DIY ideas to freshen up your uni home

Sophia Lamberton 14 February 2022
Collection of crafting equipment

Does your uni accommodation feel a little drab? Freshen it up with these simple DIY ideas that won’t break the bank.

Before you get started, we recommend creating a vision board on Pinterest to gather ideas. Pinterest is also a great place to find inspiration for colour schemes and cool crafts you might want to make for your home.

Cushions

Start by collecting old fabric from clothes you no longer wear or head down to your local charity shop. Be sure to pick out something brightly coloured. You can use the material to create a throw for your sofa or make cushion covers. Mismatching cushions look great on a sofa, so don’t be afraid of clashing patterns.

Bunting

If you’ve got any leftover scraps of fabric, turn them into bunting. It’s really quick and easy to do and all you need is some string and a glue gun. Cut the leftover fabric into triangles, using the first triangle as a guide for cutting the others. Using hot glue, attach the triangles at even spacing.

Macrame 

Why not make some trendy macrame plant holders or some macrame wall hangings? Get creative using coloured yarn to brighten up your living room. It’s really easy to get started with simple designs. Once you’ve got the hang of it, you can try some more advanced techniques. Check out these great macrame wall hangings for beginners

Photo wall

Make the most of your noticeboard by turning it into a photo wall. Buy some novelty push pins to brighten things up and divide the board up into sections with coloured ribbons. If you don’t have a noticeboard, use string or fairy lights to hang your photos up and secure them with pegs.

Pencil pots

Brighten up your desk by turning your old glass jars into pencil holders. Paint the containers or cover them with spare pieces of fabric. Acrylic or spray paint would work best. You could also inject some colour into your workspace with bright desk tidies. Organising your space doesn’t have to be dull.

Fairy lights

One of the easiest ways to liven up your uni bedroom is to hang some fairy lights up. There are plenty of places to pick up cheap fairy lights, or you can check out sites like Etsy for unique and creative designs. If you’re lucky enough to have a garden, consider getting solar-powered outdoor lights.

We’d recommend buying some Command strips to hang any lights up, as they can be easily removed without damaging the walls. This will save you money on your deposit at the end of the year.

Wall hangings

Wall hangings are commonly found in uni homes, as they are a fantastic way to brighten up bare walls without damaging them. Plus, they look great alongside fairy lights! There are so many designs to choose from, so check out Etsy and Amazon for some inspiration. Your favourite bands might even sell tapestry banners as merch.

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Sophia Lamberton 14 February 2022