How to decorate cheaply

So you’ve found the house of your dreams and flatmates to spend the next year University accommodation.  Your student room should be a safe, inviting space where you want to spend time and hang out with friends.  Decoration can sound daunting, but it doesn’t have to be an expensive project – spend wisely and make the budget go further. 

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Shop around for bargains or for second hand items.  Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – using what you already have and up-cycling, use in new ways or make it completely different.  Re-purpose items to use in a different way i.e. a small coffee table no longer needed could be sanded and painted down to become a bedside or study table.  Almost anything can be personalised so go to town and really bring out your personality.

Buy discontinued patterns and colours if you just need it for a small space, these can often be much cheaper and a source of real inspiration.  Simply adding new handles and trim can be an easy way to improve the look of furniture.  De-clutter your room and throw out anything you don’t need or take it to a local charity shop.  Box up anything to be kept and store out of the way to save space.  Make the most of your storage space in drawers and cupboards with handy inserts to help you organise.

Get creative

Be creative with your walls and accessories – use splashes of colour to brighten up the room and decorate with stickers.  Make sure anything you put on the walls can be easily removed and won’t cause any damage – you don’t want a shock when your deposit isn’t returned!  Try Washi tape, command strips and vinyl stickers that remove easily and won’t leave a nasty mess.

Drape fabric or blankets over comfortable old chairs to make the room feel cosy and homely and add cushions to finish off the look.  Add strings of fairy lights for a calm and relaxed vibe.  You can even design your own headboard with a bit of fabric, colour or lighting.

Personalise your space

Photos of friends and family can be used to personalise empty spaces – bring out your creative side and be crazy with your displays!

Adding plants can cleanse the room and air, make you feel healthier and even help with your studies.  Just don’t forget to water them and buy hardier varieties if you are not the most green fingered!  Lamps generate a softer light than harsh ceiling bulbs and mirrors create the feeling of more space.

If you have enough room, create a separate sleeping and study zone.  Your comfy zone and bed should be welcoming and warm with lots of throws, colour and cushions – or whatever makes you feel good!  The study zone should be cleaner to allow you to focus on work with everything needed in easy reach and well organised.  Use light, calming colours and add a corkboard so you can easily display essential information.  This should be a space you enjoy being in to really help with your studies.

Hopefully this gives you enough ideas to start and it won’t be long before you have a comfy, cozy room on a budget that really shows off your personality.  For some inspiration for your student room take a look at the images here. 

For more help or advice on your student accommodation please contact us here – call 07791 248744 or email enquiries@glsh.co.uk