Getting your first college apartment is the moment when you know that you are getting old. Suddenly, you have to think about buying a toaster and getting groceries other than macaroni and cheese, and being a college student ultimately means that you don’t have any extra money left to spare on unnecessary items. I’m here to tell you that decorating your apartment is as necessary as buying an HDMI cord for your TV, and your apartment can be the most stylish one in the building for a low price if you’re willing to put in the work. Without further delay, here are 10 decorating hacks for your college apartment.
1. Frames can make every picture classier.
Instinct tells you to just pin your old movie poster onto your bedroom wall, but why do that when you can look extra sophisticated and frame it instead?
2. Washi tape is the cure to any boring walls.
When frames are out of the question for you, washi tape is your next best bet. Easily removable and decorative tape that can keep your photos up year round and serve to make cool designs on your wall? Sounds like a dream come true.
3. Everything is cuter with a mason jar.
Literally everything. Got some Christmas lights you don’t know what to do with? Stick them in a mason jar and you have your own makeshift lamp. Tired of random pens lying around your desk? Mason jars make the cutest desk organizer you’ll ever see. Just got back from the beach and there’s sand all up in your purse? Dump it in a mason jar and you have a cute beach-themed dining table centerpiece. I couldn’t make it easier if I tried.
4. Get thrifty.
One of the main reasons why people never want to decorate their apartment is because of the cost. In reality, you don’t have to look further than your local Goodwill or Dollar Tree in order to find cute décor for an affordable price, and they also usually have all of the equipment needed for any Pinterest DIY. Get creative!
5. When in doubt, collage it out.
Have a giant blank wall in your living room that you don’t know what to do with? The only reasonable answer: make a collage. Sure, hanging one big poster can also get the job done, but it’s not nearly as interesting as sticking random canvases and frames up just for the fun of it.
6. Command strip hooks will most likely solve any decorating problem.
While command hooks are typically used for bathroom towels and the like, they can also be handy for a variety of other decorations if you just think outside of the box. From hanging curtains over some ugly blinds to fixing some cute wall art on your front door, Command hooks are usually the answer to any sticky situation.
7. Plants can improve any room.
From low-maintenance succulents to cute daisies, having a small potted plant in your living room can sometimes be what your apartment needs in order to bring it to the next level. And don’t worry if you kill every plant you touch—dozens of home goods stores sell fake plants just as cute for zero percent of the hassle.
8. Print out your Instagram posts.
If the pictures hanging over your bed are half as aesthetic as your Instagram feed is, then you won’t have a problem with pumping up your style.
9. Use accessories as decoration.
From hanging your hometown’s baseball cap up next to your desk to artfully placing your Polaroid camera on the coffee table, your everyday accessories are sometimes the best way to spruce up your apartment. Who cares if the camera doesn’t actually work or if you’ve never worn the baseball cap in your life? It’s all about the aesthetic.
10. Don’t take yourself too seriously.
Just because it’s your first apartment doesn’t mean you have to grow up. Decorate your apartment to truly represent your own personality—wouldn’t it be way more fun to live somewhere you truly feel at home rather than a place where you’re trying to be somebody you’re not?
