image via Pinterest (@pagesbymegan)

This article was originally taken from Judy’s Official Vintage Digest. Read more here!

Got into University last week? Congratulations! It might seem like a scary time, but one surefire way to make the transition of leaving home a little easier is to make sure your new abode reflects your tastes. And who would want boring walls and dog-eared posters when you could have a Pinterest-worthy retro-boudoir ready for all the fun of freshers 2015?

It can seem impossible to replicate the things you see online in your own home without some serious savings and upheaval, and even less if you’re renting and can’t afford to make any permanent changes. But sigh no more! We’ve put our heads together to come up with our top tips to inject a little vintage vigour into the place you call home, suitable for any budget. Enjoy!

Research your era. Pinterest and Instagram makes it easy to collate interior inspiration – lots of forward planning can prevent you from making impulse buys that simply don’t gel together. Chat to traders at any of our fairs for advice- they’ll be happy to help!

Fallen in love with the pattern of kilo sale dress, but it’s in the wrong size? Use the fabric to make a simple cushion or table runner. If you’re feeling a bit more ambitious, cover an old corkboard with material to make a pinboard, or if you’ve been hoarding reams of fabric, attempt your own curtains.

Soft furnishings are your friend! Quirky blankets, throws and cushions are the simplest way to make a room seem vintage and a great way to learn new sewing,knitting and crocheting skills. They’ll be entirely original, and you’ll have something fun to do in front of the telly after lectures.

Go floral! Cacti and Succulents are easy to care for and bring some life into a room. If you’d rather avoid any plant parenting, fake ones can look just as good if arranged well.

Addicted to the Valencia filter on Instagram? Turn your favourite selfies into retro polaroid magnets using Stickygram.com. Bonus points if you’re lucky enough to have an original, sherbet colour smeg fridge to stick them on.

Upcycle suitcases for storage or stack to create as a side table. There are plenty of these at Judy’s fairs, so keep your eyes peeled. Whilst a really old case might require some love and attention to restore it to former glory, a quick google search will give you plenty of help.

Make a display out of your best vintage buys by investing in a cheap mannequin. It’s a great way of storing jewellery or favourite clothing without having to hide them away, and can make a great focal point for a room. If your budget is super tight, you can even make your own by creating a plaster cast of yourself with paper mache (you might need a friend to help with this, it can get messy!)

Bunting will brighten any room, especially if it’s homemade to fit your chosen colour scheme. Experiment with shapes, sizes and finishes to see what works best for you. Fairy lights are super cheap and give a room a comforting glow – just make sure they’ve been safety tested!

Don’t worry about making everything too co-ordinated. In shared kitchens especially, a vintage look can be achieved easily with mismatched crockery. Keep an eye out at Judy’s fairs for tea trays, tea pots and cup and saucer combos.

Stay true to yourself – whilst an ‘everything vintage’ look might earn you some hipster points on campus, if you know you’re going to feel scared to touch anything in your own room because it’s so pretty and perfect, you are allowed to ‘cheat’ a little and use vintage as an inspiration rather than a rule to live by.

Loving your new retro digs? Send your top homeware tips or makeover pictures to us at judysaffordablevintagemagazine@gmail.com. And check out our events tab for all the freshers fun coming to a city near you!