One of the best things about having your own space is that you get to choose what your room looks like. If you’ve got interior design ambitions, you can create a space that you love – in theory. But in reality, we all know student accommodation can be bare at best, prison-level bleak at worst, while your average rental houseshare is a whole kettle of... fish, is that smell fish? Anyway. The challenge is working out a way to stamp your personality on your space, without blowing your budget.
It may not be yours and you may only be there for a few more months, but that's no reason not to show your space some love – especially when distracting yourself from that patch of damp could be as simple as a bargain rose gold bog brush. These luxury-looking accessories are all £20 or less, and will take your room from scruffy to downright stylish in an instant.
We love lamp
This bargain makes a stylish statement – the statement being “focus on this delightful soft glow, and you won’t notice that the floor needs hoovering.” It would also look great on a desk or bedside table, and it takes up so much space that it'll stop the clutter from piling up.
Storuman floor lamp, £12, Ikea
Throw away
Black & White Lunar Throw, £16.99, TK Maxx
Creature comforts
Bog standard
Lucky enough to have an en suite? Get you. Bring some unexpected glamour to the place that needs it most with a shiny, shiny loo brush. Because if this doesn’t inspire you to keep your toilet clean, nothing will.
Lilo Toilet Brush, Brass, £16, MADE
Is it a bird?
The bird is the word! Bring a bit of wildlife inside with this collectible piece, which looks striking on a shelf and works as an alternative stress ball if you’re struggling with a deadline – stroke the smooth, smooth woodgrain and you’ll soon start to feel better.
Fusion Kiwi Bird, £20, John Lewis
Smooth operator
The fabric of the moment screams luxury, but discreetly – and with a pile of velvet cushions at the end of your bed, you can transform a single bed into a sleek sofa that will impress any visitors.
Velvet cushion and cover, £13.98, H&M
Clip art
Little Things Trinket Dish, £11, Oliver Bonas
Reedy, set, go
If you’re not allowed candles in your room – which, ok, is fair, if only to avoid the horror of the 3am smoke alarm – a fragrance diffuser is a great alternative. This elegant wood and glass one looks so good that it doubles up as an ornament too.
