Get one of those 3m sticky double sided tape to put up frames. Hit up the thrift store for cheap decor. Spray paint stuff to give it a pop of color. I'm a uni student too, so I definitely decorate the cheap way. I'm probably gonna delete these posts soon, but here's a gist of stuff I made, on a college budget. clicky

posted Sep 6, 2011

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When I lived in university accomodation I bought a nice bedspread and sheet set, and nice lamp and lots of posters! I also brought a few of my favourite books and magazines with me. Made the room feel very me.

Also I agree with the Bronte D - only take the clothes you wear most. The wardrobe they provided me with at university was very small and I never ended up wearing everything anyway.

posted Sep 9, 2011

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Bedding and wall decorations make my room the most of what it is (especially since you are given furniture, you just have to spruce it up!). I have a few posters, but I also hang magazine pages all over. I have less this year than in past years, but I also have more wall space.
Decorating walls comes pretty cheap - magazine pages and easy posters can be hung with sticky tack (yay no nails!). Sometimes I cheat with thumb tacks, no one seems to notice.

Though it's hard to find fun patterned bedding cheap unless you are ok with terrible sheet threadcount or go second hand (I had second hand sheets before this year, but my bed changed sizes now that I have different housing so I had to buy all new things).

As for the rest - you will accumulate things from events and times with friends to hang and place around your room, I did. Well, besides my massive amount of things (too many). It all fits though!

posted Sep 11, 2011

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I don't live in at uni, but I have tried to make my room at home look really cool (and "me")

Personally, I really like going to charity shops like Oxfam and finding things like quirky blankets and pictures. Especially if I can find hand drawn pictures, I like putting those on desks etc.

I don't know if you can buy them in the UK, but in Australia you can buy wall stickers that look like really nice wall paper (and they're not expensive at all!) homewallstickers.com.au/ like these

For storage - old suitcases are the best things since sliced bread! They can look really chic and are really cheap and easy to find at charity shops.

I don't know if you would have enough room (or have need of one) but last year I needed a hatstand (but I didn't want to buy one) so I made one. I found a lovely tree branch and I found a pot and bought a bag of rapid set concrete mixture (that stuff is really cheap) and voila! Instant hat stand :D I love it, it looks like my room is half Narnian :D

Good luck :D

posted Sep 13, 2011

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I had a lot of shelves to fill so take lots of books, there's nothing worse than empty shelves! Also fairy lights make the world of difference :) And beanbags, my housemates and I love those things! :) Have fun in halls!

posted Sep 15, 2011

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Ah I'm just struggling with the same question haha I'm moving into my dorm TOMORROW (so excited), and my mom is staying in the city for a few nights so that we can decorate my room together. I brought some pictures of my friends with me to pin on the wall, and I'm going to just look around ikea and other stores for some colorful decorations. :)

posted Sep 16, 2011

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so much good advice so far, but I'd say number one thing: take cute things that make you happy. Because when you crash onto your bed after your 4th midterm that day, you're going to want your favorite blanket, all those pictures of you old (and new!) friends, that poster from the best concert you ever went to, and just any cheery knicknacks. Other than that, I would say, stop thinking of it as your dorm room and start thinking of it as where you live. This makes a big difference. Yes, you will sleep here, but you will also have friends/lovers over, you will work in here, you'll eat in here from time to time. Treat it like a tiny home and it will feel that way Don't just think of it as a temp living situation, also, don't get all the hotpink "dorm" stuff. Buy a real desk lamp, real sheets, real storage,etc. Also, hit up a bunch of goodwills/thriftstores, you'll find unique and cheap decorative elements especially if you're at all into vintage/retro.

posted Sep 18, 2011

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Agree with this so much. And it means when you actually move into your own place in the future you can use a lot of stuff that you used in halls/the house you shared with friends etc. I'm living with eight girls in second year now, you'll have a great time! :) x

posted Sep 18, 2011

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Greatttttt Question!!!!! im going to uni soon too :)!! scared..but the main thing exciting me is room decorating!! Most places give notice boards...so im taking loads of photos.. i also have a photoframe stand and it opens up with loads of other pictures....so imma take that to stand in the corner! im also taking some bunting haha :)

lookbook.nu/blaise_ruby

posted Sep 18, 2011

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Really really love how you've done your room!
I wish I could do something like this but I've been allocated a sharing room and we're only allowed to stick stuff to the cork boards!

