Let’s face it; if you are a student, you are probably smelly and dirty. Your fellow students won’t mention it to you because they are probably smelly and dirty too. Even if you haven’t washed your hair in the last three years because you think it is natural doesn’t mean you can’t live in nice surroundings. After all, one day you may bring home a smelly student of the opposite sex for a night of passion.
Seriously though, students are often forced to live in pretty grotty accommodation while they attend university away from home. That is a problem they can solve, with the help of their parents. It may cost a few hundred pounds to update a dingy bedsit, but that is a small amount when you consider that the student will be living there for three of four years. Since you’ll probably be spending time studying in the environment, it is important to plan carefully and think about the setup you create.
Here is how to decorate and furnish student accommodation.
Find Some Storage
With the approval of the landlord, which is sometimes hard to get, empty the room and put all of the furniture, carpets, and curtains somewhere else for the duration of your stay. Hopefully your parents have a garage that will be perfect for the job.
Decorating
The trick is to keep the decorating simple. There is nothing to gain from stripping the wallpaper and spending money on new.
- First repair any cracks to the ceiling or walls and fill any gaps around the skirting boards and door frames with decorators caulk. It is a product that does a very neat job.
- Rub the woodwork with some fine grade sandpaper to provide a key for the new paint.
- Paint the woodwork using a paintbrush and with some good quality undercoat.
- Use a roller to paint the walls and ceiling with emulsion. If the walls are imperfect, matt paint will disguise the bumps, but it doesn’t wipe clean very well. If the walls are in good condition apply silk paint.
- Apply gloss paint to the woodwork.
Now that you have a bright, clean room, think about what is underfoot.
Flooring Solutions
Carpet is the most luxurious floor covering. It helps to absorb the noise when you are playing music too, which keeps the people below you happy. Carpet is prone to staining, however, so it may not be the best product for a student’s room. Remember how dirty they are?
Vinyl floor coverings are back in vogue. They are durable and easy to keep clean, even a student can use a broom. Spilt liquids, such as wine and beer, are easy to clean; a requirement in this situation.
Laminate flooring has the same durability as vinyl and is also easy to clean. It is a practical and attractive solution to the flooring issue.
Furniture
You need a sofa that can be kept clean. Nothing beats slipcovered sectionals for students, as they can wash or change the covers whenever a mishap occurs.
Remember why you are there. Studying is going to take up much of your time, so the desk and chair are vital elements of the design. Measure the room and select the right combination for it.
Why not take the comfortable bed you are used to from home? It is nice to have an old friend with you.
It is easy to make your surroundings pleasant for the duration of your stay. Your friends will be suitably impressed by your efforts; i’m sure. If you are lucky, the landlord may let you leave the room as it is, so you can take all of his old stuff to the tip.
