Tips for Decorating Your Student Accommodation (without losing your deposit!)
By Skylar Grace
From our experience, student accommodation tends to be a little bland. And there’s nothing worse than coming home to a drab room after the light show of Christmas and New Year. But with a limited budget as a student, what can you do to change this? Nowadays, there are many ways to decorate your room in a renter-friendly way that is low-cost but visually effective. Yep, you read that right, “renter-friendly”, meaning you can have the room of your dreams without losing your deposit!
Tip #1 – Replace any curtains
This might seem like a no-brainer, but simply changing your curtains can completely alter how a room looks. Once the old curtains are removed, you’ll see the room in a whole new light – literally. There are plenty of budget options for curtains online, ranging from £15 to £30. The type, colour and length of your curtains are entirely up to you, but a great start would be to match the colour to your bedding.
Tip #2 – Change up your floor
If your student accommodation is anything like ours was, then your floor is likely an old, prickly carpet in a dark blue or brown shade – yuck! Unfortunately, it’s not like you can tear up the carpet and replace it (we wish), but you can at least do your best to hide it with a rug. If you’re planning to follow tip #1, matching your rug to your curtains can be a great way to tie the room together. This rug probably won’t be staying with you for long, so opting for a cheaper, low-quality rug can be a great choice. And it’s likely a much better alternative to whatever flooring you have right now!
Tip #3 – Tackling the furniture
Living in student accommodation, you won’t have the luxury of replacing your furniture. However, you can always try to dress them up to at least bring them into this century. Blankets, throws and pillows are an excellent way to hide the true nature of your chairs, and there are tons of cheap choices to choose from online! As for your bed, try to pick bedding that stands out. Matching your bedding to your rug and curtains can give your room a complete look. It’ll also distract attention away from the parts you can’t change – like a bulky dresser or a miscoloured table.
Tip #4 – Adding personality to your walls
This may seem like an impossible task, but there are some simple and effective ways to add personality to your room. Paintings, posters and pictures are all excellent examples. And, if your landlord hasn’t given permission to hang posters or pictures on the walls, then simply putting up fairy lights or LED strips can be a good alternative.
Tip #5 – Final touches
If you’re planning on following all these tips, then your room will likely be looking pretty put-together at this point. Now all that’s left to do is add your own unique flair. Boho-lovers could look at purchasing some cute succulents, crystals and a diffuser. Whereas artists might opt for tiny art easels and canvases. Whatever decoration you decide to add, make sure it’s something that resonates with your hobbies and personality!
And that’s all of our tips! We hope that after using these tips, your room will feel a little more like home. And whatever direction you decide to follow, remember to have fun with it. Happy decorating!
