Tips on Creating the Perfect University Student House Decoration

Philippa DC
Aug 30, 2024
5 min read

Updated: Mar 21

Student House Decoration - Where to Begin

So you've landed a place in student accommodation and you're anxious to make your new student house into a cosy, welcoming space with decoration that feels like home? Here are some student house decoration tips to set up your perfect student room decoration.

We also included a few friendly reminders about what student room accessories are allowed and what's prohibited in your student room.

A typical student room on campus — A typical Uni Halls room in a UK university

Know The Decoration Rules for your Student House

Before you start decorating, it's important to familiarize yourself with the rules of your halls of residence, your tenancy agreement or ask your accommodation team. Knowing what's allowed can save you the heartache of buying decorations that aren't allowed in your student house.

Once you're clear on the rules, read on for some dorm room organization ideas and let the decorating fun begin.

Beautifully decorated bed with home decor surrounding it

What is NOT allowed in Uni Halls

Let's start with listing the items that would NOT be allowed in university residences. These include items such as space heaters, electric blankets, fairy lights, and cooking equipment including kettles. This is because they can cause overheating and may not comply with relevant health, safety, and fire regulations.

You will regularly see 'fairy lights' listed on student advice forums as a nice decorative item to pack. However, you may be asked to take these down as they may present a fire risk if hung near flammable material such as bedding, so check first before you buy. Or buy battery-operated fairy lights only.

Check out our FAQs for more information on what decoration and accessories are and aren't allowed in your student house.

Start with a Plan and a Budget

Before you start shopping for furniture and dorm room decor and accessories, make a plan for the overall look and feel you want to achieve. Take into account your personal style, your budget, and the size of your room.

Draw a rough layout of your room and decide on the placement of key items such as your bed, desk, and storage space.

If you're really organized like me, use the images on the accommodation page of your university website to give you an idea of the space you'll have to work with, and start planning your dorm room decor ideas before you move in to university.

Tips for Student Room Decoration

Here are some creative student home decor ideas to enhance your dorm room:

Displaying items:

University-managed accommodation may have some restrictions on room decorations and accessories - particularly on the walls. It is a good idea to stock up on blu-tack, command strips or tacks so you don’t damage the walls. Avoid using tape or glue as you may have to pay for repairs at the end of your tenancy.

Stock up on plenty of magnets, pins or hooks for your notice board or to use on the fridge door in the kitchen.

You can download our student meal planner and shopping list when you buy our Student Resources and stick them on your fridge door or cupboard to write down your shopping list as soon as you realise you have run out of an item. This tool is the height of efficiency for students!

Choosing your bed linen:

Nice bedding is key to making your room feel cosy. Don’t feel obliged to stick to white bed linen – in fact, you may want to avoid white, which can be difficult to keep spotlessly clean. Try ordering a Bedding Pack from Student Essentials using our special discount code: FHS2U - hit the logo below to directly access your discount.

Top tip: order your towels in the same colour as your bedding and you can save by washing these items on a hot wash altogether.

Under-bed storage :

Maximise your storage space by using Under-bed storage - essential for storing your next-season clothes or shoes, or infrequently worn items. Storing them in these units will protect them from dust, and keep them out of the way.

You can buy bed lifts if you have limited space under the bed or the storage box dimensions are too high. It makes a huge difference!

Storage boxes:

Storage boxes are a great way to store underwear, t-shirts and hairdressing tools, and can be ordered from Amazon or IKEA.

Over-door hanging storage:

There are several options to maximise space by using over the door hooks or hanging storage containers. These are also a great space saver and can be used for underwear, hats, scarves, shoes or other small items.

Plants:

Plants are good for your mental health. A plant can help increase oxygen levels around your workspace, helping improve your concentration and be more productive.

Try virtually indestructible plants such as the peace lily, snake plant or the ZZ plant. These all produce higher levels of oxygen, can cope with low light and will survive well with very little maintenance, even if you don't have green fingers!

Alternatively, you can get artificial hanging plants such as these from IKEA.

Displaying your photos

Don't pack photo frames, which frankly just taking up valuable luggage space, and gather dust.

Instead, print out your Polaroids and photos and either tape or blu-tack them around your mirror to make you smile every time you get ready. They’ll bring back nice memories or remind you of a loved one and give you the warm and fuzzies when you’re getting ready for the day.

Making It Smell Nice

Instead of candles (one of the student house decoration items listed as banned in Halls), you can use reed diffusers, or get an essential oil diffuser which will also add some moisture to your room, which can get dry in winter.

The Benefits of Essential Oils for Students

Certain essential oils can help with focus, concentration, calmness, and general wellbeing, such as the following which are considered the best essential oils for students:

Scent	Benefits
Lavender	Calming, good for sleep or anxiety
Peppermint	Helpful for studying, staying attentive and improving memory
Rosemary	Keeps you alert and improves concentration
Lemon	Helps boost your mood, good for depression or feeling down. Good for boosting the immune system and preventing infections.
Grapefruit	Helps you to wake up and feel refreshed and improves your immune system.
Orange	A good memory aid, orange oil helps with focus and concentration, especially when absorbing new information or facts.
Frankincense	Helps with focus and clarity of mind, as well as calming anxiety.

Don't Clutter Your Space

It's important to keep your student room organized and tidy and have enough decoration and accessories to create a peaceful and stress-free environment without cluttering your space and making it feel smaller. Avoid buying too many unnecessary items - remember you're only living in your student house temporarily - not for a lifetime!

Remember, your university accommodation can be a canvas for self-expression and a place where you create lasting memories. Just follow these guidelines and you'll have a comfortable student home decor that will be the envy of your friends.

Happy decorating!

For more help or guidance on how to navigate the transition from high school to university, check out our website. There you will find useful blogs, resources, and tips on how to survive and thrive on campus.