University room transformations

Every year, decorating my new university room is something I, among others, really look forward to. Getting to create a new, cosy space that feels like me fills me with excitement for the upcoming year. It can be a great way to utilise free time during Freshers’ Week as you get settled in, or as you return to university in your second or third years. It can also quell some homesickness or uncertainty to have a room that is a safe space to come home to. However, it can be a difficult and a somewhat costly endeavour to cultivate the perfect space, so here are my top tips to create an idyllic university room easily and on a student budget.

Don’t underestimate the power of things you already own

My first tip is to think carefully about the style of bedding and/or blankets you buy. University rooms are often small so having colourful or patterned bedding can really brighten up the space and make it feel more like home. Cushions are also a must.

Secondly, don’t underestimate the power of things you already own. A great way to decorate a space can be with books. Book spines are colourful, interesting, and created a lived in, interesting feel to a room, making it feel less sparse.

Additionally, plants, candles, and reed diffusers are all cheap and cheerful ways to make a space not only aesthetic, but that can also boost your mood. They offer softer lighting and a calm atmosphere, which can be needed after a long day on campus.

A great tip for personalising your space can be to put photos up on pinboards that are often in university rooms, or walls (if you’re allowed). A great app I recommend would be FreePrints, which gives you 45 prints a month for no cost other than delivery. It can be great to put up pictures of family and friends or even aesthetic images. This can add some personality to the space and make the walls less bare.

One of my favourite things to do, for relatively zero cost, is to create a magazine wall

Whilst lots of decorations can cost money, I often like to DIY my space, and one of my favourite things to do, for relatively zero cost, is to create a magazine wall. Take some of your favourite magazines and cut or rip out images to make a collage. This can be such a cool and quirky personal touch to a bedroom that is guaranteed to look good. Some other great DIY décor pieces are bunting, paper chains, origami butterflies, or even paper stars and shapes: they look great cut from newspaper.

Another cliché but still great tip is to get fairy lights and lamps. These can be inexpensive from places such as Flying Tiger, Dunelm, The Range and other such shops, but can make such a difference to your room. It’s important to try and make your space feel homely,  cosy and somewhere you want to be and call your own. Softer lighting can make your space warm and comfortable. Plus, fairy lights look pretty.

My final tip for transforming your university room is to get a rug. You can get these on Vinted or Facebook Marketplace for a cheap price. Alternatively, head to Dunelm or Ikea and similar stores for an affordable choice. Lots of university houses don’t have carpet, so a rug can be a welcome addition. They make the room feel more lived in and personal, and make such a difference by brightening up a small space.

Lastly, my top three pieces of décor that are not in every room are a disco/glitter ball, a calendar, and fresh flowers. I hope these tips have helped you get inspiration for your university room and help you imagine ways to make your mark in your new space.