Is your home looking a bit tired? Time for a new look? Not only does regular maintenance save you money in the long run, it also helps to avoid major repairs. The way your home looks impacts your mood and mental wellbeing, so it pays to give it a spruce up every now and then. Major renovations can cost thousands and aren’t guaranteed to add to the value of your home. But that doesn’t have to stop you from updating your home . Small, inexpensive adjustments can improve the look and feel of any room without breaking the budget.
Here are ten tips to give your student accommodation a fresh new look on a student budget.
Rotate your art
You don’t have to hang all your art on the wall. Try separating them into season – spring/summer and autumn/winter. Then every six months you can rotate them. This way you’ll look at them with a renewed spirit. If you don’t want to do it seasonally, switch them out in January and July. You can do it more often if you have lots of pieces and less wall space.
Let there be light
The right type of light – lots of daylight during the day and soft, dim light at night, can improve the mood and overall feel of your home. The best way to increase light in your home is to open the curtains, clean the windows and let the light in. If you have large windows, all the better, especially in winter, when the sunlight can also help warm your home. Skylights are another inexpensive way to increase the amount of light in your home. At night, even study lamps set the right mood – the low wattage of the light bulbs saves you money. Less light at night helps you get a better night’s sleep.
Add a coat of paint
If you have the budget for just one thing, a fresh coat of paint should be it. Since you live on your own, perhaps your parents can help you out with paint? A new coat of paint can completely refresh a tired looking room and give it an updated look. Since you’re a student and your budget doesn’t stretch for a whole paint job, paint just the woodwork. Or you can paint a single feature wall to draw attention away from less appealing areas of a room.
Reorganise
Rearrange your bookshelves, clean out those kitchen cabinets and get underneath that bathroom sink. You’d be surprised at how many doubles of seasonings you might have and it’s no secret that keeping hair care products organised is a tedious task. It’s important that you clear out all the cluttered spaces that you probably pay less attention to throughout the year.
Update the furniture and decor
New furniture doesn’t have to cost a fortune. You can revamp furniture by giving it a lick of paint or covering it with slip covers. Second hand lounge suites, decor and furniture are ways to refurnish a room without spending big on brand new items.
Replace your throws
Throw pillows, blankets and anything “throw” has got to go. Maybe not thrown out but definitely updated. Add some new colours to welcome the season approaching or get a head start on a new decorating project you may have in mind for your space. Start small and let your ideas blossom from there.
Add new linen and duvets
This is a must. Changing your sheets is like replacing your upper drawer with new Victoria’s Secret inventory. While letting them soak and double rinse on every cycle may have worked wonders and preserved your soft and comfy linen and duvet covers, sometimes a fresh start is best.
Update the curtains or blinds
New window treatments is a great way to give a room a lift without spending a lot or any money. You can buy ready-made blinds or curtains inexpensively from craft and haberdashery stores. Wait for the sales to get the best price. Or even save more money by asking your parents for their old curtains. It will look brand new in your room. Or perhaps you can sew the curtains yourself?
Change up your accent pillows
You can change the whole look and feel of a room with the addition of accent pillows. It’s a quick and easy update. Rearrange the ones you have on your bed or couch now or switch them up with others in your room. You could also update the ones you have by tying a scarf around them or adding a decorative pin.
Restyle your coffee table
Trays are a great way to organise similar items or groupings of small items on a coffee table. Use stacks of books, candles and other accessories to create a pleasing vignette. Swap things out from other rooms to invigorate the display. Keep your textbooks and study notes in your studyroom or bedroom and don’t pack them on your coffee table.