Residence Room Essentials

Author: Nel Pedroso
Posted on September 23, 2020

Residence life is one of the many highlights of my ongoing university journey. Coming from a small remote town of Northwest Territories, I only brought so much stuff to fit my luggage (mostly my excessive amount of clothes). Like everything else in post-secondary studies, you learn new things as you go, and this includes personal items to make residence life more comfortable and more manageable. Keep in mind this comes differently to everyone and what is good about it is that you can customize it to your needs or wants! Here are some things that helped me during my first year at Mount Allison. 

Electric Kettle

I cannot stress this enough...but this was my saving grace! It is a very versatile product— perfect for tea, coffee, and anything else in between. In my case, I was using it to make instant noodles at midnight. Sometimes you just have a busy schedule, and you want a quick snack. It’s perfect for those late-night study sessions. 

Plants

I have always been a plant lover, so having plants in residence was a no brainer! It provided a pop of colour in my room, and just overall brightened up the whole space. It also gives you a sense of achievement. Taking care of plants is harder than it looks (I still cherish how long I kept mine alive). 

Personal Items

Being in a university residence is a completely different environment compared to home and sometimes far away. We can’t help but get homesick, so having a familiar item to remind you of home, family, friends, etc. helps ease those feelings. Being away is a big deal, be sure to personalize your room to your liking to make it more homey. 

Mattress Topper/Pad

Sleeping and napping are two of my favourite things in life. It is crucial to have a good night’s sleep to function properly every day. I made sure to have a couple of layers of a mattress pad to add comfort. I mean, who here doesn’t like to sleep comfortably? 

Food/Snacks

Always have a back up of goodies in your room. I dedicate one of my drawers as a snack pantry that I can access whatever time it may be—my go-to’s are popcorn and granola bars! Sometimes we will have hectic days where there will be no time to head to Jennings, so snacks are essentials to have that quick boost! 

Photo: Pictured here is me with some of my favourite residence room essentials - my kettle, my plants, and my photo wall!