Moving away for uni is an exciting and liberating time, but it can also be pretty hectic. To help you settle in as quickly as possible, we’ve found it helps to create the perfect living space to suit your mood – although this is often easier said than done, once you take the bland, cookie-cutter Halls of Residence décor into account.

If you’re looking to jazz up your dorm room this semester, welcome in, as we breakdown all the ways to transform your bedroom into a self-care sanctuary: from the best soft furnishings for ultimate cosy comfort, to the on-trend shades to zhuzh up your surroundings this academic year.

Halls looking a little basic? It’s time you discovered soft furnishings to suit your personal style! Whether you want to create a cosy, comfortable space to unwind after a long week of lectures, or are searching for something a little more slick and modern, we’ve got something to fit every Freshers’ personality.

Set the scene with the best lamps and lighting to reflect your every uni mood. From overhead reading lights to maximise your study time, to vibrant neon lights to spark a contemporary edge in any room, discover the ones that were made to brighten up your life.

Wave goodbye to beige and hello to bold colour pops! From warm blues and zen purples, to rich oranges and opulent greens, there’s a whole colour wheel out there to help you personalise your space with the hues you love. Don’t forget to have fun with it and make the space your own – you’re likely only at uni once!

Some dorm rooms may be a little funny about fixing artwork to the wall – but there are a few ways to get around this rule. Got a corkboard? Use drawing pins to showcase your personal memorabilia and help add the ‘you’ effect to your room. Failing that, command hooks are your best bet for hanging your paintings and canvases. Just be careful to remove them properly at the end of the year so you don’t peel away any paint!