Moving into an apartment, especially for the first time, can be a difficult adjustment. It may have seemed easier to make a dorm room more at home since you had less space. With an apartment, you have more space and likely more room to fill. Decorating your apartment will help you feel more at home, but figuring out how to begin can be challenging. Luckily, it does not take too much to make your space feel more like home.

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Deep clean

When you first move in, give your space a deep clean. Your landlord likely did this already, but it may have been a while since it has been done, especially if you waited a while to move in. Before you even start decorating, clean your apartment to get rid of the dust and dirt that may have collected since it was last cleaned. It will make the place feel like yours and give you a sense of comfort that you are not just covering the dust.

Somewhere that is green

Bringing in houseplants can help add a relaxing ambiance to your space. If you are not great at keeping plants alive, consider simple succulents or even an artificial floral arrangement. Otherwise, consider growing and maintaining a more complicated live plant. You and your roommate may even want to grow plants from scratch, depending on when you start and if you plan to be roommates for the long term. This will help brighten up your space and can even bring a pop of color to your space. Even small plants can help liven up your space!

Get curtains

Curtains can help give you privacy while allowing you to express yourself. They can help give you a different atmosphere and separate you from the outside world if you do not want people looking into your space. This is especially important if you have windows in your bedrooms or bathrooms. You can choose colors and styles that fit your aesthetic without breaking the rules of your lease. Just make sure you measure the length correctly. If you are crafty, you may even be able to make your own curtains.

Comfortable furniture

Whether you rent or buy furniture or if your apartment is already furnished, ensure the furniture is comfortable. You will not want to actually use the furniture if it is not comfortable. This is especially true for things like chairs, couches, and mattresses. Having furniture that you do not use because you do not like it is a waste of money and space. Be sure to test it before you leave the store if possible. If not, see if you can have a period of time to test it in your apartment and switch it out if you do not like it.

Display pictures

Your parents likely have several pictures of family memories spread throughout your childhood home. As such, these sorts of pictures can help make your new apartment feel like home. There are apps that allow you to print photos directly from your phone and have them sent to you. Go out and buy some inexpensive frames that will allow you to put your favorite pictures and memories on display. Showcasing memories from home can help your new space feel familiar and can give you and your roommate something to talk about.

Sentimental items

While college is about creating new memories and finding out about yourself, it is still important to remember where you came from. It is likely that you have display items that are meaningful to you, whether it is a trinket a family member got you as a gift or a trophy you won for getting first place in a dance competition. Displaying these items can give you a sense of pride and home as you go throughout your college days while giving you and your new friends conversation topics. When decorating with your roommate, have them display some of these objects of their own and talk about what they mean to each of you.

Organization and storage

One of the biggest ways to make sure you feel at home is to keep your space organized. Knowing where things are can help give you a sense of home since you can grab what you need as soon as you need it and you can return it to its place when you are done. If things get messy and cluttered in your apartment, you will not want to live in your space since it will be stressful to find things. This is also why it is so important to keep your space as clean as possible. Work with your roommate to keep things clean and organized as much as possible. Buy storage containers and label where things are supposed to go.

Your new apartment is your home away from home, at least while you are at school for the semester. Clean it and decorate it to help make it feel like home so you can settle in and feel comfortable.