For many students, bedrooms become dumping grounds for dirty dishes, textbooks and laundry piles, and what should be a serene space quickly becomes a pigsty.
Have you ever noticed how much better you feel when your room is neat and tidy? Isn’t it annoying when, in order to make it out of the door for your lecture, you first have to negotiate an obstacle course of mugs, shoes and the several outfits you discarded last night before settling for the first thing you tried on? We’ve all heard of the expression “tidy room, tidy mind”: having a clean and organised bedroom sets you up for the day and allows you to work better and be more productive. Not to mention, you will get a better night’s sleep.
I’m backed up here not only by your mum, but also by science. A study commissioned by the National Sleep Foundation found that people sleep much better when their bedrooms are comfortable and clean. Sleep psychologist Shelby Harris explains that changing the bedroom environment to make it more comfortable can help poor sleepers rest easier. “We encourage people to make their bedroom a sanctuary for sleep,” she says. And after that great night’s sleep, go ahead and make your bed the next morning. Charles Duhig, the author of The Power of Habit, says that making your bed can help you have a more productive day.
With so many benefits, what are you waiting for? Get tidying! Now for the fun part: creating your “sleep sanctuary.” Decorating ultimately comes down to personal taste, but we’ve created a mood board to help you feel inspired. Where better to start than the beautiful bedrooms we’ve lusted after in teenage classics such as Pretty in Pink, The Perks of Being a Wallflower and Gossip Girl, as well as some of the quirkier decor in Cheaper By the Dozen and The Virgin Suicides? And who can forget that adorable (and pretty impressive) indoor fort in The Holiday?
While many of these beautiful bedrooms have had a team of designers and a Hollywood budget behind them, that’s not to say you can’t recreate them in your own luxury student pad! Here are a few bits and pieces you can pick up cheaply, and which will instantly prettify your room:
1. IKEA has a great range of bed linen, with prices starting at around £15 for a duvet cover and pillow case set. White is the perfect bedroom colour, as it will make your surroundings feel peaceful and serene, but IKEA has a variety of pretty floral sets too. 2. Fairy lights are a great way to decorate and bring a little light into a dark corner. These peony fairy lights are £10 from Wilkinson’s. 3. Candles are a great addition to a bedside table — candlelight is relaxing and a scented candle will fill the room with a pleasant and welcoming aroma. This fig and black pepper candle looks and smells great, and it is just £4 from Wilkinson’s. 4, More fairy lights. I picked up this string of hearts from Primark for just £3 (batteries not included).
5. Though we want to reduce clutter, a few knick-knacks like these will look sweet above your bed or hanging off the wardrobe (hearts and plaques from £2-£3.50, Primark). 6. Photo frames will class up a bedside table, and Wilkinson’s silver and glass frames look particularly elegant, belying their cheap price tags. (Classic silver photo frame £6) 7. Every girl dreams of being a princess. Well, now you can feel like one every time you wake up, with this flowing bed canopy from IKEA, just £7.50. 8. These sheer curtains (£12), which look so pretty draped around the bed, also help to make your space look more regal.
9. No bed is complete without a cushion or two. This cream cable knit cushion is a purse friendly £10 from Wilko’s… 10. But this cosy faux Mongolian cushion is even less – £8! 11) Finally, add a cosy throw, such as this one (£20, IKEA)… 12) Or this colourful woollen one (£15, IKEA).
Our mood board is very cream- and white-heavy, which will ensure a calm and relaxing sleep environment, but go ahead and throw in some bright colours and bold accessories if hearts and flowers are a bit too girly for your liking. The key thing to remember is that it should be a space you enjoy spending time in, and one that will set you up for both a productive day and a peaceful sleep. Happy decorating and sweet dreams!
Photo Credits: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20