Small Space Decorating: Simple College Apartment Set Ups

College apartment set ups need to maximize small spaces so that everyone who lives in the apartment can come home each day to a welcoming space without a lot of clutter. Since most college students are on a tight college budget, decorating the college apartment needs to be inexpensive and effective.

What’s Already There/What Roomates Bring

If you can, get in touch with your roomate(s) (if you have any) and your school to find out what they’ll provide for your apartment. Apartments furnished by the college usually include at least beds, mattresses, dressers, and desks for each person in the room. That’s four fewer huge items you need to bring. If you have roommates, try to split responsibility for bringing items you can share, such as:

• Microwave
• Dishware
• Refrigerator
• TV/DVD player
• Stereo
• Video game systems
• Printer
• Lounge or floor chair(s)
• Waste bin
• Curtains
• Floor rug for each room

Having two or more of these items in college apartment set ups, where space is limited, can cause problems when it comes to effective small space decorating.

The Bare Essentials

Small space decorating means making the most of the space you have; that means your aim is to bring in only the bare essentials. Remember that you’re probably only going to spend less than a year in this apartment and you’ll have to move back into another apartment the following semester, so you’ll want your college apartment set ups to include easy-to-move items that you need and use frequently.

• Bed sheets
• Comforter
• Pillows
• Desk lamp
• Alarm clock
• Clothes hangers
• Desktop or notebook computer
• Storage boxes

Effective Apartment Set Ups

College apartment set ups depend largely on the amount of space; some colleges require two people to share one small room while others offer individual rooms and still others offer large open spaces and multiple rooms for a small group of students. However, no matter the layout of your college apartment, you can make use of these tips to maximize space on a tight college budget.

1. Stack beds, if possible (some beds turn into bunk beds).
2. Put the microwave on top of a small refrigerator.
3. Position entertainment systems atop a dresser in line with beds or chairs.
4. Place desks on opposite corners of the room, with the bunk bed in between them.
5. Stack storage boxes under beds and in the closet.

Decor

Of course, even if you’re stuck with a small space, that doesn’t mean you don’t want your apartment to look good. Here are a few inexpensive tips to coordinate the design in your apartment layout.

1. Opt for attractive wall decor; even framing a swatch of fabric can look good.
2. Drape matching throws or inexpensive fabric over the back of chairs, sofas, and the bed headboards to coordinate the room’s design.
3. Use cable organizers and covers to safely keep cords untangled and out of the way.
4. Put down room-size rugs, even in rooms with carpet, to cover unsightly floors.

The best college apartment set ups maximize even the smallest of spaces without draining a stretched college budget. You can make a room more welcoming through DIY decorating without cluttering up the space with unnecessary junk.