Filed under College Living on November 5th, 2008:
Don’t Forget These Items as You Move to a New Dorm or Apartment
Getting ready to move is a big undertaking. Whether you’ll be staying in Orlando apartments or taking up residence at a dorm, there are plenty of things you need to get ready for a move.
To make sure you don’t arrive to your new place empty-handed, it’s a good idea to create a checklist that fits your circumstances. The fact is needs can vary depending on the living situation you’ll be in.
Creating A Dorm Room Checklist:
Whether you’ll be living in a dorm on the UCF campus or at one of the many other colleges or universities in the area, a dorm room checklist can vary from what you’ll need for Orlando apartment living. Here are some of the things you might find important while living in a dorm:
Linens – Make sure to bring all of your own linens to campus with you because they are not supplied by the school. You’ll want at least two sets of bedding, a few full sets of towels, an area rug to put by your bed and a good comforter or two.
Toiletries – A shower caddy is a must-have for dorm living. Make sure you buy one big enough to carry your shampoo, conditioner, toothbrush, toothpaste and shaving items. This will simply make the trek from your dorm to the showers easier.
Electronics – Nobody heads to a new place without some basic pieces of electronic equipment! You’ll want a computer and perhaps a CD player, small TV and DVD player. A good calculator always comes in handy, too. If funds are tight, check into buying refurbished electronics.
Cooking items – Check to make sure these are allowed. Some campuses will allow a mini-fridge for storing foods, but they won’t permit hot plates, crock pots, microwaves or toaster ovens. If you can cook in your room to an extent, you’ll also want cookware, plates and utensils.
Items from home – While you won’t have a lot of space to make your dorm feel truly like home, you can bring along a few decorations to make yourself more comfortable. Pictures, posters and other items that are fairly small can go on a dorm room checklist.
College Apartment Musts:
If it is your plan to check out Orlando apartments, your list will be similar, but more extensive. If you have a roommate lined up, find out what furniture and kitchen items your roommate already has. Otherwise, plan on most of the items from the dorm room checklist and add such things as:
Basic furniture – You’ll need a bed, dresser, desk and at least a couch or seat for the living room, too. A table and chairs are also smart buys.
Kitchen supplies – Setting up an apartment kitchen takes more work than outfitting a dorm for quick meals. You’ll want a set of dishes, utensils, small appliances, spices, food, storage containers and cookware to round out this room.
Decorations – A full apartment will give you a much greater ability to make your crash pad feel like home. Even if you’re living with a roommate, you should be free to decorate your room any way you want it. Keep this in mind as you pack.
The need for home goods can vary for dorm and apartment dwellers. Plan ahead and you should have everything in place you need to make your new place feel comfortable, welcoming and functional.