By Veronica Davis
Home sweet home does not always have to come in the form of an actual house with a mortgage. If you live in an apartment or even a dorm room, you may feel like this space is more of a temporary place than a comfortable place you call home.
The downfalls of living in a place like this may have a lot to do with the lack of a homey feeling they provide. You aren’t always allowed to paint, you may not have a ton of space and you can’t change the cabinets or give any permanent fixture a serious makeover.
Regardless of how long you will be spending in your apartment or new dorm room. You are going to want your apartment or dorm to feel like home and not like you are just staying in a hotel for an extended period of time. Doing so doesn’t have to cost a fortune, either. You can decorate a dorm on any budget. Here are a few tips to make your dorm or apartment feel like home sweet home:
Utilize your wall space quickly
It seems as if the walls are the last thing people worry about when moving into a new space. Making use of your walls will instantly make it look like there is actually someone living in your apartment. Just remember not to put too many holes in the wall. You aren’t going to want to spend all your time spackling and touching up holes with paint and filling them in when the time comes to move. Use large, oversized paintings. This cuts down on holes. There are also some pretty strong adhesive alternatives to nails these days. For example, these picture hanging strips that are very cheap and let you hang your favorite pictures without making any holes in the wall.
Opt for comfort over space-saving
It’s rather obvious that you want comfortable furniture. It is a common misconception that apartment renters or dorm dwellers must choose their furniture by its size or price rather than comfort level. You don’t have to buy tiny furniture. Just select a few comfortable pieces. Keep in mind that you may want to use this furniture again in a house later down the road. Remember, that couches with narrow arm rests will provide you with more seats. Upright dressers or armoires are more space efficient than low, wider dressers. When buying fewer pieces of furniture, you will have more of a budget to get the furniture you want.
Skip the back to school sales
Plastic storage containers are great. However, they don’t give your space much personality. Opt for decorative storage bins that are made of more natural materials. They will provide a better sense of ‘home’. Give baskets, wood crates or linen bags a try. Also remember that shelves are a great place for storing and bins can also be placed on them.
Go green
Adding living green plants will bring a new sense of life to your dorm or apartment. They will make it look lived in. It’s ok if they don’t live forever! Shelling out a few dollars here and there is not a big deal. Plus, they’ll increase the quality of air inside.
Decorate your space
Use your favorite items. Try to avoid seasonal items or items that are likely to go out of style quickly. If you have a little bit of extra space, store some decorations. You can rotate décor. If you must decorate for every holiday, find a small corner of a closet or pantry to store holiday decorations in. But keep decorations minimal and incorporate your decorations with what you already have.
Author Information
Veronica Davis is a freelance writer and internet business columnist. She currently works with several green lifestyle, saving money and real estate sites. She recommends seeing if there is an Ebay coupon for the item you’re looking for (such as picture hanging strips or decorative storage bins) or by checking out your other favorite auction sites for great deals.
Adv. — If you’re coming up short for college financing, a private student loan from Sallie Mae can help you cover unmet expenses.
Photo Credit: Leonid Dzhepko
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