Creating your very first apartment!

Creating your very first apartment

Being a student myself I know how hard it is to feel like home in a different house than the one you grew up! It’s a life situation that many find it hard to cope with but trust me it gets better. You’ll soon realize that it’s better having your own place to reflect, think and do all the things that your parent didn’t allow you to do before. It get even more awesome when you don’t have to sleep in the bed that you slept since you where 5 or when you don’t have to put up with your mothers obsolete taste in furniture. Now you get to choose what kind of style your house is going to be, get to put your personal taste in it, and sooner or later you’ll call this YOUR home!

The hardest part of the whole situation is to make it feel like a home. It should be the place that you can relax after a long day in college and feel safe in it, the place that will support you!

There are a few steps that will help you begin regardless the budget.

Small space solutions

Most dorms are pretty small in space therefore you feel smothered and tired living in them.

• ·        Start by seeing which spaces are spacious and sunny. You don’t want to put your bed or your desk in a room that the sun comes in the afternoon, those areas should be illuminated for most of the day.
• ·         Make a floor plan. It will help you organize your thoughts and create an image of the room. Don’t forget to place the windows and doors (while opening).
• ·       Try a table behind the sofa or somewhere in the living room. Avoid this solution if you have a roommate.

• ·         You can divide areas in your house with curtains. Isolate your bed and closet in a quiet place.

• ·         If your house has a spare closet use it as a desk, you can even add a self for storage

Low budget

• ·        No couch? No problem! One of the easiest but yet affordable solution for this are pallets, their price ranges from 3-5 Euros. They are very strong, unbreakable and easy to transform. Place on it big cushion 65x65 or your old mattress and cushions for back. Pallets can be used also as coffee table, bookshelves, beds and a lot more things than you can imagine!

• ·         Check out online stores(amazon.com) they got some pretty cool stuff in a low price . And of course IKEA.
• Use books or magazines for nightstand,the colorful covers will give a playful and interesting twist to your room. You can also use ladder and old vintage suitcases that will add a romantic touch to your room.

                                                                                                      

Decoration

•           Choose a few large artworks to bring focus to walls. A big piece of art is a great way to add personality to your space without painting.

•        Add something fluffy. A fake sheepskin draped over a chair, a cuddly throw on the sofa or a knit blanket on the bed makes a space feel comfy and homey. A warm rug underfoot can help immensely, too. Try a flat-weave in the dining space (easier to clean) and something really warm and fluffy beside your bed so you can sink your toes into it on chilly mornings.
•       Add some baskets. Facing an organizing problem? No matter what it is, or what room it’s in, baskets can probably help. Choose open-top baskets if you want to be able to see the contents, lidded baskets if you want to hide them.

•        Treat yourself to something just because you like it. It’s your apartment — don’t forget that! So when your budget allows, go ahead and treat yourself to those pretty candles, that terrarium tray or that art book you’ve had your eye on. It’s the personal touches you’ve chosen just because you love them that will begin to make your first rental feel like home.