How to Decorate Your University Room

It can be daunting arriving on the first day of university and walking into your room for the first time. Without any decoration it does tend to resemble a prison cell. This is pretty standard for any university accommodation because they have to make every room look identical. So don't be put off if you walk in and everything looks plain and prison like, it can be fixed.


Decorating your university room may sound like it is going against your landlords wishes because they expect the room to look the same way when you leave as when you first moved in. By decorating I don't mean going out and buying all new furniture or painting the room your favourite colour. There are little tips and tricks that can help make your room feel more you, more homely without going against landlords wishes. This post will provide examples on simple design features that can transform your room.

1. Fairy Lights

Never underestimate the power of fairy lights. They can transform any plain space into a sparkly pretty space. They are often very cheap as well making them the ideal decoration tool.

They can be used to decorate small spaces. For example a great place to put fairy lights is around your headboard, making your bed area feel a lot more cosy. You will be able to keep them in place by using tape which will hold all year until you take them down to move out. The cellotape will also not mark furniture or the walls so is a good choice when decorating. 


They can also look effective when positioned around the border of a noticeboard or hanging around shelving, anywhere where tape can be used to hold them up really.

2. Photographs

Whether these are photos of memories or places you like, photographs are an amazing way to make your room feel like home, and also don't take up much room when packing. There are many ways photos can be used. 

Many university accommodation rooms will be fitted with a notice board of some sort. This doesn't mean you have to pin up random notes and have it looking boring. A good use of space of this noticeboard is to create a photograph collage. Using drawing pins or staples to hold it up means you have a personalised board that looks like you have a frame on the wall, but without the damage.


Fairy light photo holders are an excellent way to make a plain wall look full and exciting. This way your room can appear nice and bright but also look at happy memories if you feel homesick. One idea is to collect photos from your university experience and put them up on the wall, this way you can look back on your time at university and watch your room get more and more exciting.

3. Bedding

Bedding sounds like a boring idea when it comes to decorating but it can make all the difference. Your bed is the focal point of your room so it is important to make it look nice and comfy.

Choosing the same bedding you had at home can help to solve home sickness because you will feel comfortable in your surroundings. However, choosing a brand new duvet set for university can be exciting because part of the excitement of being at university comes from your newly found independence and creative freedom, so why not make your own personal space something you love. 

4. Pillows

Novelty pillows can be a fun way to brighten up your room. They can simply be placed on your bed or on an armchair / desk chair. It sounds silly to have but they really do create a homely feel as it makes the room you will be living in for a year feel a lot more homely.

5. Wrapping Paper

This sounds strange but I found that in my university room my noticeboard felt office like. I went out and bought some individual sheets of wrapping paper which I then stapled up on my noticeboard to cover it. I chose a patterned one in my favourite colour. This made the room feel a lot more homely because I felt in control of the colours being used. It is a great way of decorating the room without marking any of the rooms (if walls are marked you would be charged a fine).


6. Photo Frames

Photo frames are great for making a single photo stand out. They are good placed on shelves or on your desk. You can normally get them quite cheap but they can make a small area seem more homely in an instant.

7. Room Diffusers / Air Fresheners

These are great for making your room smell nice. If your home uses one of these it can be a good idea to buy the same one so that your room reminds you of home and can tend to help with any homesickness. And you also get the added bonus of a pleasant smelling room.


8. Command Hooks

If you are wanting to put anything up on the walls a good thing to use is command hooks. They simply stick on to a flat surface and can be pulled off when you move out. I wouldn't suggest using them on any wall that has chipping paint. You can normally tell by looking out for previous marks on the wall if it will be suitable. The best surface is actually on the back of your door. The doors tend to be fire doors so are nice and thick meaning the command hook won't damage the door in any way. I found these handy when my room had no coat hooks so I made my own on the back of the door. They stayed up the whole year and didn't take long to get rid of when I moved out.

9. Rugs

Small rugs can instantly make the room feel a lot cosier. They help to make the plain floor look a bit more exciting. And also it is another aspect of the room that you can personalise without causing damage. You can be creative and get novelty rugs or just choose some you feel will complement your room.

The main thing with university is making yourself feel comfortable. For the first time you will be living on your own and will have a lot of time to yourself. You want your room to be a place you can relax in. I hope this list helps spark ideas on how you can make your room look nice.

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