Moving to a new country is a real adventure and a time to make memories that will last a lifetime. Relocating to another country to study is an exciting move, but international students in the UK may also understandably have a few anxieties.

Do you have lots of clothes and possessions at home? Unfortunately, student accommodation in the UK, whether on campus or with a private landlord, isn’t usually particularly spacious. So, you will have to make the most of the storage space you have available to you.

To help out, we at Now Storage have put forward some helpful storage ideas for international students in the UK. 

Go for smart portable storage solutions

Of course, your landlord may not be happy if you start knocking nails into walls and installing permanent wardrobes and cupboards in your flat without their permission. However, why not get a portable storage cupboard on wheels as storage? You can use this to store things like stationery, study files, clothes, and so on depending on its size. 

The beauty of having storage on wheels is that you can reuse it and bring it to your next place when your tenancy has ended, and it should be easier to handle and move around when it is time for you to move out.

Make the most of any under-the-bed storage

Do you notice that you have any spare under-the-bed storage space? Perhaps you have a bed with drawers underneath? Plastic storage containers that are not too tall slide under your bed nicely. Nevertheless, be careful that your under-the-bed space doesn’t just turn into an untidy floordrobe scenario!

Vertical storage solutions

Floor space is at a premium when you live in a small student flat. Countertop space in your kitchen may be scarce. If so, try using the wall space. For instance, you could hang kitchenware from rails or wall-hanging racks. 

In the bedroom, try and think about vertical storage and anything you could use as extra shelving. You could also put up a pegboard using command strips. This means that no nails or holes in the wall are needed. 

Use multipurpose furniture 

Being minimalist and using furniture for multiple purposes can help to declutter and maximise your student home living space. For example, a study desk that folds in half can easily double up as a bedside table at night in your bedroom.

Try to use storage within storage

It is all too easy for your drawers to get messy and disorganised. Try bringing in some order and tidiness by putting partitioned drawer dividers into your bedroom and kitchen drawers. That way, everything will be neatly separated and you will find it easier to know where things are.   

Store your study supplies neatly

Letter trays and mesh magazine files can be great for storing folders, sheets, and documents related to your studies. It can be beneficial for international students to be highly organised with filing paperwork, especially when it comes to managing your immigration documents and correspondence from back home.

You can reuse everyday items such as tin cans and mugs to store things like your pens, biros, and highlighters. Sounds simple, but this is much better than stationary being all sprawled over your work desk or even the floor. 

Vacuum pack your clothes

Packing your clothes properly to save space is also a key factor in how much storage you will use. One way to save space and pack a few more clothes into your suitcase is to iron them beforehand and then bring them over in vacuum-sealed bags.

Hangers

We suggest making sure you have lots of hangers as this will help when it comes to storing and drying your clothes properly. You could be fortunate enough to have a nice long hanging rack at your student accommodation. Alternatively, you could purchase a portable clothes rail that is easy to move about without a fuss.

Leave some of your possessions with someone you trust in the UK

If you are lucky enough to already have close friends or family living in the UK, you could maybe leave a suitcase or some non-essential excess possessions at their place. Just make sure that your belongings are only with someone you know you can trust.

International students should have a spare suitcase

A space suitcase (yes, even an empty one) can always come in handy as storage if your bedroom wardrobes and cupboards are full to the max. You never know, you might need to move again or decide to go on holiday within the UK for a staycation, and your suitcase will do the job just fine. 

Remember to fold your clothes 

Having scrunched-up or unfolded clothes laying around everywhere will only damage the fabrics, clutter your floorspace, and take up space unnecessarily. Fold up your clothes in an orderly fashion. This is an easy thing to do once you get yourself into a habit of it. 

Hire a self storage unit

Have you exhausted your clever home storage ideas and now feel you need to find another student storage solution that works for you? Then why not hire a self storage unit with Now Storage? All of our storage sites across England and Wales are open seven days a week and kept safe and secure by 24-hour CCTV surveillance in operation. 

We are an ideal provider for international students because we happen to have self storage sites in Reading and Cardiff, two places with sizeable international student populations in need of self storage solutions. In another one of our blogs, you can learn more about the benefits of international student storage. 

You will find our indoor self storage units and outdoor containers are reasonably priced and our customer service team work hard to provide you with a first-rate service. Get a quote and select the storage type and size you are after so you can get a figure of how much you can expect to pay at one of our sites.

Are you or someone you know an international student looking for storage solutions while studying in the UK? Look no further than Now Storage. Get in contact with us today by telephoning 0300 021 5285 or sending us a message on this website with your query and contact details so that we can get back to you.