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Recently I was chatting with a designer, Jeff, who had just won gold at a design festival in London. We spoke about this season, when students move back into halls or their first flats.
It took me back to my own uni days. My space was always simpler than my friends’, who crowded their rooms with things, but I preferred a more minimalist feel. I still remember always having one Miller Harris reed diffuser in the studio, my freind always made comments on when they walked in.
Jeff shared a few design ideas for making small, temporary spaces feel refined instead of cheap. I’ve added my own experience too, and together these are 5 design secrets that can make any flat feel instantly more luxurious.
1. Colour Palettes That Instantly Upgrade a Uni Flat
The fastest way to make a room feel chaotic is colour overload. Too many bright or clashing shades will cheapen the space immediately. A calm palette of white, beige, wood, or muted neutrals creates balance and maturity.
If you want colour, choose one or two accents and repeat them. Deep green with wood feels elegant, terracotta adds warmth, muted blue creates calm.
2. Fragrances That Make a Student Room Feel Luxury
Décor matters, but scent is what people notice first. If your flat smells of takeout, laundry, or cheap sprays, that becomes the lasting impression. Fragrance sets status. A pretty subtle reed diffuser is always a good option.
For autumn, notes of hinoki, sandalwood, osmanthus, vanilla, or warm tea create a seasonal, grounding feel. Subtlety is key. Don’t overload the entryway with reeds, let the scent unfold slowly so guests feel welcomed rather than overwhelmed.
3. Styling Tricks to Make Small Spaces Look Designed Not Messy
Luxury is often about restraint. Shelves and desks overloaded with random items always look messy. The trick is to treat them as compositions. Style objects in odd numbers, vary the heights, and mix textures.
A simple trio, one vase, one diffuser, one stack of books, looks curated and intentional. Ten objects crammed together, no matter the price, only look like clutter.
4. One Statement Piece That Transforms a Temporary Flat
Student flats are temporary, and you don’t want to move with endless boxes of décor. Instead, invest in one statement piece that defines the space. A framed artwork, a plant you actually look after, or a designer object can become your signature.
5. Lighting Ideas That Turn a Student Room into Luxury
Lighting is one of the most overlooked design tools. Harsh blue or stark white bulbs make a room feel like a supermarket. You may not be able to change ceiling fixtures, but you can add lamps with warm-toned bulbs.
Side lighting at eye level is the secret hotels and galleries use, it softens shadows, adds depth, and instantly feels more luxurious than overhead glare. Even one lamp beside the bed or desk can transform the mood of the whole flat.
6. Add Texture to Create Depth in Small Spaces
One mistake in student flats is relying only on smooth, synthetic surfaces, plastic chairs, glossy desks, flat bedding. It makes the room feel flat and cheap. Adding texture creates depth and makes even a simple space feel rich.
A wool throw over the bed, a linen cushion on a chair, or even a ceramic mug on the desk adds tactile detail. Layering textures is what makes a room feel designed, not just furnished. It’s one of the easiest ways to make a space feel more expensive without filling it with more things.
Why These Details Stay With You
I didn’t realise it at the time, but those little rituals, adding fragrance, switching on a lamp, keeping the palette simple, shaped the way I still decorate today. Even now, years later, the same rules guide me. A student flat can feel temporary, but it can also feel extraordinary if you give it the right attention.
How do you decorate your own flat , or do you prefer not to bother at all?