We spoke to Nik Ramli, an interior designer based in the UK who has won many awards and designed the homes of celebrities, and some of the country’s interesting properties.

Nik gives some top tips to decorate student rooms, especially when you’re on a tight budget with little space to play with.

Tip #1

Put up posters in the bedroom. They can be posters of your favourite pop stars or sceneries. Brighten up the room and bring it to life with flowers and plants. Choose those that are suitable for indoors and need little tending to – you might find it tricky looking after them whilst juggling between busy classes.

Tip #2

Many students end up putting their luggage on top of the wardrobe. Where else could you hide it? If you’re lucky, you could fit it underneath the bed, but sometimes, even that space is needed for something else! So, to make sure that the top of your wardrobe doesn’t look untidy with a big luggage sitting on top of it, get a nice fabric, stick blue tags on it and let it drop from the ceiling to the top of your wardrobe. In that way, your luggage is concealed behind the fabric! It also adds a little colour to the room!

Tip #3

Let’s face it – a student room fits a single bed, a study table, a chair, and at  a squeeze a side table. What happens when friends come over for a little study discussion or for a movie session? To make your place more comfortable, turn your bed into a sofa. Buy lush, thick, rich fabrics and cover your bed. Get loads of cushions and scatter them all over the bed. The bed now looks just like a luxurious inviting sofa – great for your group of friends to relax on for a little movie and popcorn treat.

Tip #4

Student rooms smell! In between studying and finishing assignments, many students end up eating their food in their bedrooms too. And sometimes, all the smell from the nasi goreng, curry or ikan bilis linger in the room. Get rid of those smells and use candles and air freshener. Not only will different scents stimulate different moods, but you’ll also feel more comfortable.

ADVICE

And finally, a word of advice. All the best to students and other aspiring interior designers. Remember, it’s important to talk to lecturers and friends. Don’t be afraid that people might copy your ideas. Because if someone did that, it only goes to show that you’re good! Do a lot of research – use local resources like your state libraries, museums, galleries and exhibitions. Being creative and having an open mind are two essential traits you need to be a successful interior designer.

What are you waiting for? Search for universities offering Interior Design courses now.