Moving to university and into student accommodation can be slightly daunting, and living in a new room plays a part in this. It’s essentially a plain room that you have no connection with yet, so instantly you want to make it your own and create a cosy atmosphere. Your student room at university is a haven where you can unwind after a long day of studying, so it needs to be a space where you want to spend your time. 

Decorating your student room can be a personal, fun and creative process. However, the cost of decorating can often be an obstacle. We’ve put together some decoration ideas below, that don’t cost much, that will transform your room and give it the homely feel you are after. 

Photos of friends, family and pets 

Personalise your wall with photos of your loved ones! This can include your family, friends from home and your furry friends too. Having familiar faces surround you, even in photos, can provide a sense of comfort. Photographs transport you back to happy and fun memories and this can lift your mood just by looking at them. It also reminds you of the fantastic people you have around you. 

Photos are a super easy way to really personalise your room and make it an extremely unique space for you. You can print photos off yourself on apps such as FreePrints, or even pop to places like Boots to print physical photographs. 

House plants 

Adopt a house plant, or a student accommodation plant! 

If you don’t want a real plant, maybe invest in a fake plant instead. Introducing greenery into your room has been proved to be a natural way to relief stress and purify indoor air. Having a house plant in your room can also enable you to build a routine and embrace mindfulness, as you will have to water it and ensure it has enough light to grow. It is something for you to care for as well as admire. 

There are a range of cool-looking yet low-maintenance plants that you could choose from such as a Snake Plant, succulents, Pothos and a ZZ Plant. However, do make sure you do the research before investing as some house plants are harder than others to take care of! 

Fairy lights 

Fairy lights are a great way to make your room look cosy and stylish, without spending a lot of money. They are an affordable way to turn your university bedroom into more of a home. Instantly, fairy lights make the room a lot warmer, calming and more inviting making those late-night study sessions a little easier. They are also easy to hang up, with removable hooks, and can be hung up on the wall, around photos or around your curtains. 

If you are into more colourful lighting, then why not treat yourself to some colourful LED lights instead? Colourful LED lights have a very similar effect to fairy lights and are also equally as affordable and easy to hang up. 

Before purchasing any string lights, ensure you have read your accommodation’s terms and conditions as string lights are sometimes banned due to fire safety concerns. 

Colourful pillows and blankets 

You may not think that colourful pillows and blankets will contribute heavily to the overall feel of your student accommodation, but think again! Pillows, blankets and throws are such easy ways to create a comfortable room and they’re easy to swap and change. Choosing colourful pillows and blankets can also be an instant mood booster. 

If you want to create a calm environment then maybe choose some blue pillows, but if you want to create an energetic environment then go for yellow. Colour psychology is real and having pops of colour throughout your room will really improve your mood. Remember if you have, or are thinking of having, a colour scheme throughout your new space then it’s important to stick to it! 

Mirror 

Buying a mirror for your university room (if it doesn’t already have one, always double check) is extremely strategic and here’s why. Mirrors make the room look bigger. Whether your room is already large or not, a mirror will instantly make it feel bigger as it is reflective. This is a huge win when living in student accommodation! 

Not only are they your best friend when getting ready for a society night out or a fit check but mirrors open the room to make it more spacious and lighter. It also doubles as stylish décor so it’s essentially like a two-in-one. 

Room spray 

Room spray is an underrated way to make your room even more personalised. Student accommodation can become stuffy fast, if you think of laundry and cooking, so having a room spray is a must. Sometimes a smell can transport you back to a specific time or place so why not purchase one that reminds you of home? It will ease any homesickness you may feel and remind you that once you are in your room, it is exactly that your room and your safe place. 

Certain scents can also influence your mood greatly. For example, lavender is calming, citrus is energising and vanilla is comforting.  

Posters 

Posters provide you with an instant personality and they are also a great way to showcase your interests to your new friends. They cover plain walls, making your room an even more personalised space. It could be a poster of your favourite musician, football club, movie or even just a quote but it could also be used a conversation starter for those who you chose to invite into your room. You never know you may find yourself with a new friend who has the exact same favourite artist as you! 

Posters are relatively cheap and easy to hang around any room. Like the pillows and blankets mentioned above, they also bring a bit of colour to your room that wasn’t there before. They add even more of a personal touch to the room. 

Invest in storage boxes 

Storage boxes are a practical buy before moving into student accommodation, ensuring that you are maximising the limited space you may have. Storage boxes allow you to store everything you need in sufficient places and ensures you stay organised. You can invest in ones that match your colour scheme so they don’t look out of place in your new room then they can be placed under your bed or on shelves – out of sight, out of mind but also there when you need them. 

You can store all sorts in them such as clothes, extra bedding, towels, cleaning stuff, tech stuff and extra wires. They are just handy to have around, especially when you will end up with new stuff over the year.