From dull student room to stylish home

Early in July, the municipal council passed a motion requesting rooms in the student housing complex IBB to become much smaller in the future. The idea is to address the shortage of student rooms in Utrecht as the city was 6,000 rooms shorter than the demand last year, up from 5,300 one year prior. Right now, student housing provider SSH is not allowed to offer rooms smaller than 14 square metres in newly built or renovated complexes. The rule does not apply to existing rooms, which are sometimes smaller than that.

A survey conducted by the local newspaper AD Utrechts Nieuwsblad shows that students living at IBB aren't exactly eager to live in smaller rooms, as they find that 14 square metres is already small enough. If the regulation comes into effect, many more students will be living in rooms smaller than 14 square metres. 

But not every student gets a room through SSH. Many are renting from private landlords, for whom there are no restrictions. As a result, many rooms occupied by students today are about 6 square metres. 

Perhaps you are about to move into a "shoe box" room yourself, wondering how to furnish it and still have some money left to explore your new city. DUB has got your back. Here are ten tips to make efficient use of your space without going bankrupt.

Decor tips

Tip #1. Don't waste any space
When it comes to storage, Cultural Anthropology student Sanne recommends being creative. “Make use of your vertical space, storing things on your walls or getting tall wardrobes. You can also go down, storing things under a loft bed, desk or couch. I am not a big fan of loft beds, so I bought one with storage space underneath." 

She also recommends furniture with a dual function, such as mirror cabinets. "You can store all your toiletries inside. Besides, mirrors make your room look bigger. Hanging a coat rack on the door is a good idea too.”

Her roommate Iris studies Veterinary Medicine. She says that if you have a bit more space in your room, you can divide it into sections. “I have a large Kallax unit from Ikea behind my bed with a nice sitting area on the other side. So, when I'm watching TV in the sitting area, I don't get the feeling that I am living in my bedroom. Placing a shelf high up on the wall can be handy too. I also have an extendable table and a coat rack on the door.”

Sanne's room. Photo: courtesy of the student

Tip #2. Optical illusion
Sanne loves interior design and knows how to make a room appear bigger. “If you have a really small room, it's better to choose light colours for the walls because they reflect more light, giving the impression that your room is larger. I would go for light furniture as well, both in terms of colour and appearance. A solid cupboard can look massive in a small room. And if you have a dark room with little daylight, make sure to get yourself some good lighting.”

Tip #3. Embrace minimalism
Minimalists oppose consumerism by advocating a simpler and more conscious way of living. This lifestyle serves you well if you're living in a small room: you can't fit that much stuff in there anyway. You might not need that extra closet after all. Minimalism prioritises quality over quantity, so being a minimalist means you will ultimately have more space in your room for the things you absolutely can't do without.

Tip #4. Capsule wardrobe
Did you know that most people wear 20 percent of their clothes 80 percent of the time? A well-stocked wardrobe can take up quite a bit of space, which is why minimalists recommend having a capsule wardrobe with 37 items for all seasons. Yes, shoes and coats count too. The trick is to make endless combinations with those 37 items so that you always look different. If you take on the challenge, you can get rid of clothes that you never wear or don't wear often. 

Where to find cheap items

Tip #1. Marktplaats
Marktplaats, the Dutch version of eBay, is the place to go for cheap or even free stuff. When Sanne moved out of her parents' house, she spent a lot of time on Marktplaats looking for the nicest furniture. “You don't have to buy everything new. You can find anything on Marktplaats! You just have to filter for free stuff or change your settings so that the cheapest items appear first. You can also adjust your search area if you don't want to drive all the way to Groningen to pick up a sofa.” 

Sometimes there are so many results that you can't separate the wheat from the chaff on Marktplaats. Sanne also has a tip for that."If you spot a nice piece of furniture and you know the brand, you can look it up on Marktplaats. No results? Then you can save the search and you will get an email when someone posts something in that category.”

Tip #2. Thrift store
Before buying new stuff, consider paying a visit to a thrift store (kringloopwinkel in Dutch). There is a good chance you will find almost everything you need there. However, not all thrift stores are created equal. The ones in the city centre tend to be small, so they don't carry as much furniture. The ones outside of town are larger and therefore offer a lot more furniture pieces.

Sanne's tip: “Make a wishlist in advance to prevent yourself from getting lost there". However, she prefers thrifting in small villages because their thrift stores are cheaper.. She has scored some good finds at De Arm in Hoograven (Utrecht) and RataPlan in Nieuwegein.

Tip #3. International student forums
International students who are moving out of their rooms or the city usually sell or give away their furniture. Join WhatsApp groups and Facebook groups for international students and keep your eyes peeled. 

Tip #4. Auction house
Students usually don't think of auction houses when furnishing their rooms, but it's worth going there and having a look. You can also select what you are looking for online by category. You won't find any Ikea pieces here, but rather vintage or antique stuff. Sometimes there is a minimum bid, sometimes not. Establish a maximum budget and bid away!

Tip #5. Flea market
Flea markets are another great option for finding furniture and knick-knacks. If you want to give your room some character for cheap, that's the place to be.

Tip #6. Waste separation station
Maybe this gives you the creeps, but you can get lucky and find some good stuff at a waste separation station. People sometimes throw away tables, chairs and cupboards that are still in good state, or kitchen appliances that still work. Sanne's tip: “You can try to repair damaged items yourself or give them a new coat of paint. It is good for the environment and fun as you get to give the items a personal touch.”