A new semester brings all kinds of awesome new experiences. There are new classes, new friends, new clubs to join, and new roommates to learn how to live with. It can be difficult, in all of this newness, to really feel at home in your own space. You have just gotten to unpack the last of your things, you finally feel settled in enough to take a good look at everything, and now you’re wondering why your dorm or apartment still doesn’t feel like home.
I’ll tell you why. It’s BORING. The walls are some bland shade of white, the floor is some unseemly shade of grey, and the space feels just as industrial as it did before you moved in. Here are some quick tips to overcome all of that blah and transform that generic living space into something warm, homey, and yours.
The first step is wall accents. You need something to break up all of that empty space. A couple of good options for this are posters, wall clocks, and mirrors. Whether you use the wall clock or not, it can still add a splash of color, and a mirror is a useful and attractive addition to any space.
The next step in making your room your own is surface accents like desk lamps and pillows for the bed or sofa. Little crates, bins, or hanging organizers work well too. They are functional and also bring different shapes and patterns into the décor. They’re eye catching and bold, which also adds character to your space.
The last level of this makeover is the floor. Bigger pieces need to be added to fill up floor space and set the tone for the rest of the smaller accents throughout the room. A chair, a trashcan, a floor lamp, or a coat rack serve nicely as larger pieces and pull the focus of the room inwards. Instead of seeing harsh corners of bare walls, a soft chair or a brightly colored coat rack catches the eye, and you notice the way the same color travels throughout the room. Emphasis is put on the decorative pieces instead of the spaces that are left empty.
All of these room essentials and more can be found at the furniture store down the street from the Penn Bookstore, on the corner of 36th St. and Walnut St. Take 20 minutes to look around and find pieces to make your space your own. A little color and a funky shape here and there, and you can turn drab city into FAB city!