(Late post - I am home now! More posts to come)
By now, four months after I've arrived in Rochester, I am definitely settled in. Though my dorm room isn't quite as complete as it would be if I were staying for more than five months, I feel that it's important to make your space cozy, unique and a place where you like to be.
The fun part about moving far away is starting from scratch. It's a clean slate, an opportunity to be creative and express your individuality. Everyone has their own style, but this list of places to shop may be a helpful starting point for those of you in the UK
My favourite home decor stores:
TK Maxx - It's like TJ Maxx in America or Winners in Canada. I love it for kitchen accessories and I got my yoga mat there.
MUJI - A Japanese lifestyle store based on practicality and minimalism, my favourite. Everything is cute and useful and very soft or smooth. I got a plastic pencil holder, cloth coaster, ceramic toothbrush holder and two gorgeous candles packaged in tin. (Elderflower and _)
Primark - Very inexpensive and adorable decor. I bought a vanilla diffuser, vanilla candle in a mirrored glass pot, a strand of forty simple fairy lights and a white "LOVE" sign to remind me to put love into everything I do.
Local Florist Shop - I bought a red Christmas berry plant for just 50p and a cascading ivy plant for my shelf.
Poundland - Gorgeous picture frames for just a pound each! And they have books for only a pound, which are not only great for train rides, coffee shops and flights, but look pretty on a shelf.
Zara Home & H&M Home are also AMAZING but too expensive for just my dorm. I think I'll take most of my decor back home but I'd rather spend less on decorating and more on school and food! They're a good option if you want a really pretty keepsake to take home.
Local boutiques in Rochester - Rochester is filled with gorgeous little curated shops with an English bohemian aesthetic. They are so much fun to browse and so full of treasures, it gets really difficult to choose what to buy! But if you decide to splurge and support the local economy, you're sure to go home with something unique.
Thank you for reading,
