Uni decor 101: How to decorate your university room on a budget

Whether you're living in halls or sharing a student house, when you first move into a new place at university, you're going to want to make it feel like your own. But with budget restrictions and rental rules to follow, it can be challenging to find the right university room decor. 

To help, we've broken down five affordable and renter-friendly ways that you can spice up your university room and make it feel like home. So, if you're wondering how to decorate your university room, read on.

5 university room decor tips

1. Let there be light

Unsurprisingly, lights are a great way to brighten up your living space. Plus, you can use them to change the vibe of your room. After all, the bright overhead lights can be a bit much if you're just trying to chill. Make things more cosy with a bedside lamp, some fairy lights, or even some colour-changing LEDs. Make sure to check your accommodation rules, as you might need to get battery operated string lights, rather than mains-powered ones. 

2. Say goodbye to white walls

Decorating your walls is an affordable yet high-impact way to jazz up your university room. There are so many options when it comes to wall decor: posters, prints, photographs, tapestries, wall hangings...the list goes on. 

If you're not sure what you want to put on your walls, printing out a few pictures of friends and family from home can be a great way to combat homesickness and remind yourself of some great memories. Plus, this is probably your most affordable option! Check out sites like FreePrints for extremely affordable decor choices.

Many university accommodations have rules about the ways you can hang things on the wall. Usually, this just means that you can't put any holes in the wall or damage the paint work. Luckily, there are still lots of options available to you. Command hooks and strips are a great way to hang things up without damaging the walls. Or, most university rooms come with a built-in corkboard that you can pin pictures and prints to. You can even buy some small pegs and clip polaroids to your fairy lights. 

3. Inject some colour

Uni rooms are usually quite small, meaning that your bed will take up a fair bit of space in the room. So, why not make it look as nice as possible? Invest in some bedding you really like. This could have a fun pattern, or just be super cosy and comforting. Bedding tends to last a long time, so you'll get your money's worth out it, even if you opt for something more expensive.

Cushions and throws are also a great way to add some colour to your space. Or, you could add a rug on the floor for some texture. 

4. Grab some greenery

If you're ready for the responsibility of another life, have a think about introducing some plants into your space. This is a great way to add some colour and create a peaceful vibe in your room. A lot of universities have plant sales where you can buy affordable houseplants, or you can explore the options at your local supermarket (try Lidl first). 

If you're a serial plant killer, you can also get some nice-looking fake plants. Have a look at IKEA or Primark for some affordable options.

5. Mirror, mirror on the wall

Lots of universities don't provide full-length mirrors in their accommodation. Not only are they the perfect way to get an outfit-check selfie, but mirrors also help create the illusion that your room is bigger than it actually is. You can get free-standing mirrors so there's no need to attach anything to the walls. This piece of university room decor might be slightly more on the expensive side, but you'll be grateful when it's time to get ready for all those nights out.

Make your uni house a home

Now that you know how to decorate your university room, it's time to find the perfect home, if you haven't already. Take a look at StuRents.com, the UK's leading student accommodation platform to find your dream university accommodation.