Don't Move into Your Student Halls Without These 10 Items
A student room is the ultimate blank canvas – here's how to transform yours into a home from home
Are you just about to move into student accommodation? Don’t pack a thing until you’ve read this guide to decorating a rented room. These are the 10 essential items you’ll need to take, to help to transform your rented room into a cosy retreat.
Small storage
Most rented rooms are a little light on storage options, so you’ll probably need to take a few small pieces with you to supplement the standard desk and wardrobe. Small boxes, wicker baskets and storage cubes like these are all cheap, easy ways to bulk up your storage options, and will help you to keep clutter under control.
Most rented rooms are a little light on storage options, so you’ll probably need to take a few small pieces with you to supplement the standard desk and wardrobe. Small boxes, wicker baskets and storage cubes like these are all cheap, easy ways to bulk up your storage options, and will help you to keep clutter under control.
A cheery rug
Cover up regulation-issue carpet with a characterful rug to make your feet feel more at home. This sunburst-shaped rug instantly brings a level of tactile warmth to this room, so try a natural material like seagrass, jute or thick fluffy wool for a hit of natural warmth.
Browse thousand of bedroom ideas
Cover up regulation-issue carpet with a characterful rug to make your feet feel more at home. This sunburst-shaped rug instantly brings a level of tactile warmth to this room, so try a natural material like seagrass, jute or thick fluffy wool for a hit of natural warmth.
Browse thousand of bedroom ideas
A good reading lamp
Lighting might be limited to simple spotlights in your rented room, so take a good reading lamp to pop next to your bed and provide an extra layer of ambient light in the evenings, as well as targeted lighting for all that late-night studying.
A candle is a nice way to add another layer of cosy light, too, but many student rooms don’t allow them (in case they set off the fire alarms) so try a battery operated candle instead.
Lighting might be limited to simple spotlights in your rented room, so take a good reading lamp to pop next to your bed and provide an extra layer of ambient light in the evenings, as well as targeted lighting for all that late-night studying.
A candle is a nice way to add another layer of cosy light, too, but many student rooms don’t allow them (in case they set off the fire alarms) so try a battery operated candle instead.
Fairy lights
Another way of bringing an extra layer of light into your room is to hang a string of twinkling fairy lights or festoon lights above your bed.
If you can’t hang anything on the walls, you could twist them along a windowsill, across a curtain rail or even along the top of a wardrobe or shelf. Choose a battery powered set and you won’t have to worry about finding a wall socket, either – offering you more choices of where to hang them.
Another way of bringing an extra layer of light into your room is to hang a string of twinkling fairy lights or festoon lights above your bed.
If you can’t hang anything on the walls, you could twist them along a windowsill, across a curtain rail or even along the top of a wardrobe or shelf. Choose a battery powered set and you won’t have to worry about finding a wall socket, either – offering you more choices of where to hang them.
A bright bath towel
Shared bathrooms can be a little bleak so if you do have to share one, treat yourself to a big bath towel in a cheerful colour to upgrade your bathing experience.
If you’re lucky enough to have an en-suite bathroom this will help to add a splash of colour to your room.
Shared bathrooms can be a little bleak so if you do have to share one, treat yourself to a big bath towel in a cheerful colour to upgrade your bathing experience.
If you’re lucky enough to have an en-suite bathroom this will help to add a splash of colour to your room.
A leafy friend
Nothing livens up a rented room more quickly than a beautiful leafy plant. A large floor standing plant like this one would instantly bring a fresh hit of greenery to your student room, or try a row of small potted plants or herbs on a windowsill or desk.
Find out how to grow air plants
Nothing livens up a rented room more quickly than a beautiful leafy plant. A large floor standing plant like this one would instantly bring a fresh hit of greenery to your student room, or try a row of small potted plants or herbs on a windowsill or desk.
Find out how to grow air plants
Your favourite mug
The most comforting thing to do when you’ve moved into a new home is to make yourself a warming cup of tea or coffee, so don’t forget to pack your favourite mug and a box of teabags to make yourself feel right at home.
Take a couple of spare mugs, too, and make the effort to knock on your next door neighbour’s door and invite them in for a drink. They’ll probably be feeling a little disorientated as well, so a small gesture of friendship will go a long way.
The most comforting thing to do when you’ve moved into a new home is to make yourself a warming cup of tea or coffee, so don’t forget to pack your favourite mug and a box of teabags to make yourself feel right at home.
Take a couple of spare mugs, too, and make the effort to knock on your next door neighbour’s door and invite them in for a drink. They’ll probably be feeling a little disorientated as well, so a small gesture of friendship will go a long way.
Wall decorations
Most student bedrooms have plain magnolia walls that will be in need of cheering up. So don’t forget to take something to hang on the walls to inject some colour and personality into your new digs.
This is one area to have fun with, so be bold in your choice, from posters and prints, to bunting or wall art; choose something that will make you smile every day.
If you’re not allowed to put pins or nails in the wall, use command strips instead, which will allow you to hang pictures and decorations without damaging the walls underneath.
Most student bedrooms have plain magnolia walls that will be in need of cheering up. So don’t forget to take something to hang on the walls to inject some colour and personality into your new digs.
This is one area to have fun with, so be bold in your choice, from posters and prints, to bunting or wall art; choose something that will make you smile every day.
If you’re not allowed to put pins or nails in the wall, use command strips instead, which will allow you to hang pictures and decorations without damaging the walls underneath.
Colourful bedding
Colour is the best way to liven up a plain room, so take some colourful bedding with you to cosy up a plain space. Bright cushions, soft throws and cheerfully patterned blankets are all excellent ways to stamp your own personality on your new room – so load up the car with as many as you can and scatter them liberally around.
Large floor cushions are an excellent way to provide comfy seating for guests, too.
How have you livened up a rented room? Let us know in the Comments.
Colour is the best way to liven up a plain room, so take some colourful bedding with you to cosy up a plain space. Bright cushions, soft throws and cheerfully patterned blankets are all excellent ways to stamp your own personality on your new room – so load up the car with as many as you can and scatter them liberally around.
Large floor cushions are an excellent way to provide comfy seating for guests, too.
How have you livened up a rented room? Let us know in the Comments.
There are never enough hangers in student rooms and the ones that you do find clattering around in the wardrobe are usually the thin metal ones that can leave marks in the shoulders of tops and jumpers.
To make your wardrobe feel a bit more cared for, take a stack of your own from home or buy a few new ones to ensure you have a well-ordered space to arrange all your clothes.