posted Sep 21, 2011

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Thank you! My freshman year I shared as well, so about half the wall looked that crowded, haha. The other half was up to my roomie, of course
Pff, they say that - but who's checking? We're only allowed to have "10%" of our wall covered, and we're definitely not allowed to nail things into the wall.... seeing as I have intact curtain rods and lots of posters, guess who didn't pay attention to that? : p

posted Sep 21, 2011

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I'm moving to uni this Friday! I'm not in halls though, I'm in a shared house which means I have a little more scope for decorating. I'm bringing my own curtains and lampshade, as well as a cosy rug and a length of twine which I have pinned photos and postcards to with mini clothes pegs. I've got a pile of cushions for my bed, some boxes and tins that I picked up at flea markets, and I've made a bunch of paper cranes to decorate with. I've also got a hamper full of posters, photos and magazine cut outs which will end up all over my walls.

posted Sep 21, 2011

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I move in on Saturday :). Can I be super nosey and ask where/what you're studying? :p

posted Sep 21, 2011

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photo collages are definitely the way forward! i cover my whole walls with them. it's interesting for other uni people to come in and look at as well, tells them something about you.

posted Sep 24, 2011

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Posters and colourful bedding normally works really well! Cheap and cheerful. I graduated but living with Second years in a house. You have to ask if you can do anything to the rooms :/

posted Sep 24, 2011

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I've been busy moving the last week, but I finally have a free moment! I'm in Bath now, and here are some photos of my room - it's getting there but I'll be adding stuff to the walls as the year goes on.

posted Sep 29, 2011

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I decorated my room in rez with posters I picked up from the free store. It was pretty awesome to pull it off for free.

posted Oct 3, 2011

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In third year this is how I decorated my room - trying to make the most of the awful carpets and furniture!



Also - don't make the mistake I did of taking loooads of stuff, and ALL of your clothes. Trust me, you won't wear them and you will want to make the most of your storage space.

Bunting, fairy lights, your own shower curtain (if ensuite) and a nice rug (to hide the inevitable awful carpet) will make your room nice as well!

posted Jan 21, 2012

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Lace Doily Lamp!

dosfamily.com/2011/01/lace-lamp/

still havent tried to but want to

posted Jan 22, 2012

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I have these wall stickers that I got from Ebay. They look great, are easy to remove, and it's really cheap. Mine cost about $3 including international shipping.


I don't have any better pictures right now (this is my profile pic on facebook lol), but I really suggest looking at wall stickers :)

posted Jan 25, 2012

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Definitely have a cork board and add whatever you'd like on it. You can use it as a reminder board, memory board, inspiration board, fashion board, a combination of so many things.

posted Jan 27, 2012

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I've taped fashion magazine pages to all of my walls and closets, and my mum made me these gorgeous very dark grey curtains. I also hung christmas lights on my window, they're cheap and very cosy ! Try to find a colour theme, mine's black and red.

posted Jan 29, 2012

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Instead of posters, you can decorate your walls with decals or vinyl stickers. They are a lot more artistic and attractive. Posters tend to look messy. Decorate with a theme or a color scheme to make your room neat-looking and fashionable.

posted Feb 10, 2012

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Aim of the game is to show as much floor space as possible. Lighting is very important as well, fairy lights are cool but can be annoying. Mood lighting for the evening is nice as more and likely the main light will bleach the room.
Posters are cool as well as colourful bedding. Look at other people's rooms and make it different to there's. Experiment. Wish you luck for your uni years. Most of it will be saying. Where the heck has my money gone! XD

posted Mar 11, 2012

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I cut letters out of magazine pages and spelt out 'when in doubt drink tea' on my widest wall. Then just posters and if you have a pinboard you can do anything from collages to hanging jewelry on it with pins. Just get really creative about it.

posted Mar 12, 2012

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I was also going to suggest wall stickers! I'm planning on moving into a dorm this fall, and I want to get some too. Easy and cute decorations.

posted Mar 12, 2012

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much like when u post a look, space decorating or designing isn't simply about putting all the cool things in your room. you should organize items strategically so everything falls nicely in place. decide what kind of look and atmosphere you want for it. check out housetohome.co.uk/livingetc for some ideas.

posted 28 days ago

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Been living in a university room for a year now. sadly I cant alter it the way I want. and I dont want putting up some stickers, magazine cutouts or some gift wrapper. I'd probably start off with the bed and work my way through the walls, keep it simple like those bird stickers or some wall photos of home with decorative frames. its up to your taste. have fun doing it!

oh and here's a tip make it more 'comfortable' to stay in, so you can study comfortably and have that "I cant wait to go back to my room" feeling.

here's an example



Its nice if you observe simplicity, elegance and functionality :)

hope this helped! :)

posted 18 days ago

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i can think of posters and stickers. actually you have to bring to your room the stuff you enjoy. i'd go for light strings, because i just love them ;]
somehow like this:

posted 13 days ago

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