Keeping it fresh

Here’s all the décor tips you’ll need to keep it cool on campus from Daljinder Johal…

We all know that university rooms aren’t really the most aesthetically pleasing. Even if it yours is a bit more acceptable (lucky), when homesickness hits, it’s always nice to have a place that feels like home.

First of all, it’s important to consider the size of your room and other specifications. Most articles will provide useful advice on how to keep your room tidy and organised, but when revision strikes, good intentions often go awry. Bigger rooms can get away with having more stuff; but for a smaller room like Whitefields, concentrate on being selective and choosing key pieces when it comes to décor. Your room won’t then become overwhelming or claustrophobic during a particularly busy schedule. Heronbank or Bluebell are perfect examples of rooms with sufficient shelving and space to include more like a more complex photo display and more knick-knacks.

When it comes to keeping your room looking cohesive, flick through images of bedrooms and university halls online and consider what style you find yourself most drawn to: is it classic and elegant, artsy and bohemian, or modern? A first option may be the masses of interior glossies in shops or free, online magazines such as Rue Magazine. The latter in particular often features tips from industry professionals like Nate Berkus on essentials such as the science behind interior design. Here, you can find ways to create more visual space in a room or avoid a colour-induced eye sore.

flick through images of bedrooms and university halls online and consider what style you find yourself most drawn to…

In fact, colour choice is always important to think about. Bright shades of energetic colours like orange or green will pop and inspire, which is perfect for a student who may study or have a hobby like creative writing and might spend more time having friends over to socialise.  The bare and almost Spartan feel of Cryfield would be balanced out by vibrant pops of colours like red but should keep to a few key modern pieces due to its size. The brown on brown of Arthur Vick needs brighter shades of pinks, blues or purples yet has the bigger size to handle more of a variety of pieces.  On the other hand, for those who prefer to study in their room, softer and cooler colours produce a calmer mood for concentrating as well as being restful enough to aid sleep. Sherbourne’S and Claycroft’s blues, soft greens and wood would benefit from maintaining this muted colour scheme with small earth-inspired pieces like woven baskets neatly paired with bigger, slightly more colourful pieces – much like my personal first year favourite, an A3 poster of Klimt’s The Kiss and a patterned throw.

The key is to interpret and change your preferred style in an affordable and accessible way for your room. It often seems that for the first time someone sees your room, they’ll unconsciously notice the things that display your hobbies and interests: your books, DVD collection, the art and photos on your wall as well as anything else that shows your personality.  To stick to a budget, mix and match these things with items that fit your chosen style. I lean towards an arty, rustic style so some of my – worryingly extensive – jewellery collection is on display in some seashells found in Mexico. In fact, second hand shops and market stalls are perfect for a unique find and online websites like Etsy and eBay have always been reliable for me.

Bright shades of energetic colours like orange or green will pop and inspire, which is perfect for a student who may study or have a hobby like creative writing and might spend more time having friends over to socialise.

A crucial final touch would be soft furnishings like pillows and cushions to balance out the bareness of halls. They create a cosier environment when you’re missing the heating at home, and big rugs can be paired with blankets and throw pillows to ward off the cold and soften the sparseness of the larger floor spaces of Bluebell and Westwood. There’s always time to pick up a new hobby like knitting if you can’t find throws to fit!

The ‘bonding experience’ of a shared bathroom hall is an oft-mentioned advantage of living without en-suites, but halls like Jack Martin don’t have to feel disconnected. It’s always nice to mark out your uni room with little door signs or even seasonal decorations like a few pieces of Halloween confetti, as was popular in my corridor in first year.

It’s great to take the time to make your room feel more comfortable. It’s always lovely to remember pre-university memories with photos and mementos of home friends, holiday trips and favourite old teddies, and it’s also a good idea to pick stuff up over the year from parties and societies. At the end of the year, you can look back and see how a small, usually stark room can become a little home.