College is a time of endless exciting change – one of the biggest of which is your living situation. There are tons of different options, whether you’re living at home with your family, in a dorm, in an apartment, or in a house with a bunch of roommates. However, if you find yourself at a point where you’re ready to live on your own but all you could afford is a tiny studio apartment, this guide is for you!
- Organize, Organize, Organize
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When your entire space is one room, it’s super important to keep it clean. It can be overwhelming and cause anxiety if you’re constantly surrounded by mess – which is true anywhere, but in the case of a studio you can’t just walk to a different room. One of the best ways to do this quickly is to make sure your bed is always made and your closet doors are always closed!
- Divide the Space into Zones
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Even when the space is small, it can be really helpful in keeping peace of mind to make sure all of your things have a place AND all of your activities have a place. Even if your “office” is just a shelf – keep your computer and books there at all times. Your “vanity” may just be a bag in your bathroom, but put your makeup away after each time you use it. And, the big one – resist the urge to do everything in your bed. Homework can be done at the table or on a small beanbag, Netflix can be watched from the couch (if you have one) and dinner should definitely never be spilling on your sheets.
- Don’t Be Afraid to Have Guests
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It’s really easy to use “my apartment is just too small!” as a reason to never have guests over. However, if that’s something you enjoy doing, don’t let it stop you! You may not be able to have the rager of the year with 50 people and a beer pong table, but rearranging your furniture or bringing in a few cheap folding chairs can be enough to make space for a few friends at a time.
- Decorate!
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Another way to add dimension and fun to a small space is decorations. You may not have space for lots of counter décor or stand up pieces, but small intentionally-placed trinkets and wall art are your new best friends. Play around with removable wall decals so you can change it up, and maybe even scour the internet for miniature versions of your favorite holiday decorations!