As the start of the college school year gets closer, many students are busy preparing for the big move. If that’s you, one of the questions you probably have is what to take with you, what to leave home, and what to store. That can be a hard question, especially if this is your first college semester. At home you have the space for everything you need, want, and like. At college, your dorm or apartment is likely going to be much smaller, so bringing everything just isn’t possible.

To help you figure things out, NSA Storage is here with actionable tips and help. Read on to find out more and make sure that your college living quarters aren’t too cramped or overloaded this fall!

Why Knowing What to Take to College (and Leave Behind) is Important

Anyone who’s been to college will tell you that the average dorm is very small. Typically, you have enough for some basic furniture like a bed, night table, some clothes, a desk, and a mini fridge. But that’s about it.

Bring too much stuff with you and you might find that you have no room to stretch, breathe, and be comfortable. Your roommate might not be too happy about it either. Remember, they have to share that small space with you.

In other words, you should only bring things you definitely need while you’re at school. This will reduce your stress, keep things organized, and keep things friendly between you and your roomie. Plus, it will reduce the actual physical stress and strain of moving all that stuff back and forth during every break.

What You Should Take to College

There are several things you will definitely need at college whether you’re in a dorm or off-campus apartment. Below is a comprehensive list of those items to help you start packing:

College Essentials

• Your phone and charger
• Your computer or laptop
• Notebooks, pens, highlighters, etc.
• A backpack
• A printer

Furniture

• A bed (if none is provided)
• One night table
• One bookshelf (if space permits)

Note: Some college dorms come with all of the furniture included so be sure to check ahead of time.

Personal Items

• Bedding for your bed
• Towels
• Caddy
• Toiletries
• A laundry basket or hamper

Clothes

Clothing is a tough call, especially if you’re fond of dressing nicely. Again, with such a small space, you need to pick and choose correctly.

• Comfortable clothes for lounging and studying
• Fall weather or winter clothing depending on where you go to school
• Athletic closing if you’re on a sports team or exercise a lot
• One nice, full, matching outfit for special occasions

Comfort Items

• A small fan
• A small (and safe) space heater
• Photographs of family and friends
• Headphones

Kitchen Items

Most dorms don’t have kitchens but most off-campus apartments do. As with everything else, pick and choose wisely depending on what your situation will be. 

If, for example, you’re going to be eating in the school cafeteria all the time, you might not need anything. If you live off campus and will cook for yourself daily, though, you might need a lot more. Below is a list of the basics:

• A mini fridge
• A reusable water bottle
• A small microwave
• One mug, one glass, and one set of utensils
• One pot and one pan
• Several stackable plastic storage containers

Sports Equipment

If you have the space and use them frequently, you might want to bring your:

• Bicycle
• Golf clubs
• Skateboard
• Roller blades
• Electric scooter

What You Should Not Take to College

The space you’ll have at college is going to be small. To make sure yours isn’t filled to the brim with stuff you don’t need or use, leave the following items at home:

• Large piece of furniture like sofas and recliners
• A queen or king size bed
• Collections, knickknacks, all of your childhood toys
• Duplicate items like TVs or microwaves
• Large kitchen appliances like blenders, toasters, air fryers, etc.

What to Put into Your College Storage Unit

This section is for you if you’re going to school far enough from home that going back isn’t easy. Renting a storage unit near campus can be very helpful, especially if you share it with a roommate or two. Here’s why:

• You can store things between semesters or when you take a semester to study abroad
• You won’t have to move stuff back-and-forth every break
• Your dorm or apartment will be more open and less cramped

Here’s a list of the items you can store in a storage unit near your college or university campus:

• Sports gear like bicycles, golf bags, scooters, free weights, etc.
• Off-season clothing. (Winter coats, boots, gloves, hats, etc.)
• All of your holiday decorations
• Suitcases and travel bags
• A car or motorcycle

Keep in mind that you can use a storage unit during school, during breaks, or both. Frankly, if you’ve followed our advice and only taken what you truly need to college, you might not need a storage unit while school is in session. However, to make your breaks less stressful and more enjoyable, having a storage unit near campus is a big plus.

Find an NSA Storage Unit Near You This Semester

College is a time in your life that you will likely remember forever. If you only take what you need, those memories will be more positive and peaceful, thanks to less stress due to cramped quarters and unhappy roommates.

At NSA Storage we help college students every year to keep their dorms and apartments clutter-free and more spacious. Our storage units are safe, well-lit, and have excellent security features. Many of our storage facilities are near college campuses, too, which makes things even easier.

You can reserve a storage unit online today and start using it ASAP to make your college experience more enjoyable. Until then, best of luck this semester reaching your goals and achieving your dreams!