How can you make your student home more environmentally friendly?

Environmental student home It's hard to deny that life in a student home is not always the most eco-friendly.

Whether it’s the multiple takeout dinner containers stacking up on your kitchen counter, or the little corner of your flat with the growing pile of Amazon delivery packaging, we’ve all noticed the signs that we could be a little kinder to the environment. However, between the hustle of crafting a thesis topic and staying on top of lectures, watching our carbon footprint is rarely at the top of our to-do lists. But what if you could make your flat a little greener and redecorate at the same time? In this article, we share three low-cost and quick steps to make your student home more environmentally friendly AND cosier for 2022.

Turn your trash into treasure

Instead of lugging old glass bottles or containers to the trash bin after an evening of socialising, turn them into flower vases or candle holders instead. You can buy tealight candles cheaply from most supermarkets. There are even scented tealight options available for slightly more if you enjoy lighting a candle to produce a pleasant aroma to help you unwind after a long day. Once you get a hold of the tealights, all you have to do is place them in the glass container (for example, an old jam jar) and it’s done. Yes, it’s really that easy. What you were going to toss in the trash a minute ago, is now your living room centrepiece. If you’re feeling extra creative, grab some paint or craft materials from the nearest stationery store and have fun personalising your new candle holder in whatever way you like. If you still have extra wine or juice bottles lying around, why not turn them into flower vases? Instead of spending on a pricey vase, pop some flowers in an old bottle and make your own one-of–kind vase instead. Besides helping you recycle, these DIY vases will instantly add character to your room or flat. When your friends next come visit, your unique creations are sure to be a conversation starter.

Breathe new life into your student home

Arguably, one of the best ways to make your student flat “greener” would be to literally add some greenery to your home. The best part is, when it comes to house plants, there’s an option for every personality. If you’d like to add a pop of colour to your living space, flowering plants are probably the best shout. If you’re worried that you’re going to forget to water your new “housemate”, a succulent might be the right choice for you. If you spend a lot of time cooking your own food (which is one of the best ways to help you stick to your student budget), then you could even care for a basil or mint plant. You literally can’t get fresher garnishing for your meals! If you’re feeling adventurous, why not buy a pack of seeds and grow your own plants from scratch? Besides, adding some life to your living space, shrubs help refresh the air. Given how much time we spend indoors working on assignments as students, fresh air is definitely something we all need.

Vintage is always in fashion

If you’re moving to a new accommodation in the new year, you’re probably thinking about how you can decorate your flat affordably. One way to let your flat reflect your personality without breaking the bank, is to purchase your home decor from thrift stores and charity shops. Take the time to trawl through thrift stores and you’re likely to find a gem or two that you can’t find at regular high-street shops. You can buy some pre-loved statement pieces for your flat, some vintage posters for the wall and so much more, often at a fraction of the cost of brand-new items. Now you can decorate your living space with unique pieces and enjoy the satisfaction of knowing that you’re helping to reduce waste as well!

Find your student home sanctuary

Your living space as a student is extremely important. After a long day at university, it’s your own little sanctuary to return to. That’s why you it’s important to spend time making your flat cosy so that you can have a comfortable space to unwind and socialise, as well as write essays and revise your coursework. It’s not always easy to find a suitable accommodation, but one option that you can rely on is Fresh. Fresh provides halls-of-residence style student accommodation options in cities across the UK. This award-winning student housing provider offers an all-inclusive bill service, so you don’t have to keep track of multiple payments every month. Fresh also provides clean, secure living spaces so that you can return home in peace. Whether you’re looking to live with friends in a shared apartment or you’d rather live alone in an ensuite studio flat, and hang out with your friends in communal spaces, Fresh is sure to have options for you – and by adding a few key thrift store purchases, such as a throw or a rug, together with a house plant or two – you really will be able to make it feel like home.

Fresh is one of many potential private accommodation options for international postgraduate students. Other private student accommodation options are available and Postgrad.com advises you to research all your options thoroughly before making such a commitment. Postgrad Solutions accepts no responsibility for your choice of student accommodation and does not endorse or support Fresh. Fresh Student Living Ltd is registered in England and Wales under company number 07268209. The VAT number is 142920528.

Writer: Alisa Maya is a graduate student at the UCL Institute of Education.