Being homesick is common for a lot of college students, and college apartments aren't always exactly what we want. There are ways to make a college apartment feel homier and more spacious, even just by decorating. Before you decide that you hate your college apartment and move back home, try these tips and tricks to transform your living space.
1. Spring cleaning all year.
Many people do the bulk of their organizing, donating and trashing once or twice a year. To get your apartment
organized and decorated, it's important to start with a clean slate. Donating or trashing the things you don't need can really open up space in storage areas such as closets, or under your bed. Using these spaces efficiently can help your place look more spacious when you're done! Yes, when done neatly, it's OK to hide things under your bed. Cleaning and donating unused items often can keep your place looking neat and tidy.
2. Reduce clutter.
Sometimes it's difficult to find a permanent home for something that usually stays "out" on a table or counter, but it's important to find places to put things when you aren't using them. Getting in this habit will help tremendously when trying to keep your place looking spacious and homey. In my apartment, reducing clutter usually consists of throwing away garbage, putting away things I've left out, and filing papers or documents I want to keep.
3. Organizational storage saves space.
If your place is feeling a little cramped, try to use organization to solve the problem. Using plastic drawers in the bathroom and closet can help use space efficiently. Cube storage can be used for many different purposes in college apartments, such as bookshelves,
shoes, clothes, and more. Material bins are made to slide into cube storage units for storage of smaller items, too!
4. Make a wish list.
Decorating an apartment to be where you want to live may take time and money. It's OK that it doesn't all get done at once, and making a list with priorities can help you choose what comes first. A list stating what you want, cost, and priority, will make it much easier to budget for everything, as well. Looking up ideas online is a great idea when trying to come up with a wish list of what you want for your apartment, and determining cost.
5. Bargain shop!
While you want your college apartment to feel more like home, you don't have to break the bank trying to buy the same sofa your mom has! There are many ways to find gently used furniture and other apartment items through
Craigslist,
Offer Up, and
Goodwill stores. Inexpensive, new furniture and organization units can be found at stores such as
Kmart,
Big Lots, and
Walmart.
6. Decorate.
Depending on the size of the apartment, as well as if you have any roommates, you may or may not be able to decorate. Decorating in the space you spend the most time in is a good start in trying to make your place feel more like home. A mirror on the wall, a painting above the bed, and curtains in place of closet doors can completely change the atmosphere of a bedroom. Starting with simple changes like decorating walls will help in determining how to organize and what to look for in ways of furniture.
7. Do it right.
Many of us have heard, "If you're going to do it, do it right." This is really true in decorating your living space, because crooked wall decorations and gaping holes drilled in the walls will not make the place look better. If decorating is something that you think will improve your place, do it patiently and carefully with the correct tools for the best results. Sometimes putting something on the wall quickly and incorrectly can take more time and be more difficult to fix in the long run.
8. Respect your place.
Respect the place you live in, and ask others to respect it, too. Leaving trash or dishes to pile up, or tracking in mud on shoes will only make your place somewhere you don't want to hang out. Putting money into a place is more incentive to keep it nice. Keeping it clean, organized, and livable will make your place more enjoyable to you and your guests.
9. Make it yours, but be respectful.
Customizing a place to your preferences can make living there a much better experience. Being respectful of the wishes of roommates is really important when trying to redecorate your space, but change isn't a bad thing. If you approach the subject as improving the space for everyone, who could say no to that? Remember to respect the opinion of everyone affected by redecorating or reorganizing. Starting with your bedroom can be a great improvement if you're looking for a change.
10. Be patient.
Changing a living space can take a lot of time, money and effort. Big changes require more of those things, but can be accomplished over time. Saving up money, deciding on changes and following through with them can be overwhelming, but taking it one step at a time can ensure that the changes are dealt with eventually. Be patient and enjoy making your college apartment what you want it to be!
Dorms and college apartments can be small and make you miss home. Using these tips to makeover your living space can help make it feel bigger, as well as more comfortable to live in. Decorating your place is an important part of living away from home, and can make you feel a lot better about where you live!
