2. Start thinking like your mom
No, this doesn’t mean you have to start worrying about yourself (and calling yourself multiple times every day). But your mom did handle the ins and outs of your childhood home for at least eighteen years, so it might not be a bad idea to tap into her superpowers.
First, put some thought into your surroundings. Remember how your mom hauled dozens of plastic tubs down from the attic so she could redecorate the house for each holiday season? It may seem tedious, but little touches go a long way toward making a house feel like a home. So if you’re allowed to paint the walls of your rental or apartment complex, paint them! If your living room furniture is mismatched, go online and learn how to make fun covers for couches and chairs. If you’re artistic, buy wooden initials - they’re cheap at stores like Michael’s and A.C. Moore - and paint them for your room. Just make sure you clear any big changes with the roomies.
Second, remember that it’s now your job to keep your home stocked and supplied. Collegiettes™ who were asked about items they forgot to pack mentioned paper towels, vacuum cleaners, floor mops, toilet paper, brooms, tool kits, toilet plungers, pasta strainers, and bathroom mats. Add these items to your list, and sit down with your roommates to brainstorm other basics you may be missing.
And don’t forget to pack beyond the basics as well. “I noticed what separated other people’s apartments from mine from feeling like home is everyone else had a much more decorated place with candles, posters, and plants,” says Jessica Len, former Her Campus Campus Correspondent at UC Davis.
In addition to year-round decorations, other collegiettes™ suggest getting into seasonal decorating. Cut and decorate a Christmas tree with your roommates or make a spring wreath for your door. Do whatever you can to make your new place one you’ll want to remember.
