Can I Decorate my Room?
When you first arrive at your university accommodation, the plain walls and empty shelves can make the prospect of living there for a year a bit daunting. Decorating your first-year student accommodation room can be a fun way to personalise your space and make it feel like home.
However, before you start hanging up posters and painting the walls, it's important to know what is allowed and what isn't.
University accommodation rules
Most universities have rules and regulations regarding what you can and cannot do when it comes to decorating your room. These rules are in place to ensure the safety of students, as well as to maintain the condition of the rooms for future occupants.
Before you start decorating, it's important to familiarise yourself with the specific rules and guidelines for your university's accommodation. You can usually find this information on the university's accommodation website or by contacting the accommodation office.
Common rules
Here are some common rules that you may come across:
No nails or screws: Most universities do not allow you to hang things on the walls using nails or screws, as this can cause damage to the walls. Instead, they may provide alternative methods of hanging things, such as using adhesive strips or picture hooks.
No paint or wallpaper: Universities generally do not allow you to paint or wallpaper your room, as this can cause damage to the walls and can be difficult to remove.
No candles or incense: Many universities prohibit the use of candles or incense in student accommodation, as they can be a fire hazard.
What you can do
Although there are many restrictions on what you can do when it comes to decorating your student accommodation room, there are still plenty of ways to personalise your space. Here are some ideas:
Use removable adhesive strips: Instead of using nails or screws, use removable adhesive strips to hang posters, photos, and other decorations. While Blue Tack is commonly used to hang up posters and lights, it does tend to leave stains on the wall, so be cautious.
Add some plants: Adding some plants to your room can make it feel more welcoming and cosy.
Decorate the bed: The bed is the main focal point of the room so don’t neglect it when decorating! Add an extra blanket and use colourful bedding and pillows to add some more personality to your room.
Add extra lighting: Adding an extra lamp and some battery-powered string lights can really help create a homier atmosphere and make spending time in your room more enjoyable. Be careful with the popular LED strip lights as they have been known to take paint off the walls which leads to being charged by the university.
To summarise
While decorating your first-year student accommodation room in the UK can be a great way to make it feel like home, it's important to familiarise yourself with the rules and regulations of your university's accommodation. Most universities have restrictions on what you can and cannot do when it comes to decorating, but there are still plenty of ways to personalise your space within these guidelines.
