From A Sink Hole to Super Cool Flat 6th July 2012 9:09 am

From A Sink Hole to Super Cool Flat

So you've moved into a little sink-hole on the wrong side of the tracks? Don't sweat it. There are ways to decorate a rental place so that you can get the full deposit back. So embrace these simple tips and live in a funky, bright and comfortable space while at university.

Living Room Luxe

• Smelly old curtains can be changed to some plain print curtains from IKEA to brighten up the room.

• Get a large rug to place over dirty carpet and further personalise the place.

• Cover bare bookshelves with quirky objects and vintage books from charity shops, to make it feel less like a hotel room and more like a home.

• Fill empty spaces with affordable furniture from retailers like Tesco.

Kitschy Kitchen

• Buy a set of matching place mats, get a couple of meters of funky bright material and turn it into a table cloth to cover furniture in the kitchen. A centrepiece always looks good on the table so use bright coloured fruit or freshly cut flowers to brighten it up.

• Invest in crockery and a matching dinner set. It will come in handy when moving out of the share house and into your own place.

• Herbs growing near the window sill lend an atmosphere of homespun comfort to a kitchen, just don't forget to water them lest they meet their doom.

Bedroom Bliss

• As with the lounge, take down ugly soft furnishings and replace them with spruced up alternatives.

• Use a funky material over the top of an ugly headboard. Pin this at the back with easily removable tacks.

• Get a large mirror to place in the room to create the illusion of more space.

These are just a few ways you can really spruce up your living conditions. With times tight it's very tempting to be thrifty with your rent - this is a great thing to do, just make sure you spruce up your flat and cover up its imperfections with a bit of love and care.