Tips for Decorating Your First Apartment While in College

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Going off to college can feel like the most exciting moment of your life. Everything from moving into your dorm room to showing up for your first class will be memorable. Unfortunately, as you'll soon find out, things tend to cost money. That's the one thing most students seem to be short on. Fortunately, with a little ingenuity, you can still decorate. Even on a budget, There are a ton of things you can do so that you'll feel right at home in your new apartment.

Don't Forget to Peruse Community Art Festivals

Nothing sets the mood for a room like a large wall décor piece. Centered on the wall, it draws everyone's attention. Magnetized by the piece's elegance, people seem to stare at it wistfully, lost in thought. If you'd like to have a piece that brings out the room, visit one of your local art festivals. Most college communities have art festivals a few times a month. These are where local artists gather to sell their goods. Not only can you find something beautiful, but you can help to support local artisans at the same time. You could even ask them for insight about what would match your apartment the best. Most artists don't mind giving people a little help, especially when asked nicely. Besides, meeting new people is part of what college is all about, right?

Snoop Through Your Local Thrift Stores

Thrifting might be one of the most valuable skills you develop while you are off at college. At your local thrift store, there could be some fabulous decorations. Walk into any thrift store and you'll see the walls lined with hidden treasures, just waiting for you to find them. Best of all, compared to their typical retail price, everything you will find should be a steal. It's not uncommon to save over 90% off whatever you purchase at the thrift store. Plus, since most of their inventory is local, they tend to have more variety than big-box stores.

Crafting Your Own Decorations Can Be Even More Impactful

Perhaps, you'd rather not use another person's artwork to decorate your home. Instead, if you happen to have an artistic flair, maybe you'd like to do it yourself. Creating your own decorations might sound a little far-fetched. However, in the past, that's the only way people could do it at all. Woodwork has always been a crowd pleaser. Grab a wood-burning kit, and carve a sigil into it to represent your new place. Or, you could do some wood carving so that you could create something a bit more practical. Wooden key bowls have been a fanciful centerpiece for centuries. How awesome would it feel to show off your own creations when you invited people over?

Inspire Yourself by Looking at Examples of Other Rooms Online

If you are ever at a loss, don't despair. Even the most creative people of all time have encountered stumbling blocks occasionally. Reinvigorate your imagination by researching what other people have done online. Most of the time, after you've seen a few other ideas, your own ideas will begin flooding your mind again. Anytime you begin feeling uninspired, take a short break. Walk away from the project entirely. Then, look to other places for something to inspire you. New ideas sparking in the mind, you'll be a lot more effective after you get back to it.

Ask Someone Else for Their Ideas

Sometimes, it just feels like it's impossible to come up with anything yourself. If you ever felt that way, then you are not alone. Those times require a little outside support. Ask one of your roommates or friends about what they think. Usually, they'll chime in with something pretty creative. Decorating your place will always be better if you can do it with friends. That way, everybody has a stake in the end result. Plus, there ought to be far fewer creative roadblocks along the way.

Decorating Your First College Room

Some people don't seem to realize how much of a difference good decorations can make. Without them, your place will just feel like an empty box. However, by decorating it well, you'll feel right at home.