Five Tips for Decorating Your First Apartment on a Student Budget

By Kait Spong

Congratulations! You have your first apartment—that’s right, a whole living space to yourself. No annoying little brothers busting into your room at any time, no bothersome parents wanting to track your every move, and no more restrictive guidelines as to where you can go or who you can invite over. Now that the ball is finally in your court, however, maybe you didn’t quite realize how many “adult” responsibilities you’d have as a renter.

One of those responsibilities includes customizing your space to really make your apartment feel like a home. Whether you’re using hand-me-downs or splurging on new pieces, your first apartment is a great opportunity to explore and refine your style preferences. So, after the initial excitement of having your own apartment fades, don’t be burdened by the enormous task of furnishing and decorating your home. With these simple tips, you’ll be able to keep your expectations in check and make the most out of your new living space.

Take Advantage of Hand-Me-Downs

It seems to be a well-known fact that college students struggle financially—and with good reason. You are dedicating your time to bettering yourself by preparing for future pursuits with a formalized education. But you don’t need to have an unlimited budget to acquire some beautiful and unique pieces of furniture and other household essentials, so don’t get down on yourself—get some hand-me-downs instead!

Don’t think of that couch from your grandma as old, consider it vintage. Your relative’s silverware? Antique, obviously. And doesn’t that fabulous armoire from a family friend just add an unparalleled impression to your new space? It’s all about perspective. Not only will it feel special to have family pieces in your own home, but your willingness to accept free furnishings will benefit your budget, allowing you to spend money on other necessities for your new apartment. Plus, whatever hand-me-downs lack in style points will surely make up for it with unrealized potential. If all else fails, you can always refinish, repaint, or reupholster free pieces to add your own personal flair.

Personalize Your Space with an Art Wall

You may have seen pictures of them on Etsy, Pinterest, or Instagram! Yes, art walls are all the rage when it comes to personalizing contemporary home spaces on a budget. The best thing about art walls? There are so many possibilities on how to put one together. You can buy and frame prints, or put your artistic skills to the test by creating your own eye-catching material.

You can use floating shelves to display your prized collection of Pop Vinyls, hang a tapestry you found at a cool art market, or create a hodgepodge of collected photographs and mementos. Once you find what speaks to you, it’s relatively simple and inexpensive to create the art wall of your dreams—and one that will be the envy of all your friends and family members that stop by.

Make Room for More Storage

You might not realize how much storage space you need until you’re in the weeds while moving in all of your precious belongings. The downfall of having a good amount of possessions is that not all apartment homes are equipped to store your personal property efficiently. Luckily enough for you, there are plenty of solutions to this modern-day plague of little to no storage space.

Invest in a storage bed, chest, or ottoman. Utilize hanging racks for coats, bath towels, or kitchen pots. Create an intricate closet system with all the drawers and shelving you need. Modern storage solutions can even be repurposed to fulfill your art wall fantasies! It’s not uncommon to hang hats, scarves, and other accessories in a decorative way that really emphasizes the chic, comfy ambiance you’re attempting to achieve in your new apartment home.

Bring Any Room to Life with Houseplants  

Put a little natural oomph in your space with some of nature’s greatest gifts: houseplants! There are many benefits to houseplants aside from adorning your space with something fresh and green.

Houseplants purify the air, removing toxins and up to 87 percent of volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, every 24-hours. Their ability to release moisture vapor decreases incidents of dry skin, sore throats, dry coughs, and colds. Adding plants to interior spaces will also increase oxygen levels, improving your overall health and sharpening your focus. Plus, they are known to lower background noise—like the kind caused by your neighbors.

Aside from all the health benefits, plants revamp your whole living space for a small cost. And no matter how much technology advances, the truth remains that humans still enjoy being surrounded by natural elements. As the famous Spanish dramatist, Pedro Calderon de la Barca, once said, “Green is the prime color of the world, and that is from which its loveliness arises.”

Don’t Be Afraid to DIY

To DIY, or not to DIY—that is the question. “Do It Yourself” projects can be beneficial in terms of cost, just like all the other points we’ve hit along the way, but they also provide apartment residents and home owners alike with a sense of accomplishment and purpose.

By investing time in DIY projects, you will be putting your hands and brain to work. There’s a special satisfaction that comes from implementing your own designs and completing the nitty-gritty tasks that go along with them. You can let your creativity run wild by tackling fun projects that bring your living space to life!

DIY projects also heighten your appreciation of the small things in life. Although the work of building items for your own home can be potentially challenging, you’ll also be rewarded ten-fold once you finally achieved what you set out to accomplish. The next time a neighbor stops by for a cup of sugar and coincidentally points at your new coffee table and asks, “Where did you find that?”—you can proudly respond, “Oh, that? I made it.”

Share this article: