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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.
10. Deep Clean Your Curtains and Carpets
Sometimes, a little deep cleaning can go a long way in giving you a space. You do not have
to spend a lot of money on redecorating your home. As per You Stock, you can get a carpet,
curtains and maps and wash them for a cleaner look whenever they become dirty. The
washing of carpets can be done at home and it makes one of the best DIY home improvement
hacks.
The clean carpets and curtains not only look clean but they also smell amazing. To make the
process super-affordable, you can purchase a few things from the supermarket and do all the
work that needs to be done. It will take some hours to wash the carpets and rugs but the end
result will be worth it.
11. Use Removable Wallpaper
This is one of the best DIY home improvement hacks for college students. To give a new
look to the walls, they can get stick-and-peel wallpaper. Such wallpapers are no less than a
haven for people who want their property to look expensive without spending too much on it.
This can reflect their personal style without them having to commit any permanent changes.
According to Express UK, students can choose from a lot of themes and colours for making
their dream home. The removable wallpaper works best on the surfaces which have a smooth
texture. If the walls of your home have a semi-gloss or satin finish on them, you can expect a
removable wallpaper to work best there.
12. Use Organisers
Instead of stuffing everything into a drawer, students can use dividers to separate the
possessions of different kinds. By using these, you can save quite a lot of space and time
because your items will be easier to locate. Furthermore, you can recognise easily the
placement of all the objects.
According to Cloudy 2 Clear Windows, the cupboards and bookcases take up quite a lot of
extra space, so they can be placed on the top of the walls. This lets students store books
without letting the things take up a lot of floor space. The organisers are also easy to get from
the supermarket and students can keep their items handy by using items.
What Home Improvements Will Add the Most Value?
Some home improvements that can add the most value to your home depend on the local
market, your potential sellers and where your property is located. You can improve the
lighting and heating of your house and add more energy-efficient features. Students can also
improve the appeal of their garden and elevate the curb appeal of their work.
The ideal thing to do here is to see the local house prices and evaluate what buyers will pay
more for the type of house that you have. Some of the potential home improvements, as per
Zoopla, that can add the most value to your property are the following:
1. The loft conversion can increase the sale price of your home by up to 15%
2. The off-street parking can add a value of £50,000 to your home
3. A full kitchen re-designing also improves the worth of your home by 15%
4. Again, if you go for the garage conversion, it will add around 15% value to the
property you have
5. The conversion of the basement can also add up to 10% to 15% of the value of the
home you own
To get a fair idea of what home improvements can bring the most value to your home, you
can check the prices of local houses around you. It will let you understand what appeals the
most to the buyers in your market. Furthermore, you can get a feel for the features that people
may want to have in a home like yours and what they are willing to pay for the property you
own.
How to Get Into DIY Home Renovation?
If you want to get into DIY home renovation as a student, you have to start by defining your
desired aesthetic and all the goals. After that, you shall have to create a budget and know how
you want to plan things. Students can generally start by replacing light fixtures and minor
plumbing errors. Online guides and tutorials can give direction for progress to students. Once
you are familiar with the basics, progress towards the more complex renovations by the
careful planning of your renovation project.
Some tips to help you get started, according to Plank Hardware, are the following:
1. Download a project planner for listing everything that you need to have in your house.
2. Choose some manageable tasks that can align perfectly well with your skill set.
3. Actively try to understand your budget and plan everything accordingly.
4. Painting the kitchen cabinets and upgrading the cabinet handles can give an instant lift
to your kitchen.
5. You can also create a feature wall to give your room an instant and ultimate refresh.
6. If you have a garden, you can revamp it and elevate the looks.
7. Adding a shelf to your room also adds interest and depth to it.
The overall decoration and renovation theme depends on the tastes and preferences of college
students. They can add photographs, seasonal decorations and prints to switch up the entire
ambience of the room and home. Pulling out a cohesive look is important if you want to give
your home a nice and balanced outlook.
What Are Some DIY Life Hacks You Can Do at Home?
Depending on the home size and the location, you can try a lot of hacks to upgrade its looks.
There are a lot of life hacks that are easy to try and can elevate the appearance of your
property. According to House & Garden, the most basic life hacks at home that can save you
a lot of trouble are the following:
1. You can use bread clips to organise the power cables at home.
2. For cleaning your shower head, you can tie a bag of vinegar around the showerhead
and leave it overnight for best results.
3. You can rub a walnut on damaged wooden furniture to hide all the ugly scratches.
4. When putting fruit and vegetables in the fridge, place a paper towel under them.
5. Students should also use hair straighteners for ironing collars
6. If you want to keep the water from boiling over, put a wooden spoon in the pot
7. You can also utilise diluted white vinegar for cleaning anything in the house
8. For opening a really difficult jar lid, wedge a spoon between the seal so that some air
can get into it and loosen the lid
9. If the radiator in your home is placed below the window, you should use Roman
blinds instead of the curtains.
10. If you get a dent in the carpet due to the placement of furniture rugs, you can put ice
cubes in the dent and wait until it melts. After that, blot the paper up with a paper
towel and flatten the carpet shape.
These simple life hacks help students to recreate their space and bring some fresh thought
into their lives. If students want to decorate their homes but have a lot of work pending to
submit with a looming deadline, in such a scenario getting assistance from top-rated
dissertation writing firms can be a good choice. These platforms ensure you get high-
quality work tailored to your requirements.
Conclusion
If your home needs some serious decoration and renovation and you cannot afford to spend a
lot of money on it, follow these tips. These can give a refreshed look to your home and
improve your mood as soon as you step inside the premises of your home. You can watch
YouTube tutorials whenever you feel confused.
Almost everyone likes to have a cool place which is free of all types of clutter. For students,
it is even more important to have a space where they can sit, away from all kinds of
distractions and focus on fulfilling all their academic responsibilities.
Trying all these DIY home improvement hacks on a budget can give a new look to your
home as a college student. The best part about these tips and tricks is that students do not
have to cut an arm and a leg to upgrade their homes or rent a professional for all the
improvement.
