Going to University? Tips on making your rented room homely

Student Living: A Room with a View

by Lorna Sixsmith

This Fatboy Marimekko bean bag is colourful and stylish. Available online from www.bodieandfou.com

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re you heading off to college shortly? Wondering how you can make your student room comfortable, bright and reflect your personality rather than that of your landlord? Well, follow our tips and you won’t go wrong,

whilst at college. Whether you want to sit, recline, flop, chill, sleep, eat, dream or play the Fatboys are great - but don’t forget to have a comfortable chair and desk for all that studying! Position them beside sockets for your lighting source and your PC/laptop.

Your room is going to be used for quite a few different purposes: sleeping obviously, but also for studying and having friends round.

Studying

Seating

Beanbags are amongst the most comfortable seating for lounging around and are easy to move around if you change accommodation 16

A good light source is imperative when you are sitting at your desk cramming for exams or finishing off an assignment. An Anglepoise lamp is one of the most stylish around and provides a good, targeted source and can also be used as a lovely wall washer by placing it on the floor and angling the light against a wall.

These lights are such good fun. £20 for 20 from www.cableandcotton.co.uk

Black and Blum’s Ring Ring slot together to provide ample storage. €21 each at www. garrendennylane.ie

Classic retro vintage-style anglepoise desk light in brushed silvery metal & wood finish make a stylish addition to any study or bedroom. Available from www.berryred.co.uk

The Black and Blum RingRing are great for holding magazines and journals; you can add as many or as few as you like. The Time Square clock is multifunctional – as it is also a notice board and blackboard - something that will last many years, being timeless in design (forgive the pun!)

Most DIY shops have storage units that will fit under the bed - use them for extra bedding, shoes and clothes.

Injecting personality into your room

More than likely, your room will be painted magnolia or a similar colour and you won’t be allowed to change it, so think about how you can add your personality with some fun yet functional objects.

Cushions and lampshades are an inexpensive way to add some funkiness. Check out shops like Ikea for cheap and cheerful ones or Hunkydoryhome.co.uk have some wonderfully retro cushions and lampshades if you wish to shop online.

Use a moveable screen if you want to divide some parts of your room, for example, if you are chilling out on the beanbag, you won’t want to be looking at your unfinished assignment sitting on the desk. These can be purchased from DIY stores and can be painted or covered with fabric.

Student life will involve a fair amount of time at college itself as well as being out partying, but if you ensure your bedroom is a comfortable space to return to, with its own feel and look, you will have a space you can call home! Enjoy.

James, the bookend is funky as well as having a personality! Available at www.garrendennylane.ie

The Cable & Cotton lights from www. cableandcotton.co.uk are an imaginative and eye catching way to add some personality to a student room. They make a great gift too if you are wondering what to give a friend, son or daughter when they are heading off. They are very versatile and can be put around a mirror, a plant or a vase and also look great when unlit. Very affordable at only £20 for twenty.

Storage

College bedrooms tend to be small so storage is going to be important. If there aren’t many shelves, ask your landlord to put some up - you will need them for your books and it is also nice to have some personal objects on them - to inject some character and colour.

Try www.hunkydoryhome.co.uk or Ikea for some very different, yet funky cushions and lampshades.

Garrendenny Lane Interiors will be launching its new online shopping website on 20th September. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook. com/GarrendennyLane to receive updates on new product and design ideas. Great prizes will be on offer too to Facebook fans when the new site goes live.

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