Personalising your university accommodation

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There are plenty of little things that can stress anyone out when living somewhere completely new, so it’s important to have a little space that you can call your own.

When arriving in halls or any other form of student accommodation, the room will most likely appear bland and dull, and nothing like your old room at home.

Adding your own personal touch is crucial and makes the whole experience considerably more enjoyable, so here are some simple yet effective ways of making your room really yours.

Make sure you add wall art

The walls in your uni accommodation will most likely appear reasonably bland, and they’re the same ones you’ll be staring at come three in the morning and you have a deadline you’d rather not think about.  

Simply adding a few posters of your favourite band, or some funky artwork will brighten up the room. It’s a simple gesture that can take you away from the repetitive feel of white walls that many universities favour, and replace with colour to reflect your personality.

Be at one with nature and buy a houseplant

Sometimes university may feel like it’s suffocating you, and certainly if you are in a city there will be limited greenery around. Taking care of a simple houseplant not only gives your room that daily dose of oxygen but also gives you something to look after.

Think of it as your replacement pet. Many varieties are exceptionally easy to look after such as cacti and they can give your room a lovely aesthetic.

Stick up some photos from home

It's normal to miss the friends and family you’ve left behind when you move away to university, and having little reminders of their presence in your life may brighten an otherwise dreary day.

Try and find some family photos from your childhood, and others of your friends to place around your room. It may serve as a little reminder that home still exists, no matter how far away it may seem. And if you feel a little lonely, these photos can act as a comforter; if not, call them and catch up, these photos may provoke your fondness for these people in your life.

If you have a gaming console, bring it with you

Once again, your course schedule isn’t going to be as jam packed as you might have thought. Chances are you will be sharing halls (or any other form of accommodation) with some gamers, and at least one of you will have brought a console along.

It’s a good way to forget your worries and even interact with your friends who aren’t right by your side, so if you can bring one, why not? Plus, you’ll need something to do to procrastinate the hours away, and this can be completely sociable too.

Bring cushions and beanbags for comfort

The beds in your halls may not be comfortable or cosy, but there is something you can do about that. Simply adding more and more cushions throughout the year can really up the comfort factor that was oh-so-lacking at the beginning of the term.

Which is great, until you have a mountain of softness to lie on when that essay is due, and your desk seems too far away to sit at. But at least when other people are in your room they have something to lean on, so it’s a win-win situation for all.

Add some simple lighting

You may see these as childish or overly girly, but on those quiet nights in when Netflix is your only friend, a dash of light around your room is oddly comforting. These lights vary in price and come in several different styles, so you can most likely find something that is just right for you.

Even a simple colourful desk lamp can brighten up the room, allowing you to express your personality through your choices of lighting. How very grown up. 

Be sure to have a collection of DVD’s

Even Netflix can seem tedious after a while, especially when you’ve watched almost everything imaginable provided by the surface. Having a little collection of films to watch on the go will give your room that more informal style, so your notes from lectures aren’t the only things on your shelves.

Plenty of storage is offered in the rooms so you will never run out of space, and watching Mission Impossible on those quiet Tuesday nights isn’t all bad.

And books 

When thinking about university you may imagine your days to be packed. The reality is that your watch history will rapidly increase in volume and the boredom eating levels will raise considerably.

Having a good book collection may offer that friendly face that you have missed recently, and at least it allows you to forget any worries you may have. Remember to bring a good collection with you for those boredom fuelled Wednesday afternoons.

Add a little something else on the walls

Bunting is again something conventionally girly, but having something else apart from posters on your walls can spruce up your room even more. Perhaps hanging some above your desk could give you something to stare at rather than that book your lecturer told you to read, although it does look pretty good.

Cover your noticeboard with notes

Almost every university room comes complete with a noticeboard, and rather than letting it go to waste, it would be handy to actually use it. Pinning up your timetable and various photos too offers a fair contrast to the endless paper piles that will collect on your desk.

At least if it is on your wall you can read it every now and again, rather than hide it away and pretend the deadlines don’t actually exist. We’ve all been there.

Bring a good sound system

Sitting in a quiet uni room may get tedious after a while, so having a good playlist to fill the room can help more than you think. But having that tinny sound escaping your laptop isn’t ideal when you want to really focus on your music, and those late night dance parties in your room wouldn’t be complete without good speakers.

The best part: no parents are going to tell you to turn your music down either, so make the most of it. 

There you have it! Lots of little, inexpensive ways in which you can make your student accommodation look and feel less like a prison room and more like a place you can call home!

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Just started university for the first time, check out our top 10 tips for surviving your first year here.

Still deciding on where to live while you are at uni, check out our helpful guide here.