As a college student, chances are there are two things you’re concerned with when it comes to decorating your apartment: cost and decorating it the way you like. When these two things seem to come into conflict, it can be discouraging. While you may have already heard apartment living advice concerning how to find the perfect apartment, consider these tips for decorating it.
Apartment Living Advice: Decorating
Combine Your Money
As a college student, chances are you will have at least one roommate. When purchasing larger items, consider combining your money. This is especially helpful if you’re planning to room together for multiple years. Lamps, couches, chairs, dining room furniture and other items will cost a lot less if you combine your money. You can decide right away who gets each item in the end or you may decide to sell all the items and split the money when you all graduate.
If combing your money is unrealistic, make an agreement where each person buys a specific item for the apartment. For example, one person might buy a lamp while another person buys some pictures, and a third person buys the shower curtain and bathroom rugs. In this way, it’s clear who gets each item when you move out, but everyone is contributing to furnishing the apartment.
Do Not Be Afraid of Used
While you want to avoid buying used furniture from places where you might get bedbugs or other unappealing consequences, do not be scared away just because something is used. Ask family and friends if they have furniture or other items they no longer want or need. Chances are they will give it to you for free or sell it for cheap.
You may also want to consider garage sales and thrift stores for inexpensive furnishings for you apartment. Just make sure the items are in good condition. When buying couches or other used furniture, be aware of smells which might be hard to remove from fabric, and be cautious of bedbugs. When buying used, it’s also important to consider how you’re going to get larger items to your apartment. While new furniture stores will often bring the items to your house, if you’re buying from a used source, you may have to find your own way to get the items home.
Mismatched is Fine
As a college student, part of apartment living is often having items which do not entirely match. Whether it’s only have two or three of the same plate or having a blue couch with two bright green chairs, do not worry if your apartment is not perfectly coordinated. Most of your other college friends will have mismatched apartments as well. At this time in your life, functional is far more important than an apartment which is perfectly coordinated.
Do Not Try to Do It All At Once
If you are living in a furnished apartment or if you happen to acquire a lot of used furniture from others, you might be able to have your apartment looking the way you would like within a week or two. Otherwise, you may have to budget for furnishings. Buy items a little at a time. Do not worry if you only have one couch at first or if you’re sitting on beanbag chairs to eat dinner for the first month. It’s better to have some empty space than to go into debt to furnish your apartment. Besides, if you’re patient, items might go on sale, or a great practically-new couch might arrive at your favorite thrift store. Purchase items as they become available and as they fit into your budget.
Utilize Your Space
Although some college apartments are large, most college students live in smaller spaces. Sometimes, you may even have to share a room. If you’re sharing an apartment with several people, you may not have adequate storage space. You can buy cinder blocks relatively cheap. Put these under your bed, and you can raise it up several inches, giving you extra storage space under your bed. Consider things like over-the-door shoe storage or multifunctional furniture such as storage ottomans. If possible, leave out-of-season clothes at your parents’ house or store clothing you will not be using for a while in vacuum-seal storage bags.
Of course, there are a variety of other things you can do furnish your new college apartment. What are some of the best tips you have heard for making your apartment your own without spending a lot of money? Let us know about it in the comment section below.
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