Hey there, everyone! My name is Day (Daylyn), and I am an international postgraduate student pursuing an MA in Publishing here at the University of Exeter!
As I near the end of my programme here and start prepping to move back to the US, I often find myself thinking about my first few weeks on campus and living in my university accommodation, so I thought it would be fun to share my top tips for making the most of your dorm and building a home for yourself here in Exeter. I love where I live, and with these tips, you will, too!
Tip #1: Take a Virtual Tour of Your Dorm
I live on Streatham campus in Spreytonway, a hall dedicated to postgraduate students full of ensuite rooms and spacious shared kitchens. I was thrilled to get placed here, as it was my top choice when applying for accommodation. Yet, when I first checked in, the empty room felt… less than homey. Luckily, I came prepared with a few items from home to help me start to settle in. I knew from the virtual tour that each room had a big pin board on the wall and a big glass board over the desk, so I brought pushpins, whiteboard markers and a few items to hang up and make the room feel more like me.
The pin board is probably my favourite part of my room (other than the huge window). I came with just a few things to put up, such as a Christmas ornament with a picture of my dog Mabel, and a letter from my aunt that she hid in my suitcase before I boarded my flight, but throughout the year I’ve added a ton of new items. I have letters from friends, poems, stickers, and knick-knacks from my travels to Ireland, London and Stonehenge. I love seeing it and revisiting some amazing memories first thing each morning.
As for the whiteboard markers, they have been a big hit in my flat! People will knock to borrow a marker to write little notes to themselves on their full-length and washroom mirrors – my bedroom mirror currently reads Good Morning, Sunshine! – or to write a weekly to-do list that stays in their room and not just in the pages of their colour-coded planners. What started as a fun little idea became super practical and a way to bond with other students!
Tip #2: Maximise Your Space
Okay, let’s be real: dorms are small. Fun to live in, but small. Luckily, there are tons of ways to live large in a compact room. Here are a few things I did that made a world of difference.
Firstly, I can’t stress enough how much I love the idea of making ‘zones’ in your dorm. I have three main zones: the work zone (my desk and window), my relaxing zone (the front half of my bed) and my reading zone (the bottom half of my bed). This helps to boost my productivity and reduce clutter, maximising my physical and mental space. My brain knows exactly what mode to switch into depending on where I am in my dorm.
Now, onto more specific advice. Coming to Exeter, I had one carry-on suitcase and two big pieces of luggage. I know a lot of people left them in the gap between the desk and the window, but I actually used mine as under-the-bed storage! This has been so helpful for staying organised and for switching out my wardrobe options as the weather went from oh-so-chilly in the winter to oh-so-hot in the summer. I packed all of my sweaters and winterwear into the suitcases and zipped up each half but didn’t close it all up. This way, I can roll out my makeshift drawers and find anything I need with ease.
Another thing I did to make the most of my space was grab a few essentials at IKEA, which is just a short bus ride away from campus. The three best things I got were a hanging drawer organiser for my closet, a shoe rack and a breakfast cart! My closet has a few shelves but no drawers, and I needed more room for clothes that needed to stay folded rather than hung. I put my shoe rack on the wall opposite my bed, which left more room for my longer dresses and made it easier to find whatever pair of kitten heels or boots I was looking for without having to move things around.
Finally, my infamous breakfast trolley. Don’t get me wrong, between three refrigerators, freezers and tons of cabinet space in the kitchen, I don’t have to keep any snacks in my room. However, it is so nice not to have to get up and leave my work zone for tea and a biscuit! I can sit and snack while I work and watch my digital picture frame switch between pictures of my life back in the US and the life I built for myself here in the UK.
Tip #3: Small Hacks Can Make a Big Difference
I’m going to let you in on a secret: fitted sheets absolutely do not work on these longer length three-quarter double beds. I’ve tried. My neighbours have tried. And somehow, you always end up rolling over at 2 am and finding that the corner has slipped off. Again. Instead of dealing with all that hassle, you can get an oversize flat sheet and just fold it under your mattress and topper. Just trust me on this one; you’ll be glad you did. Not every accommodation has the same bed size, though, so make sure to check yours on the Room Finder webpage.
This second hack is a little less dorm-related, but still equally important. Remember those whiteboard to-do lists I mentioned earlier? When writing your due dates down, try putting them three days earlier than they actually are. For example, if my assessment is due July 15th, I’ll pencil it in for July 12th. This way, I can manage my time a bit better and be prepared for big time commitments that pop up and get in the way of my schedule. I’ve been doing this for years, and it has never let me down.
I just discovered this final hack last week, and it has changed everything. Maybe this is common in the UK, but it isn’t a thing in the US, so I had no idea about it until a friend came over and showed me. Apparently, this bar over my window is a vent to help air circulate in my room!
I love having a breeze sweep through my room as I read or work, and so I keep my window open as I get ready for the day and as I get ready for bed. But! I am not a fan (read: horrified) by the creepy winged-things (read: moths) that sometimes wander in. Thanks to this vent over the window, I can pop it open and get air moving in my room without running the risk of having to phone a friend to come and catch any bugs. A literal lifesaver.
I hope these tips help you feel at home the second you step onto campus. Whether you’re coming from the US or anywhere else, the University of Exeter is a great place to study and has a ton of great accommodation options. I am so glad I chose to find and make a home on campus for my year abroad!
