Shared living can feel cluttered at times, so it’s important to make your student home feel as calm as possible. We know that ‘being organised’ might not be too high up in your priorities, but it could free up time and metal space for much more fun activities than searching for your lost shoe, or that forgotten library book.

Rock and roll it is not, but we are firm believers that storage is key to a harmonious home. So ,what are your options when you’re on a student budget?

 

Vacuum bags

We’re talking about the big plastic bags that you fill with all your clothes / bedding / towels and then use a vacuum cleaner to suck the air out. They are almost flat by the end of it, making them perfect for stacking under the bed as well as travelling between home and uni. Be selective with the clothes you store in them though, out of season, bulky coats and spare linens work well.

 

Under the bed

Most student storage advice suggests making the most of the dead spaces in your room, such as under the bed or the back of doors. The vacuum bags are one option for under the bed, as are flat plastic storage boxes on wheels and filled suitcases. It’s amazing how much stuff you can smuggle away. You could also attach some hooks to the door (or the walls if you’re allowed) and hang baskets off them. It’s the perfect place for storing ugly electrical cables, or you could opt for a hanging shoe rack.

 

Self-storage

It might feel counterintuitive to outsource your storage, but students can collect some bulky items over the term (a surfboard / a bike that never gets used / a shopping trolley) and sharing the cost of a rented self-storage unit can be quite reasonable.

Think about the stuff that rarely gets used but takes up lots of space in your student house. Leeds has several companies that offer short term, flexible and affordable options and your house will be left feeling ordered, tidy and serene.

 

Stuff for free

Student life is transient so there are always people moving on and looking to get rid of stuff. Charity shops, council recycling centres and websites like Gumtree or Freecycle will almost always have furniture available to collect. Sometimes people will leave things outside of their house which you can take away for free (always best to check before you wander off with it though), so be resourceful and keep your eyes peeled if there’s something you need.

 

Standing shelves

Some landlords won’t want you to be drilling into your bedroom walls to put up shelves. If that’s the case you could go for a standing unit (flea markets often have a few available) or one that sits neatly on your desk. Your work area is an important part of your room so it’s worth getting it right. A small shelf for your most used books, pens and essentials can look lovely, as well as being useful.

 

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