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Renovating your living space as a student can be an exciting way to personalise your
environment and create an environment that reflects your style and needs. Whether you are
living in a dorm, a shared or your first rental apartment, small changes can make a big impact
on the look and feel of your place.
However, many people assume that home renovation is expensive and beyond the reach of a
student budget. That concern is not true. As per Daily Mail reports, two university students
completely revamped their home through DIY renovations for just £12,000. This proves
that with smart planning, creative hacks, and budget-conscious choices, students can upgrade
their spaces without overspending.
In this article, we’ll explore 12 practical, cost-effective renovation ideas that help college
students transform their rooms or even entire residences without breaking the bank.
12 Easy and Affordable DIY Home Renovation Hacks Every College Student
Should Try
Students around the world, especially college students, often have tight budgets. However,
home renovations don’t have to be expensive. By putting in some time and effort, college
students can make their homes better, adding value and making them more enjoyable to live
in.
One important area to focus on is the study corner. A quiet and organised space is important
for staying focused and being productive. A peaceful and relaxing room can help students
complete their academic projects, especially their dissertations more easily. For students who
need extra help, contacting a professional dissertation writing service can make it easier to
complete their project on time.
So, whether you are planning on selling your home or simply want to improve its
functionality and appeal, these DIY home improvement hacks can assist you a lot.
Let’s explore the hacks in further detail.
1. Get Your Walls a Fresh Coat of Paint
One of the most DIY home improvement hacks for students is painting the walls. According
to This Old House, a new colour can completely change the feel and look of your home. It
makes the rooms feel brighter, cleaner and more modern. Painting the walls is a DIY
project that students can tackle over a weekend by themselves without incurring any labour
costs.
If you want to go for a broad appeal if you are planning to sell it in the near future. However,
if you just want it to reflect your personal style, you can go for an accent wall with bold
colours. All you need for it is a fresh bottle of paint, some oils and a paintbrush and a couple
of hours. The choice of paint depends entirely on the preferences and tastes of the college
students.
2. Dress Your Windows
Windows can often be ignored when applying home improvement tricks. College students
can enhance the looks of their windows by adorning them with window fabrics, blinds or
shutters. However, they should be careful about privacy and not overdo the windows – just
enough space should be there for the light.
With that being said, the outside of the windows also should not be ignored. Check if your
windows can benefit from a window box of seasonal blooms or evergreen flowers. On the
inside, you can add vintage knobs and handles for installing the curtains. Students can also go
for sheer lace curtains to give an aesthetic appeal to the inside of their homes. Such little
changes can instantly change the overall look and appeal of a home.
3. Update Trim and Install Crown Molding
If you add crown moulding or just update the trims, it can add a lot of character to your
home. Wood is a popular choice for that, however, there can be more affordable and budget-
friendly options for you such as foam and PVC. These budget-friendly options are easier to
install and can resist moisture in a better way.
As per ELLE Décor, the crown moulding is best for covering unsightly gaps between walls
and ceilings. For the areas in your home that are prone to humidity such as bathrooms,
students can go for PVC crown molding. College students may also polish and paint the
moulding before the installation so that it has a smoother finish after the installation.
4. Update the Lighting
According to White Gates, the replacement of old lights can have a tremendous impact on the
overall ambience carried by the home of college students. They should choose some energy-
efficient options that give a modern and stylish look to their home and also provide them with
ample light. It is one of the DIY home improvement hacks that students can try by
themselves. It is easy to do and does not even take quite a lot of time.
The updated lighting not only adds value to the rooms but also improves the aesthetics and
functionality. You can replace the big white light with golden lights as they create a warm
and soothing atmosphere and give a more homely vibe to your residence. Investing in lamps
and other lighting equipment can also be useful and elevate the overall appearance of your
home.
5. Affordable Bathroom Makeovers
Just like the kitchen, the bathrooms are a great way to modernise and update the homes.
College students can focus on impactful and small changes, such as replacing outdated
fixtures and updating the vanity. They can also install new mirrors or update the tiles. These
simple yet effective touches can improve the visual appeal of the bathroom while adding
value to the property owned by students.
The easiest thing to do is to get budget-friendly wall sheets and apply them on the walls of
the bathroom. Students can also get mirrors that suit their budget and fix or install them in the
bathrooms. As per This Old House, you can also replace the bath hardware for an efficient
facelift and give a new look to your space.
6. Install Ceiling Fans
If you want to save money for a year, you can install ceiling fans which can be considered a
great investment for both summers and winters. In the warmer months, it can create cooling
breezes that lessen the strain on ACs. In the cold months, you can reverse the ceiling fans to
circulate warm air and keep the home cosy.
According to Affordable Electrician, a ceiling fan can be uploaded without the help of an
electrician. The ceiling fan installation is one of the simplest DIY home improvement hacks
that students can try on their own. These energy savings from reduced usage of HVAC can
help you save much money. Also, the repair and maintenance expenses on ceiling fans are
quite less as compared to heavy gadgets.
7. Make Custom Storage Areas
For your renovation project, the added storage does not have to take a lot of effort. You can
look for some underutilised spaces in your home such as areas below the stairs or the ones in
awkward corners and check how you can turn these areas into usable storage places. You can
add shelves or some handmade custom cabinets to make space for the extra things.
For instance, you can make a place for a window place which has built-in storage. There, you
can place your books and other seasonal items. Apart from that, the window seat can also be
used as a comfy place to read the books you want to, all while staying cosy and away from
all the distractions. The custom storage areas save a lot of space in the actual home.
8. Enhance Outdoor Living Space
The outdoor living areas are becoming an increasingly coveted feature, mostly in urban
locations. If you have a spare and vacant space outside your main home, you can elevate its
looks and add more greenery to enhance the looks of the living space. Students can place a
swing chair outside along with the flowers and create a welcoming environment for the
guests.
According to Harbour Lifestyle, the outdoor living space can be elevated by bringing the
dining room outside and investing in weather-proof fabric. The space should be ready to go
and sit, eat and drink there. Students can go for a larger table if they have a large patio;
otherwise, a compact bistro set for two people will be enough.
9. No Clutter at the Door
As per Better Homes & Gardens, the entrance is what most guests see when they enter your
home. It should make a good first impression on the mind of readers and there must be no
clutter at the door. The furniture you use should be double-duty, such as a bench that can also
be used as a shoe caddy.
To save your space from getting cluttered, college students should try simple storage
solutions; including wall hooks, cubbies and lockers. All of it can improve the entryway and
make the atmosphere more inviting and organised for learners. Also, the entrance should be
kept clean at all moments and the extra space should be used for storing the items that are not
used regularly.
