LED lights to alcohol shrines: These are officially the biggest uni room icks

Picture the scene: You’re invited over to a uni house, you’re excited to see what it’s like. They lead you up to their room, you’re thinking “how bad can it be?”. The door swings open, and bam – your jaw practically hits the floor. Now, now get your mind out the gutter, this jaw-dropping reaction is actually the result of the room itself. Perhaps its an assault of LEDs, or maybe it’ the small-eco climate your new companion has created under their bed, comprised of three week old mouldy cups and plates. Whatever it is, an all too familiar feeling creeps over you: You’ve got the ick.

Indeed, the well-known ick has now evolved, much like whatever is under some of your beds. The uni room ick is very much a real and ever pressing issues amongst freshers and third years alike. As the start of a new semester approaches, thoughts turn to Pinterest, what fairy lights you’re going to buy and whatever so unique urban tapestry you will string up – but remember to pause and consider the ick factor of your new uni decor.

Let this be your guide to avoid the biggest uni room icks.

The alcohol shrine 

Now silly fresh, I am not pointing fingers (okay well maybe I am), but this ones for you. Please for all that’s good and decent, do not collect the £7 bottles of wine you neck each Wednesday. Despite what you may think, paying homage to your poison of choice will not result in the aesthetic backdrop you desire, but will only serve as a reminder that you should probably register with the GP, ASAP. Unfortunately, everyone is guilty of this sanctimonious trend, but let’s be real, your future self will thank you for not turning your room into a shrine for Smirnoff.

The slogan flag

We all know the Pinterest mom with her hallways plastered in “Live, Laugh, Love” and “Home is Where the Heart Is” signs. But guess what? The uni student digs have caught the same decorating fever. Uni rooms have become plastered with profound slogans like “Man Cave” and the timeless “Good Girls Don’t Make History”.

Got a spare wall? No problem, adorn it with these nuggets of wisdom to give your mates a sense of the profound thinker you are. Sure, these flags might add a certain… charm to your student abode (by rather handily covering up that hole in the wall) but let’s be honest: No one’s exactly floored by your Jesus Died for Our Zyns banner.

LEDs

Whoa, we get it—you’ve got LEDs. No, seriously, you don’t need to show me for the 100th time how many colours your lights can flash. Sure, it’s cute to match your mood with a lighting show, but let’s be real: The LED craze went from lit to ick faster than you can flick through all those colours. At this point, we’re just hoping for a break before we get hit with a migraine from all the flashing. So maybe dial it down from disco inferno to ambient glow—your eyes (and everyone else’s) will thank you.

The over the top wall collage

We get it, you’re an artist—or at least you’re really committed to the idea of being one. But that wall collage of every meme, every movie quote, and every magazine photo you’ve ever loved? It doesn’t exactly scream “artsy living space”. It’s more like a chaotic explosion of “hoarder chic” that’s taken a wrong turn at “artistic genius”. Seriously, let’s draw the line with stubs and bus tickets now.

We’re all for personal expression, but once you start including that ancient napkin doodle, you’re in ick territory.

The plant graveyard

Plants can definitely liven up any uni room, but let’s be real. They’re not just cute decor, they’re living, breathing entities that need some good old TLC—mainly, water. Unfortunately, many uni students seem to have skipped this lesson from GCSE biology, turning their rooms into what can only be described as plant graveyards. Contrary to popular belief, cacti aren’t meant to be crunchy; they actually need water, too.

Dead plants are one of the biggest uni room icks and they won’t do much for your room’s vibe, except maybe mirror your commitment skills. So, next time you stroll past an irresistibly cute plant sale, remember the ghosts of plants past and consider opting for some faux foliage instead. Your room—and your plant-killing conscience—will thank you.

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