Whether you live in halls or a house, student accommodation has never been renowned for its spectacular interior design. The eclectic mix of strange coloured carpets, curtains with a print that would blend in at your Nan’s house and mismatched furniture can lead to a headache. However, with a new season comes a new start and for most of us a spring clean is in order! Her Campus is here to bring you some ideas to turn your room of clutter and chaos into a place you’ll actually want to spend time in.
Organise
Chances are you’ve bought way too many things with you to university and it is easy to accumulate even more over a term. Now is the time to spend a few hours recycling those leaflets you are still hoarding from freshers fair and return that book you borrowed months ago. Most rooms are on the small side so reducing the amount you have means that you will have space to put the things you actually use. It will also make moving out at the end of the year so much more pleasant!
Consider investing in some extra storage for the all those bottles and pots which live on your shelf. Not only does it look less messy, but it means you actually know where you put your hairspray or nail polish when you’re in a rush. If you’re on a budget, then empty glass jars are great to put make-up brushes and pens in. Another problem for students is the amount of paper we have to store. I’ve found a magazine holder is the perfect size to keep all of your folders and notebooks in one place.
H&M and Paperchase
Decorate
Once you’ve got the cleaning out of the way you will have space to decorate. There are lots of ways to freshen up your room and bring in spring.
Wall Hangings
Unfortunately, chances are your landlord decided that either magnolia or dappled wallpaper was the way to go and now every mark, scratch and piece of blue tack from the past five tenants is left there. A super easy way to cover this problem, without sticking up every poster you own, is with a wall hanging. They come in lots of patterns and colours but a lighter one is often better for a small room as it won’t make the room feel too dark.
Plants
A succulent on your window sill or a pot plant on a shelf doesn’t cost much and is also bang on trend. It’s an easy way to bring life into your room, as long as you make sure you remember to water them! A good choice is a cactus or spider plant as they can stand long periods of neglect and still survive.
Mirrors
Mirrors are not only useful, but if you arrange them well they can also bring more light into a dark room. If you have the time, look in charity shops – mismatching adds to the boho look. If you can’t attach things to the walls, you can either get a free standing one or put a piece of mirror into a photo frame.
Throws
You will have already bought your bedding to last for the next few years, but if you fancy changing it up a little then a throw can instantly make a difference and adds an extra layer of warmth whilst it is still cold. Like with a wall hanging, if you choose a lighter colour it will keep your room bright and even make it feel bigger.
Edited by Sarah Holmes
Image sources:
http://www2.hm.com/en_gb/productpage.0353847002.html
http://www.paperchase.co.uk/stationery/filing-storage/magazine-files/raindrops-magazine-file.html
https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/109154976/small-geometric-terrarium-pod-air-plant?ref=market
http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/70245377/
http://www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-diamond-shadow-throw/p2309572?colour=Saffron