Heading to Uni this September? Style Your Student Room on a Budget at Bygone Times!
Moving into university halls and student flats is an incredibly exciting time for young people, however, standard student housing can look and feel clinical, blank and uninspiring.
If you’re working with a tight budget, as many students across the UK are, the quickest, most convenient knee-jerk reaction is to head to IKEA, the Range or another home to mass-produced furnishings and homeware. But if you want a space that feels like home, and doesn’t look the same as every other room on your corridor, the secret is throwing in some unique, vintage flair.
Based in the heart of Lancashire, Bygone Times is our county’s leading antiques, vintage and collectables centre, and is packed with thousands of unique treasures that add character and charm to rooms and student areas without blasting through maintenance loans.
Beyond a good and thorough digital detox, there may be a perception that Bygone Times is exclusively frequented by older generations – but this couldn’t be further from the truth. With trendy vintage decors, stylish antiques and a great day out, Bygone Times is a hit with Lancastrians and tourists of all ages.
Here are four quick, actionable vintage home décor ideas to style student spaces on a budget before term starts this September!
Swap the Big Light for Warm, Ambient Vintage Lighting
Anyone that knows the first thing about interior design will tell you; never turn on the ‘big light’. Whilst overhead student lighting is notoriously harsh, clinical and soulless, Bygone Times offer students the chance to create a cosy, relaxing and inviting atmosphere in student rooms by layering lighting.
Hunting for retro and antique lighting is a quick and easy way to inject personality into student rooms and shared areas.
At Bygone Times, consider the following to add ambiance and elegance, in addition to illumination;
- Vintage lamps for dark corners
- Retro table lamps from the 60s and 70s to give your work-desk a cool, mid-century touch.
- If candles are your thing, consider classic candle holders for a warm, flicking glow during late-night study sessions or dreaded dissertations
By mixing and matching unique, smaller light sources, student rooms can embrace and instantly softened, cosier feel.
A Second-Hand Moroccan Rug
We’re not saying your new pad isn’t clean, but unquestionably, many student bedroom carpets have seen a lot of history.
A quick, convenient and highly effective way to cover up an uninspiring floor with texture, character and colour is a statement rug.
Sourcing a new Moroccan rug from an authentic retailer online may cost a bomb, however, Bygone Times is awash with gorgeous second-hand vintage textiles for as little as £10. Adding warmth, grounding the room and making student spaces look copiously trendy, patterned and colourful, Moroccan rugs are a wonderful solution for students, and can be packed up ready for your next destination.
Fill Blank Walls with Antique Mirrors
Most student landlords, perhaps understandably, aren’t keen on creative students painting the walls, leaving with a lot of blank space. Whilst flimsy posters may be the first choice, Bygone Times would like students to consider investing in a timeless vintage mirror.
An antique mirror is a dual-purpose solution. Reflecting light to make a small student room feel bigger, and with an elegant pattern that’s a work of art, an vintage mirror is forever. A cheap plastic mirror will probably end up in the skip, whereas a quality antique frame is something to cherish in every student flat and house on your journey, and perhaps for eternity!
Ditch the IKEA Flat-Pack and Discover Retro Barware
Let’s face it, a big part of the uni experience is a good night out, socialising and making new friends!
Whether you’re hosting a pre-drinks party or having friends over for dinner, serving lager, cider and wine in mismatched plastic cups isn’t a formality.
Instead of spending hard-earned student-loan money on mass-produced high-street glassware, Bygone Times is the home to a variety of stalls that provide cool, retro pub and bar accessories, from vintage crystal tumblers and classic tankards, old-school hip flasks to branded retro glassware from decades past, and of course, Guinness paraphernalia.
Not only do they probably cost less than new alternatives, but look incredibly stylish on the shelf, and create a welcoming pub-like atmosphere in student rooms and shared kitchens.
Visit Bygone Times Before Heading Off To Uni this September
Whether you’re head to Oxford, Cambridge another one of the great UK university cities like Manchester, Sheffield or Leeds, decorating your independent space shouldn’t mean compromising on style. By choosing vintage, students are securing superior quality, spending less money and ensuring your abode looks completely unique!
We’ll see you the Grove Mill, students!