Living in a residence hall or apartment can make it hard to decorate your room in a way that reflects your personality and vibe. With fire codes and roommates, it’s easy to just stick with minimal decor. If being minimalist isn’t your style, then coming back from classes can be a bit harder if you don’t love your space. I’ve been living in residence halls for two years now, so I’ve learned how to spruce up a space that has little to work with, in a way that won’t tear up walls and is easy to switch up if you like to change up your space every few months.
Clipboard Wall
I love how versatile and cheap this idea is. Using clipboards allows you to change prints and photos with ease. Another way to arrange this look is three clipboards in a cluster or forming a straight line down. Attaching them on the wall is easy, just use command strips built for lightweight items. To make this design option even more cohesive with your room, paint the clipboards to match your color palette!
Macramé Wall Hanging
Macramé adds texture to a wall and can be a great focal piece. These can be bought in a variety of colors and designs. Neutral shades will act as background pieces, where brighter textiles will add a pop to the wall. Macramé wall hangings bring a natural, earthy feel to a space and if you are into DIY’s you can totally do one!
Neon Signs
Neon signs bring a retro feeling to a room and are a creative alternative lighting option. I have a small flamingo shaped neon light in my room and have found that it’s an instant talking piece. Neon signs aren’t as mainstream as fairy lights, but are perfect if you are looking for something that’s more off book and unique to you.
Letter Boards & Light Boxes
My favorite part of letter boards and light boxes is how you can change up the saying inside them so easily! If you’re like me, you have a Pinterest board overflowing with inspirational quotes that you never have a place to display. I own a letter board and have found that setting aside fifteen minutes every week to change out the quote is calming and establishes a tone for the week.
Embroidery Hoop
If you are a sewing queen or know one, these can transform a space. Typically an embroidery hoop will have a quote on it, but you can opt for a scene like ocean waves or flowers. Depending on the space you can go for a smaller hoop if you want a cute piece for a shelf or a larger hoop for a wall.
Plants
There are tons of different directions you can go with plants in a space. Hanging pots are a great way to utilize unused space and direct eyes towards a particular area. Terrariums and pots in a windowsill can help a small room feel less cramped. Going for plants with big leaves create a more tropical, relaxed vibe, whereas succulents are refreshing touches of green that won’t dominate a space. Fresh cut flowers in a vase or mason jar instantly lift the energy of a space and you don’t have to fret about watering them! If you don’t have much of a green thumb, buy fake plants, most of the time no one can tell the difference between real and fake with just one look!
Finding creative ways to make a room feel like you is difficult and the process takes time, especially while in college. Don’t be frustrated if your space isn’t turning out how you want it. Try out a DIY or checkout antique stores or markets, sometimes the perfect pieces come from the most unexpected places. At the end of the day, when you come home, you want it to feel just like that, home.
All images sourced from: Unsplash.com