal. See if you can borrow a skillet, stock pot, and saucepan from your parents’ house.

Have a mixing bowl, measuring cup, can opener, vegetable peeler, and bottle opener on hand so that prepping will be a breeze. A chef’s knife, paring knife, bread knife, and cutting board will complete all the items you need for meal prep.

Buy plenty of storage food containers and use them to stock up on pantry essentials: pasta, rice, canned food, instant ramen, oatmeal, cereal, milk, bread, nut butters, and spices. These will help you create uncomplicated meals that can be prepared in a jiffy.

Bathroom Essentials

Buy a shower caddy, soap dish, and toothbrush holder to store your toiletries, and some hooks to hang your towels and bathrobe. Shop for a bath mat, waste bin, and cleaning supplies to keep your bathroom clean and tidy.