The BEST college apartment decorating ideas for all types of budgets that will make your college home the coziest place in town.
The place you want to call home, have friends over, relax at the end of a long day, where you can work or study in peace, and a place you can feel good about. The vibe and feel of your space is SO IMORTANT! This is all about YOU and your ideal small living space. It can be done.
College Apartment Ideas
It’s crazy to think it’s been seven years of moving to different apartments and houses for me, and every time I get excited about how I’m going to decorate my place and make it mine. Tell me I’m not the only one? I’ve also always had roommates so I usually just pray we have a similar style and they love to decorate or won’t mind me dolling up the place. The minute I am looking for a new apartment to live in, I’m honestly already thinking about decorating and how cute I can make it.
This picture is from when I lived in my first house (duplex) in my hometown and ohhh was I excited….this place had so much charm, the rooms had tall ceilings, the living area was huge, wooden floors, so much natural light, I mean can you ask for anything else? Now you know why I was stoked to decorate a total gem house and most importantly, my room.
If I learned one thing about moving into multiple college apartments and houses with others, how you make your home, how you decorate it and make it feel like a place you can all look forward to coming home to, is so important. Trust me I would know. The last college housing situation I was is in, I wasn’t even in college I was done with school, but of course, still gravitated towards the older housing with charm and a bay view.
I can’t say this about all my living situations but in my last place, I couldn’t have had it better. I had three other roommates and we were all very different people but easily could come together and make our house feel like home for two years. Honestly, when it came to decor, we were on the same page. Each of us had an eye for wanting to live in a super cute place, there was no judging or preferences, not even one time I would hang something and my roommates took it down or thought it was weird. Believe me, that happens. We all wanted a space we could enjoy and decorate together because that’s what helped make it a place we felt comfortable to be!
College Apartment Decor
Whether this is your first college apartment or you’re moving to a brand new apartment, either with roommates or by yourself, you have a lot to think about and a fresh opportunity to create the home you want. To get some college apartment decor inspiration, you will find 14 of some of the cutest, convenient, stylish, and must-do ideas for your apartment in this article. For the spaces you don’t think about, how to fill the rooms where you need furniture and decor but still have a comfortable amount of space, and tips and tricks to styling the home you want with small spaces. Let’s get decorating, shall we?!
Small Kitchen Space
Image source: Small kitchen ideas
One of the most used areas in your living space is a perfect spot to organize, store and display your decor. I haven’t seen a cuter, smaller kitchen that does just the job! What is going to make you want to be in your kitchen (besides the cooking)? “Of course, you may not have room for a kitchen island, a stove, and a dining table to accommodate your guests. But diminutive does not necessarily mean boring. There are many clever solutions that give your kitchen a spacious look.”
Dining Area
Image source: Small apartment furniture finds
The fact that this dining area has a built-in bench seating area I’m already in love. This probably came with the house but I don’t care, I thrive off of little finds like this. All you need is a table and two chairs and still have plenty of seating! What a way to make use of the space. It almost looks like the dining room was meant to look like this. You can add cute pillows and plants to set the mood of the fun eating area!
Living Room Area
Image source Nature tringle art
And now for one of my favorites, the LIVING ROM!! I know what you’re thinking, this is the cutest, little living room you imagine. And you know what? Not much goes into creating this perfect, homey look. This photo is to recognize the triangle picture art on the wall but I’m really here for all of it. A couch, cute coffee table, and art piece do make the difference in a main living area!
Ivy Vine String Lights
Image source: Ivy Vine String Lights
It’s the ivy vine lights for me. I really feel college apartment decor gives the whole vibe to a room. Even a string of vine lights, vines, or lights! Not all plants go in pots and not all lights need to be strung like Christmas lights. I love this combo and it fills the space perfectly!
Small Unknown Corner Space
Image source: My life
This right here is a great example of how I would take advantage of the awkward space in my last house! One thing that comes with older houses that have a lot of charm, the little corners or funky spaces you don’t know what to do with!! This was my favorite corner, it wasn’t much but somehow was so aesthetically pleasing. No matter what I was doing on the couch I loved having this little space to look over to. The bar sign and stand were actually my roommates and she didn’t know what to do with the random decor so we turned our random corner into something cute that was just there!
Clothing Rack
Image source: Clothing Rack
Wow has this changed my life for having a small space! This could be what you’re missing from your college apartment decor! Soo a funny story but from the time I moved into my first college apartment I literally had no closet. NO CLOSET. I had so much stuff. Where was I supposed to hang all my clothes I didn’t have room for or organize my shoes?? I kid you not for the last seven years I have used some kind of clothing rack. Also, they are so cute and a trendy way to decorate your college apartment living space!
Bathroom Decor
Image source: Bathroom Decor
Don’t forget about the bathroom where you have all your beauty products, bath necessities and where are the towels and air plants supposed to go? Here you are friends, a perfect over the toilet solution. Find a latter or maybe even put in a couple of shelves and you can store almost anything! Okay, but what if you don’t even have space in your bathroom for this? All good, go get a couple of baskets and stack them! Workaround the space you do have for college apartment decor.
Shower Curtain
Image source: Bathroom Decor
A shower curtain, really Madi? Everyone needs that. Okay yes, I threw this one in just for fun! Because I’m sorry but do you see how cute this is? It’s probably the most simple idea ever but I love seeing how even the basics in a basic college living space can be made to look different! I love how the curtains are pulled back like this, I think it already sets a relaxing mood in the bathroom, and isn’t that what you want to come home to??
Room Ideas
Image source: Cozy bedroom ideas for women
Not all college apartment decor ideas need to be big!!! Here is a combination of the TINIEST plants, small lights, the ukulele and it’s adorable. They all go together so well and take up just a fraction of the space. This is key and honestly totally normal while decorating your college apartment- you get used to having small spaces to put things.
Wall Mounting Hooks
Image source: Wall mounted hooks
“Wall-mounted hooks keep bags and coats off the floor.” Well, ain’t that the truth!! If you’re like me and have a habit of throwing your coat and purse anywhere when you get home and then have to think about putting it back later, this brilliant hook idea could be just what you need. Plus how cool does it look? They aren’t just tacky hooks across your whole wall, whatever you hang becomes the decor!
Home Office
Image source: Home office space
Aah, I love this! And the at-home office, watching tv, but still by the couch area? “The first solution is to rearrange your furniture so you can float your sofa instead of having it up against a wall. Floating your sofa gives you the option to place a narrow console table behind it, which can act as a desk.” It doesn’t even look like a packed space and you can get everything done that you need to!
Living area Room Modifiers
Image source: Living room studio decor
I think this is one of my favorite college apartment decoration ideas I have ever seen and you know what, it’s just a studio. The decor that makes the difference for me and I’m sure you too, is that curtain! The room is easily divided in a very creative, simple, and charming way. Who said curtains just need to go on windows? College apartment decor ideas that are easy and simple but give you the look you want, I love it. First college studio? Heck yeah, I would move in.
Floor Pillow
Image source: Velvet floor pillow
The pillow(s) you need to throw in the empty space in your apartment! They make amazing floor cushions, especially if you’re having friends over, or if you need to stack them in a corner for some good decor. And I don’t think I need to mention it but they are so stylish! If you need some more color in your place- this is a college apartment decor idea essential!
Porch Decor
I think the photo speaks for itself, one of those to-die-for dreamy outside mini porches you think you need once you see it. If you happen to find an apartment with the most adorable porch with potential (I’m still looking so let me know) this could be inspo for you! I would be perfectly content living in this setting alone or at least it would be my go-to spot. Even your porch can be a place you put some character into! You want your space to make you happy and resemble you!!
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