Watching Your Wallet: "Decor on a Dime"

Published on the Utah Statesman website on February 10, 2010.

Flattened, discolored "elementary school-esqe" carpet. Blank, whitewashed, yet slightly yellowing, walls. DI furniture with who-knows-how-many years behind its belt. Grungy, dim lighting that feels like Costco or some other industrial warehouse. Sound familiar? This sounds a lot like my little apartment and probably a lot like most college dorms and apartments. The problem of dreary decor and furnishings has been an issue for as long as college housing has existed, but there is no reason to live in such misery. Contrary to popular belief, you don't have to spend a ton of money for your place to feel a little more homey. If you're getting sick of your living space, try sprucing it up a bit with some inexpensive decorating tips.

Now, now, I know what you're thinking:

A. "Decorating is for (female) interior design or FCHD majors. I'm a manly-man who doesn't care where I live or what conditions I live in."

B. "You're wrong. Decorating is expensive. Unless you want your living space to look chintzy and cheap, you have to spend a lot of money."

Or:
C. "I'm not creative. I'm doomed to white-wall, flattened-carpet disdain for the rest of my college years."

Fortunately, all of these excuses are incorrect. Decorating isn't just for girls and cutesy art- or homemaking-related majors. It does not have to be expensive, and you don't have to be creative to make a dreary place livable. In fact, you don't even have to call it decorating. How about "redesigning the layout" or "sprucing up your residence" or "renovating your living space"? Okay, we'll stick to "decorating." Nonetheless, here are some ideas to liven up your college living spaces without busting your wallet.

1. Lighting will absolutely revolutionize your dorm or apartment. Living in the dorms my first year often felt like living in a jail cell. Cinderblock white walls, terrible (and uncomfortable) furniture and lighting. Oh the lighting. It really did feel like Costco or a classroom sometimes. My roommates and I decided to try putting some lamps out in our living room, which made our dorm feel more like a home away from home, rather than a school away from school. Try using lamps in your bedroom or living room to make it feel cozier.

2. Posters are a cheap way to cover a lot of white wall space. Some argue they make a place look cheap and trashy, but one must remember, we are in college and can't necessarily afford real art. There are posters out there that will express your personality, look decent and cover up the endless white walls.

3. DI, DI, DI. It's a magical place in so many ways. If you're looking to add that "something" to your apartment, DI is the place to look first for new furniture, lamps, art, rugs, etc. Look for the unexpected to add something fun to your apartment. To decorate shelves in my room I bought some old movie records from the DI. They were 50 cents each and the cases add a lot of color and personality to my room. DI is fantastic, and, in all honesty, we are in college: find something funny or strange as a conversation piece in your apartment.

4. Perhaps you don't actually need more stuff, you just need to organize or rearrange what you already have. Install shelves or a rod in your closet, buy storage units or simply rearrange your room. By decreasing the clutter and seeing your stuff in a new light, perhaps you'll find the touch you've been looking for.

5. For most, furniture (particularly couches) for college apartments can be quite nasty. We have a brown striped couch that I'm quite sure was originally a light tan color. Who knows how many college apartments it has inhabited in its day? That's part of the magical mystery of DI. To mask your furniture's "used" qualities – stains, discolorations, mysterious crustiness, etc. – check out places such as Ross or TJMaxx for discounted furniture covers, or simply cover it with a nice blanket or quilt. Another way to liven up old couches and furniture is to add inexpensive throw pillows for color and comfort.

6. Throw rugs can make all the difference in a room, especially for dilapidated, flattened, industrial carpet. To cover unsightly carpet, look at DI, TJ Maxx or Ross for a washable rug.

7. Add some life. Buy or grow plants to liven up your dorm or apartment, especially in the dreary, smoggy days of Logan's never-ending winter.

8. Put up some curtains or window treatments. My roommate brought up an old curtain her family no longer used and it softens the room and adds color to the walls.

9. Is your place tiny? Use mirrors to open up the space and make it feel larger. We bought a big mirror from DI for $10.

10. Let your family and friends know you are willing to take any hand-me-down furniture, decorations and appliances. Who knows what people have sitting around in their basements, garages or storage rooms?

Best of luck, and if you have any more inexpensive and easy decorating tips let us know by commenting below.