It can be difficult to put your own stamp on the décor of student accommodation. Most students only tend to live in their accommodation for a year at the most, so generally aren’t allowed to make any significant alterations to the building. However, there are small changes you can make that will have a significant impact on the overall feel of your home, and these can be made without spending too much money, either.
To make decorating your temporary home easier, we have compiled our top five tips for personalising your student accommodation. Following these will create an atmosphere in your home that better reflects your personality — a much enjoyable environment to live in.
Lighting
One of the major elements of interior design is lighting. Without the right lighting, a room can feel very uncomfortable; more like a hospital ward than a living room. Most student accommodation will come with centralised ceiling lights. An easy way to make better use of this is to buy a light shade — choose one of your favourite colours, or choose a richly toned colour such as a deep red or purple. This will help to create a warmer, homely atmosphere in the room.
Plants
Plants are a great way to bring colour and life to a room. As well as the lovely aromas they omit when in bloom, plants are a great way of making inhabitants feel at ease. Whether you choose to opt for a classic leafy house plant or a flowery species for your windowsill or balcony hanging basket, just make sure you water it, feed it, and are attentive to its needs. A great selection of seeds and pre-grown plants is available at Wyevale Garden Centres, where you can also find helpful advice on how to grow that specific plant.
Rugs
Rugs can be a fantastic way to introduce a splash of colour or texture to a room, particularly if you are already without carpeting. As well as acting as a great design feature, rugs are also a fantastic insulator. This can lead to savings on your heating and energy bills, especially if you place a rug on a laminate or tiled floor.
Cushions
Soft, plump cushions aren’t only great to collapse into at the end of the day, they also offer the chance to make your space unique. Don’t simply decorate your sofa with one cushion per sofa seat — feel free to cover your couch with lovely decorative pillows. As long as they don’t inhibit your ability to actually sit on the sofa, you can use as many as you like. We would recommend choosing a tone that matches your rug, or perhaps an earthy tone such as a brown or green if you are going for a tranquil atmosphere in your living room.
Art
Hanging art on your walls is a great way to inject personality into a space. The art you choose defines you as a person, so be sure to choose pieces that you like and not simply a cheap purchase in a home furnishing store. A great idea may be to try and hang some of your own artwork or photography on your walls. Photobox can produce framed photographs, canvases and even poster prints of your artwork, so you can be sure to get the right size and style for your space.
The important thing to remember is to choose decorative features that reflect your personality, even if they aren’t as traditional as your housemates may prefer!
