Home away from home: how to style a university room on a student budget

The A Level results are in, university places have been snapped up and new students across the country are preparing to take the plunge and leave home for the first time.

Most student digs don't start off as stylish, homely places to live but it couldn't be easier to transform your room into a space that wouldn't look out of place on Instagram — and still keep to a strict budget.

1. SLEEP IN STYLE
Bedding can be one of the easiest ways to inject your personalty and add colour to the room.

Wilko's monochrome, geometric bedding, just £14, will add cool, Scandi vibes while providing the perfect base for colourful cushions.

2. CREATE COLOUR
Add pops of colour with soft furnishings, lamps and cushions. From Homesense stores, you can pick up a pink table lamp £20, a dark violet silk cushion £12.99 and a bright yellow pouffe, £39.99.

Make a colourful statement with a paper origami lampshade, £34.95, from Trouva. They'll look great against a neutral backdrop.

3. PICTURE PERFECT
Add a touch of home by decorating your space with photos. A fun way to showcase pictures is to use a peg frame, £20, from Next.

4. PLANT SOME PERSONALITY
The succulent trend is in full swing. Invest in a selection of decorative different pots, such as this collection of three monochrome planters from Sass & Belle (see below).

Priced at just £14, they'll look great clustered together on a windowsill or in pride of place on a desk.

5. ADD AMBIENCE
Candles evoke cosiness and a sense of calm, perfect for settling down to revise for that all-important exam.

Available in Tesco stores and priced at £10 each, the candles from the Oslo collection take inspiration from Scandinavia with muted colours and bamboo lids.

Scroll through our gallery above to see how to make your new university student room feel like home...