#uni accommodation

Hahaha way ahead of you on the 2nd part: the guide can be found here. It’s still in early stages but I have a ton of ideas planned, I just need to find the time to actually make more things. Still, keep an eye on that tag, I promise it’ll be much fuller by the time you start uni.

As for uni rooms, a lot of the tips will be similar to here but, of course, a uni room will be much smaller. So generally: lighting and color scheme are really important in small spaces. You’ll probably have a bed, a beside table, a desk + chair, and a wardrobe. You might also get a bookcase and/or maybe an arm chair depending on where you’re headed. Since everything will be crammed into a relatively small space, you’ll want to make sure your colors are really soothing – I generally would stick with neutrals, either on the warm end (cream, ivory, light beige) or cool (pure whites, most greys). 

Use fabric and texture to add warmth without overwhelming a small space – eg linen duvet, cotton sleeping pillows, fake fur small rug, one knit throw pillow, one velvet throw pillow, and a nubby throw blanket on the end of your bed – all in the same color scheme. That’ll add interest without being too much..

Lighting is also key here since uni overhead lighting is pretty much universally horrible – you’ll have to choose whether you want warm or cool bulbs/shades (warm ⇢ everything in your room takes on a more yellow tone, cool keeps colors more pure but can come off as sad). Make sure to get a couple different lamps, probably one for your beside, maybe a standing one if you’ve got space to really light the room (dimmable if possible), and then a desk lamp. Fairy lights are classic, check out ones with larger bulbs/glass casing around the bulbs if you’re going to use them (they tend to make nicer light). 

Regarding your desk, you’ll want to keep yourself and it as organized as possible. On the surface, I would usually only have my laptop, a large desk calendar (muji’s are great) and then my file folders for that year/term. If you’re not massively attached to color folders, I recommend using all black, which helps keep things clean looking. I also used to have a combination half white board / half cork board above my desk (again, command strips are your best friend if you aren’t allowed to put in holes) for keeping to do lists and important pieces of paper. Make sure you’re being careful about colors, even about your stationary/desk accessories. Too many colors are the fastest way to make your room look overwhelming and crowded. 

Lastly, personal touches really are important. Again, plants add a huge amount for a little amount of space – even a uni student can keep bamboo alive. Prints are fantastic, especially in matching frames, but avoid too much (again, small spaces, visual clutter, bad) – one or two big ones is probably enough. Candles, if you can have them, otherwise a diffuser is a good idea.