Students’ rooms are multifunctional – serving as a bedroom, a study, and an entertainment space, all while avoiding making any permanent fixtures. Given the limited space, upgrading a student’s room to be both functional and attractive on a budget is the ultimate design challenge. Here are five ways to make the most of your student accommodation.
1. Use Furniture To Separate The Space
Use your furniture to mentally divide the room into its different functions. A strategically placed desk or shelf will help you differentiate between your sleep and study area. By distinguishing between different areas for various activities, it will be easier to switch from studying to sleeping. Because entertaining friends is not the primary function of the room, entertainment consoles should be put out of sight to avoid distractions.
2. Create A Sanctum Using Light And Accessories
When decorated correctly, a student’s room is the perfect sanctum for sleep and relaxation, entertaining friends and of course, studying. To encourage this, use lighting to set the mood. In smaller rooms with limited natural lighting, a well-placed mirror will reflect more light to brighten the room and make it seem larger. The addition of fairy lights is a fun and effortless way to replicate the effect of a dimmer in the evening so that it is easier to fall asleep. Any student’s room is incomplete without a lamp. Lamps not only provide much-needed light during late night study sessions but can also serve as a focal point by adding a splash of color. To use your lamp as mood lights, throw a different color scarf over a lamp shade to change the color of the room. Make sure the scarf doesn’t connect with the lightbulb, as this could be a fire hazard.
3. Use Color To Your Advantage
Color has a profound effect on your mood. Take advantage of this by introducing the right colors to optimize your behavior. Studies have shown that cool shades of green and blue help promote concentration and calm, and even result in longer and more restful sleep. Avoid warm colors because they promote activity by raising blood pressure and excitement levels. Neutral colors such as gray and white always provide a clean, neat finish. The easiest way to incorporate color is to paint the walls. However, if this is not possible, add splashes of color using temporary decorative items such as paper lanterns, tapestries, and succulents. Washi tape is an affordable way to spruce up any student room. This colorful paper tape can act as a non-permanent wallpaper to create patterns on your wall without damaging them.
4. Optimize Your Working Area
The most important function of any student’s room is to serve as a study area. Your desk is where you spend most of your waking hours, so the set up needs to be comfortable and encourage good posture. Invest in a comfortable chair that helps you to sit up straight and allows both feet to touch the floor. If you’re on the short side, a child’s step or stool can serve as an affordable footrest. Small changes like placing your laptop on an unused book will put less strain on your neck and allow you to sit for longer periods of time. Having a well-organized desk will allow you to focus more easily and spend less time away from the task at hand. Make sure everything you need to complete a task is within arm’s reach. Try using a coffee mug for your pens and highlighters. For stationary that you use less often, use a plastic cutlery tray organizer to divide your items quickly. To avoid having too many papers on your desk, plastic folders and traditional files will help you keep everything in order.
5. Create Storage Opportunities
Clutter has a way of causing anxiety and disrupting sleep and concentration without you realizing it. Using storage to your advantage will help you organize your possessions so that they’re easy to find without cluttering up your space. This will go a long way in creating a peaceful atmosphere. Any unused surface has the potential for storage. If you’re allowed to: • Add hooks to the back of your doors and on your shelves to create extra hanging space • Decorative boxes can be used to store items under your bed or on top of your bookshelf • Create dividers in your drawers using shoeboxes or plastic trays in order to keep all your items organized and ready for use • Store plastic boxes under your bed containing other items that don’t have a home Once you get into the habit of creating clever storage areas, you’ll start spotting opportunities for them everywhere!
