University student bedding guide
Getting the right bedding is really important for university students. For many students, it’s their first time away from home and with plenty going on, a good night’s sleep is essential. Our guide will help students ensure they get the right bedding for university.
Our guide covers:
- Do I need to get my own bedding for university
- Checklist: the bedding essentials for a university bedroom
- What tog duvet should I get for university
- Which pillow should I get for university
- What bedding should I get for university
- Is a mattress protector essential for university
- What size bedding do I need for university
- What towels should I get for university
- University bedding packs and sets
- Allergies - what you need to know
- How to wash your university bedding
- When should I buy my university bedding
1. Do I need to get my own bedding for university?
In most cases, the answer is yes you will need to provide your own bedding. If it’s your first year and you are staying in halls, after A level results your university will confirm your accommodation. You can check the university accommodation website to confirm if you need to provide your own bedding. If you are renting your accommodation, check with the landlord.
You will need your own complete bedding set which includes: a duvet, a pillow, a duvet cover, a fitted sheet, a pillowcase and a mattress protector.
2. Checklist: the bedding essentials for a university bedroom
Here’s a checklist of the bedding and towels you will need:
- 1 x duvet. Generally a single in either a 9 tog, a 4.5 tog or an all seasons.
- 1 x pillow.
- 1 or 2 sets of bed linen. Consisting of a pillowcase, a duvet cover and a fitted sheet.
- 1 x mattress protector.
- Pair of pillow protectors.
- 2 x bath towels.
- 1 or 2 x hand towels.
- Laundry bag.
Quality over quantity: Investing in higher quality bedding can improve your sleep quality and it will last longer, making it a worthwhile investment. Ultimately, your bedding should be comfortable and suit your personal preferences. Choose what makes you feel at home.
3. What tog duvet should I get for university?
You will need to take your own duvet to university. Halls of residence are generally warm so we suggest either a 9 tog or a 4.5 tog duvet. You could opt for an all seasons duvet which consists of a 9 tog and a 4.5 tog duvet that can be fitted together or used individually giving you an option for all seasons.
Check which size duvet you will need. Most universities have single beds or small double size beds. Always read the accommodation sections of the university website to confirm the bed size.
The next question is what duvet filling you choose. Natural down and feather duvet fillings are best. We recommend our Hungarian goose down duvets, which are anti-allergy, cosy and amazingly comfortable. Man-made fillings such as microfibre duvets are cheaper but contain plastics and chemicals, which are likely to make you sweat.
To learn more about duvets, read our guides: duvet guide, duvet tog guide and duvet size guide.
4. Which pillow should I get for university?
You will also need your own pillow for university. Most uni beds are single or small double size so you need a standard size pillow measuring 50x70cm. We recommend down and feather pillows for comfort and breathability. To learn more about which pillow to choose, read our pillow guide.
5. What bedding should I get for university?
A set of bedding for university will consist of a pillowcase, a duvet cover and a fitted sheet. The main choices you need to make are the fabric and colour. We recommend natural fabrics as they are anti-allergy, breathable and lovely to sleep under. One set of bed linen should be enough for university, but the advantage of getting two sets is that you have a spare set while washing and drying one.
At Scooms we sell Egyptian cotton bedding, which is a little more sophisticated, and linen bedding for a more relaxed look. We find that our student customers love both of these bedding ranges.
To learn more about bed linen, read our bed linen guide.
6. Is a mattress protector essential for university?
Yes. The mattress on your bed in your university halls will probably not be brand new, so a mattress protector will make your bed feel more hygienic and more comfortable. We recommend a good quality, easily washable protector. The Scooms mattress protector is pure cotton so it’s naturally breathable and moisture wicking.
To learn more about mattress protectors, read our protector guide.
7. What size bedding do I need for university?
Most of the beds in university halls are single size measuring 90cm x 190cm, so we suggest single duvets, bed linen and mattress protectors.
Small double beds are also common and generally measure 120cm x 190cm, so you need to get small double size bedding.
Check with your uni accommodation website to confirm the bed sizes. See our bedding size guide.
8. What towels should I get for university?
Ideally, you should get two sets of towels - 2 bath towels and 2 hand towels - so that you always have one set to use. This will make it easier to wash and dry your towels with plenty of time and no stress about queuing to use uni washers and dryers.
To learn more about towels read our towel guide.
9. University bedding packs and sets
You can order our bedding in a range of bundles and towel bundles. Or select your duvets, pillows, bed linen, towels and mattress protectors individually to mix and match.
10. Allergies - what you need to know
Bedding that is made from man-made materials can contain harmful chemicals and microplastics. Bedding that does not breathe can harbour dust mites. All Scooms bedding is made from natural materials and is highly breathable. Our bedding is also certified to the highest standards: Nomite, Oeko-Tex, Downafresh and The Responsible Down Standard.
11. How to wash your university bedding
It’s worth thinking about how to wash your bedding while you are at university as university life can be busy.
- Choose bedding that’s machine washable and easy to look after.
- Wash your bed linen and towels once a week.
- Many first year students use a laundrette or the laundry room in halls - check that you use the right temperature to wash and dry.
- Laundry dryers can often run hot so we suggest tumble drying using a low/delicate setting.
- Get your own non bio laundry liquid. It will be better for your washing and is cheaper than buying it at the laundrette.
Doing your laundry when away often means that you have to wait around until it’s finished. To speed things up, grab a bag of 4 wool dryer balls. 100% natural, they reduce drying time and make your laundry softer, fluffier and less wrinkled. They also save you money in the long run as you won’t need to use any fabric softener or dryer sheets.
12. When should I buy my university bedding?
The majority of UK universities open for new students to move into their accommodation in mid to late September each year. Don’t leave buying your bedding to the last minute. Every year we send bedding directly to students in their halls of residence. We suggest buying in July, August or early September so that you have it in plenty of time.
If you are an international student, we can deliver your bedding directly to your halls of residence to save you bringing it with you when you travel. We can also ensure that you have the correct UK size bedding. If you have any questions contact us at sleep@scooms.com or call us on 020 7164 6045.
