8 ways to Christmas-up your student pad
Turn your student accommodation into a Christmas wonderland
One of the best parts of Christmas is the decorations. Just because you’re at university it doesn’t mean you should miss out on the tradition! These clever ideas for decorating will help you get into the holiday spirit. So put your favourite Christmas film on, gather the housemates and turn your student accommodation into a winter wonderland with these yuletide tips.
No tree? No problem!
Bringing a 6-foot tall plant into your home to hang shiny ornaments off of is a bizarre tradition. That said, if you don’t have this iconic pagan totem it can make any home seem almost anti-festive. As students, it’s understandable that you’re not going to want to take the time, money or effort to drag a huge spruce into your living room. No room and no money to splash the cash on a tree?
There are lots of quirky and trendy alternatives to still get your home ready for Santa. Why not make your own washi-tape Christmas tree? Or use a wall hanging tree like this? (Just make sure you don’t mark the walls!)
Get crafty
What’s Christmas without a little DIY? For the ultimate budget Christmas, you can make your own decorations with just a sprinkle of imagination. You have the perfect excuse to procrastinate over those December deadlines by making your own garlands, snowflakes, baubles… you name it!
Sentimental value
Get a bit sentimental with festive polaroids
Baubles and tinsel aren’t the only Christmas decorations you can use. Why not decorate your home with pictures of your family and friends, as well as your university family! There are many photo printing websites that offer first time buyer discounts, but if you fancy a pre-Christmas splurge, invest in an instant Polaroid camera or smartphone photo printer for a more personal touch.
Christmas scents
Clean plates and the smell of Christmas!
Mulled wine, cinnamon, freshly baked cookies, the bite of a winter morning… it’s those little scents that help encapsulate the festive season, and there’s no reason why you can’t fill your home with it too! Freshly baked Christmas treats and bowls filled with oranges and cinnamon. Or if you’ve not got the time for that, why not try a little festive washing up liquid to get your home smelling like Christmas morning.
Make your own Christmas Wreath
You can turn the most surprising things into a Christmas wreath! Image: Good Housingkeeping
Another Christmas craft to keep the spirits high! Making a wreath is easier than you think, and totally doable on a student budget. All you need is some wire, some ribbon and any kitsch Christmas decorations you want! This is the perfect way to upcycle some old decorations and keep yourself busy on a cold winter’s night.
Set the table
I’m sure many will agree that the Christmas dinner is the highlight of December 25th (try not to drool over the thought of pigs in blankets…). Who said the dinner has to wait until Christmas day? Get the housemates together and cook up a feast, splitting the cost on food will make it more student friendly, and your can get your own table setting from many pound or budget stores.
Elf yourself
What’s Christmas without a party? It’s not like you need an excuse to belt out ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You” at the top of your lungs, but why not have a get together with your housemates before everyone goes home for Christmas? Dust off your dorkiest Christmas jumper, turn the music up and spread the festive cheer with some fun games, secret Santa and maybe even some photo props.
If all else fails… fairy lights
Ah, fairy lights, the staple of every student home. For a cheap alternative on cosy decorations, fairy lights are the perfect solution. I’m sure you already have an abundance of fairy lights wrapped around your home, but festive ones aren’t hard to find either. Fancy getting your craft on one more time? Why not make snowmen out of LED tea lights for that final touch of festive cheer.