Must-haves for your first post-uni home

Most students are happy to sacrifice style for the sake of easy solutions, safe in the knowledge that their accommodation is transitory. Now that you’re out of school and you have the chance to move into a place of your own, it’s time to start thinking about the elements that really make a house a home.

A grown-up vibe

A great way to give your new home that grown-up air is to start with a plan. Student flats tend to have a hotchpotch look that makes sense when you’re concentrating on studying and partying. Devote some time to thinking about what you want from your home at the outset and buy accordingly.

Once you know what you’re working with, start with the big-ticket items and a few grown-up fundamentals.

A quality dining table set

Forget beanbags and casual dining on the sofa; invest in a dining table set you’ll be happy to throw dinner parties with.

Good wall art

Get rid of tatty posters – properly framing and hanging your favourite works of art makes a world of difference.

A comfortable bed

You might have been happy to sleep on a futon or sofa bed during your student years, but if you want to embrace adulthood and proper home comforts, a good bed is the way to go.

Matching accessories

Give your home an instant makeover by choosing soft accessories that work well together. Coordinate your scatter cushions, rugs and drapes for instant allure.

A coat of paint

One of the biggest luxuries of moving out of student accommodation and into a long-term home is the fact you can decorate. Give those walls a lick of paint for a fresh look.

A common theme

When you’re shopping for a new home, it’s easy to get off track and start buying everything that catches your eye. Make a set of guidelines to stick to, such as a colour palette or specific theme.

Individual style

Just because you’re leaving behind some typically student-like designs, it doesn’t mean that your new home has to be boring or expensive. You can give a grown-up home an individual spin in many fabulous and budget-friendly ways. Have a look at Pretty Pegs for some great ways to beautify your IKEA furniture, or get crafty with a little inspiration for handmade home décor on Pinterest.

Look at any assets you already have – did you bring a few nice items with you from your student days, or is your new home partially furnished? – and make a list of the things you want to keep. Remember, you can always repurpose nice pieces that don’t quite fit your vision. A repainted bar stool can make a nice bedside table, for example.

Set out with a plan to leave that student style behind and you can enjoy a gorgeous, grown-up home in a few easy steps.