Cool Stuff at WotsKool!

I’m a graduate student about to embark upon another 2 years of study (hopefully) leading to an MSc. For the past three years I’ve lived in student halls of residence and, most recently, a furnished house shared with other undergraduates. This has been a lot of fun but I decided that the time has come for me to finally go it alone.

I’ve been lucky enough to have found a small, unfurnished single bedroom flat that is within cycling distance of both my university and my part-time job, which is paying for my new life of independence. When I first moved in I had absolutely nil furniture whatsoever. My worldly possessions consisted of 2 computers, a games console, a push bike, a lousy stereo system and a pile of books and clothes. Oh, and a sleeping bag.

As a student I don’t have a great deal of spare cash, but I had managed to save a few bob during the summer that I had planned to use to finance my new life of bachelor autonomy. I made myself a list of the crucial items of furniture that I could not manage without and then began asking around (scrounging). Within a few days I had acquired an old double bed, a wobbly table, a pair of dining chairs and a usable 2-seat settee. All for absolutely no cash!

Since I had spent next to nothing (I did have to pay a guy with a van to get the bed round to my flat) I decided that I could afford to spend some cash on the soft furnishings and home accessories that I needed. I treated myself to some nice bathroom towels, a new duvet, some new bed linen, a few pieces of essential cookware and a nice new tableware set. What a pleasure it is to sleep under new bed linen and drink my tea from a new, unstained tea cup.

My home furnishing experience has, so far, been a lot of fun. So much so that I am now embarking upon a complete redecoration project so that the bedroom and bathroom match the bedroom linen and bath towels that I have just purchased.

Top tip: If you are embarking upon a home furnishing project see what items of furniture you can scrounge. I was surprised at the offers of furniture that I received from people who were only too happy to give the items away, as long as I was happy to collect them. Then spend your money on the home accessories, the bedroom linen, cushions, plates and cutlery which will make your home feel fresh, clean and new.