September is here and that means a new university year. For freshers, that might mean your first chance at a bit of independence. A great way to show that? Having your uni room how you want! Unfortunately, most accommodation has rules about decorating your room, but there are ways around it.
Going to university for the first time often means living without your parents for the first time too. And although you may love your parents, they might not have let you express yourself in the way that you wanted. All summer, you’ve probably made grand plans on how you’ll be decorating your uni room, until you get your accommodation rules and there’s a list as long as your arm about what you can’t do. *Sigh*
As someone who has been there and been just as disappointed, all hope is not lost. There are plenty of ways to stick to the rules, and still personalise your room how you want.
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Blu Tack
You probably already knew that you wouldn’t be able to paint your room. That’s the case with most rented places too. However, that boring magnolia can easily be hidden with posters and pictures galore. Just don’t use Blu Tack. Uni accommodations don’t like students using Blu Tack as it takes the paint off the walls and leaves damage. More than likely, if you use it, you won’t get all your deposit back due to a necessary paint job. Not worth it.
Particularly when there’s a perfectly good alternative: Command strips! These handy strips are the perfect replacement for Blu Tack and a lot less likely to do any damage. Simply attach the strip to your poster and put in on your wall. They’ll be a little tag at the bottom that you slowly pull whenever you want to take it down. It’s super easy.
If you have something a bit heavier to hang, there are Command hooks too. These come in different sizes and are even a great alternative to coat hooks. What’s more, come Christmas time, they are perfect for hanging lights and decorations.
Candles
Very rarely do student accommodations trust students with an open flame. With the amount of fire alarms that went off in my block in first year, I’m amazed that everyone is given access to a hob. Either way, you won’t be allowed candles in your room. However, a cute alternative you probably already know about are fairy lights. Big, small, and in a huge range of colours, fairy lights are an essential when decorating your uni room.
In some cases, socket-powered fairy lights aren’t allowed either, but plenty of places do battery powered ones as well. With fairy lights, your room will feel cute and cosy in no time.
If you’re missing the fragrance of a candle (particularly if you’re sharing with others) then reed diffusers are your new best friend. Most supermarkets sell them and they’ll soon get your room smelling sweet.
Pin Boards
There are certain things that most, if not all, university rooms come with. One of those is a pin board, and they’re normally a decent size too. Sure, they’re great for organising uni work and calendars, but they are even better for pinning up photos, or other things that can’t be stuck to a wall.
A great way to use them is sticking a pin on either side and attaching some string in the middle. That gives you the perfect chance to peg whatever you want to it. It’s another simple way to add a touch of ‘you’ when decorating your room.
IKEA
Before I moved to uni, I had never been to IKEA before. Now, it’s one of my favourite places. Not only is it a day out in itself (and a cheap dinner!) but it is a great place to get those extra things for your room. Although, you probably won’t have room to be buying mass amounts of furniture, however tempted you might be.
However, a little rug here, a lamp there and an unhealthy amount of fejkas are a staple for any university room. It will add a pop of colour to even the dingiest dorm rooms. Plus, the experience can be a great way of bonding with your new flat mates.
Just don’t blow all your student finance immediately. The wait between September and January can be *very* long when you are living on pennies.