With the stressful housing process behind us, it’s time to switch gears and start decorating. 

Whether you won the lottery and are living in an eight-man, are graduating to an off-campus home, or are committing to the CoRo lifestyle, your college space should bring you joy. Keep reading to learn the best tips for decorating your space. 

Lighting 

Call it the golden rule—for a warmly-lit room, never turn on the “big light.” By that, I’m referring to the school’s fluorescent lighting that rarely brings out anyone’s good features. 

Instead, using multiple lamps and leaning into natural light will immediately make your room feel warm and homey. 

Play around with what your space allows for. If you’re in a smaller dorm, maybe opt for lamps on your desk and dresser. If you’re decorating a living room or common area, try a standing lamp that will make your place look professionally decorated. 

Rugs 

Another easy way to spruce up your living space is to add rugs in different parts of your house. 

Add a runner to your kitchen, a doormat outside your room, or maybe a small circular rug that you can exercise or meditate on. 

Although they seem simple or obvious, small additions like rugs will transform your room from just a college dorm to a place you look forward to returning to after each day. 

Prints 

The best way to personalize your environment and make it reflective of your personality is to surround yourself with art and pictures that are meaningful to you. 

Whether they’re aesthetic images from Pinterest, posters of your favorite albums, or even just your own photographs, there are no bad options. 

One of my favorite ways to find prints that resonate with me is by sourcing small businesses or local artists, either online or in my favorite places.

The best place online to find cool prints is by far Etsy. If you have the opportunity, however, always visit local print shops or home decor shops to find truly unique prints. 

Plants 

An underrated aspect of decorating your space is adding greenery. When the 4 p.m. sunset hits, and Chestnut Hill begins looking a bit dreary and grey, you’ll want a space filled with plants and flowers to remind you of brighter days. 

It can be difficult to care for real plants, so experimenting with faux plants may be your best bet. 

And whenever you have the opportunity, adding some flowers to a vase and letting them sit by your bed or the communal coffee table will truly make your space and your mind clearer and happier. 

Make Your Space You!

The best piece of college interior design advice I could give is to make your space as familiar as you can. 

Print quotes that make you smile, place your favorite Jellyat on your bed, and bring knick-knacks from home to clutter your desk. 

You shouldn’t think of your college space as temporary—even if it is. Instead, make it as homey as possible. Hang up your favorite sports team flag with pride, or pin up Polaroids or film from home. 

It truly goes a long way in elevating your experience of your college home.