Style on a student budget
Picture walking into your university room after a long day of lectures. In place of a bland box with magnolia walls and harsh lighting, you find a room that is plainly yours: warm, inviting and full of personality. It is entirely possible, and it need not cost more than £50.
With money tight, a comfortable room that helps you study matters for your wellbeing. Decorating on a shoestring is about smart choices, a bit of making and knowing where to find bargains.
Before you start, read your accommodation rules. Many halls restrict candles, fairy lights and extension leads, and what you may fix to the walls. Breaking them can cost you your deposit.
Lighting: the instant upgrade
Harsh ceiling lights are the enemy of cosy. Changing the lighting is often the single biggest improvement you can make.
- Fairy lights. A string of warm white lights along a shelf or round a mirror adds a glow for a few pounds. Battery or USB sets are the safest, and may be the only kind allowed.
- A desk or table lamp. A lamp with a warm white bulb gives you light to study by without the glare.
- A second-hand shade. Charity shops are good for lampshades with character.
Textiles: softness, colour and camouflage
Fabrics add colour, pattern and comfort, and hide furniture that has seen better days.
- A throw. Over the bed or a tired desk chair, it works wonders.
- Cushions. One or two in colours that go together.
- A small rug. On a bare floor it marks out your space, is warm underfoot and deadens sound. A large bath mat does the same job for less.
All of these pack flat and come with you next year.
Walls: express yourself without losing your deposit
Bare walls say 'temporary'. Cover them without harming the paint, using removable adhesive strips or poster putty where the rules allow, or the noticeboard if you have one.
Posters and prints
Find inexpensive art at student union poster sales, or buy a digital download and print it at the library. Interesting pages from old books and magazines from charity shops look good in second-hand frames. Mix them into a small gallery wall.
Fabric or wrapping paper
A large piece of patterned fabric, or a striking sheet of wrapping paper, makes an instant removable panel behind the bed or desk.
Photos
Print favourite photos cheaply and hang them from a length of string with mini pegs. A wall of photos from home is worth more than anything you can buy.
A mirror
A second-hand mirror makes a small room feel bigger and brighter. If you cannot hang it, lean it safely on the desk or a chest of drawers.
Floor and storage: useful and good-looking
Fabric storage boxes add colour and can double as a bedside table or sit under the desk. Use baskets for laundry, shoes or books. Cover plain boxes with leftover wrapping paper or fabric. Keeping clutter out of sight makes a room feel larger at once.
Personal touches
- A plant. A succulent or a spider plant is cheap, hard to kill and lifts the mood.
- Useful things that look good. A favourite mug for pens, and a small tray to keep things together on the desk.
- Mementoes. Postcards, tickets and small treasures on a shelf or pinboard.
- One framed picture. A photo or print in a proper frame, standing on the desk, makes the room feel grown-up, and it will last long after the posters have gone.
Smart shopping: making £50 go further
A rough budget
- Lighting: about £15.
- Textiles: about £20.
- Walls: about £8.
- Storage and a plant: about £7.
Where to look
- Budget shops and supermarkets. Stick to the basics and the sale shelves.
- Charity shops and car boot sales. Good for lamps, mirrors, picture frames, vases, baskets and fabrics. Go often.
- Online marketplaces and free-giving groups. Especially at the end of term, when departing students give things away. Be quick, and meet people somewhere safe.
- The students' union. Look out for poster sales and second-hand events.
Make and reuse
Paint old tins for pen pots. Frame a piece of fabric. Use tester pots of paint for small projects.
Strategy
Spend most on the one or two things that make the biggest difference, such as a good lamp or a rug, and save on the rest. Do not buy everything new and cheap. Buy quality where it counts and fill in with second-hand finds.
Final thoughts
Decorating a uni room for under £50 is not only about looks. It is about making a comfortable, practical space that supports your studies and your wellbeing. It is temporary, so be creative, do not worry about perfection, and enjoy the bargain hunt.
When you have a print or a photo that deserves better than poster putty, EasyFrame offers a wide range of made-to-measure frames, and we can advise on the right one. Call us on 01234 856 501 or email sales@easyframe.co.uk. We are always happy to talk, whether or not you want to buy.