So seeing as many people will be embarking on their new university adventures in around a month or so I thought I would do a little series of posts called 'The Uni Files' to help many freshers with most things to do with uni life, from cooking to decorating your new room. As I was in this position in just under a year ago I thought it would be ideal to share my own experiences as a way to help calm many nerves in which some people are feeling. In this post I'm going to be talking about how to decorate your uni room considering this was honestly my favourite part about the whole moving in experience.
First off i'm a massive lover of fairy lights, the coziness of having a few different sets on a glum night. Fairy lights have become a big thing in the past few years and there are so many different types with everywhere from The Range to IKEA selling them. When I first moved in I picked up a few of the morrocan ball lights from The Range for £3.99, i'm pretty sure these are still for sale and they even have a brassy colour which i'm tempted to pick a few packets of up as soon as i get some funds! I dotted these in various places around my room including the headboard, windowsill and over my notice board. I also got a small LED star which was also placed on my notice board which added a bit more to the room and also matched my bedding!. Fairy lights are a nice way to add extra dimension to the lighting in your room and it's a perfect set up for a cosy film night with the flatties!
If your a massive photo hoarder like me you will probably have stacks of photographs just sitting around in the little photograph pouches you get when you get them printed off at places like ASDA. Why not make use of these and dot them around your uni room (just be careful if sticking them to uni walls and use white tac or kiss bye bye to that deposit!). It's a perfect way to keep memories of loved ones and to remind you of who is at home! I also printed out some of experiences later in the uni year just to combine the two. I also dotted around various frames to keep the extra special photographs protected. Doing this is also a great talking point for anyone who comes into your room as they may ask about your experiences or your family!.
If your lucky enough to have your own en suite one idea may be to buy your own shower curtain, this is seriously something I wish I had done as the plain white one the uni supplied me with often got all gross at the bottom and I would spend hours scrubbing at it with bleach and often got high off the fumes. This will also add more colour to the bathroom and will make it unique to everyone elses on campus!
Try not to clutter it too much. Uni is a daunting thing so you really don't want to make it seem overly claustrophobic with lots of clutter. This will also make it a nice open space to get all your work done. I was often told my room was too tidy as I had a lack of clutter compared to most of my flatmates. I often had a sort out and threw away bits I didn't need as I knew it would be a lot to haul back home.
Make your room as light as possible! A lot of light leads to a lot more productivity. When i'm in a light and open space I often feel a light calmer, happier and it means I often get a lot more work done!. I kept my curtains open up until i went to bed, and then if i was working through the night I would turn on most of my lights.
If you have a particular scent in incense, candles or diffusers buy a few. If you can make your room smell familiar or nice it will soon feel like yours. Most student accommodation does not allow you to have candles or incense like my old one in Falmouth (even though i lit it, oops!). Diffusers however are a good way to let some scent in your room. Another good idea is to buy one for your bathroom as if you're not used to cleaning it as much it will stay fragrant even with slightly damp towels.
-Tasha
