Read part two of this series here. This is a continuation of that post.

Make Do With What You’ve Got - Improve on the Basics

Chances are that this place you are going to be moving into will not be the last small apartment or crowded co-ed house you live in before you settle down. Most twenty-somethings move at least once every couple of years, so you are probably not going to stay in the same place for very long. What this means for you is that each new place you move into is a new opportunity to improve on the things that are already there waiting for you. Some places you move into are going to have great nooks and crannies you can use for storage or great built in cupboards or closets that you can do a lot with. And the good news is that a lot of people who rent to college age kids do not really care if they put their own spin on things. So you are only renting one room of a massive house – why not ask the landlord if he minds you giving that room a fresh coat of paint? He will probably be glad for it, and you will be glad to be able to put your own spin on the only space you have as your own. And after you’ve painted the room tan, why not go ahead and stencil some designs on that worn out looking closet door you have got all of your stuff in. It will brighten up the place even further, and make you much happier.

Use What You Have and Make it Better – Thanks Mom and Dad!

Chances are good that as you go out on your own for the first time, your parents have plenty of suggestions for you. They also probably have plenty of stuff that they have just been waiting for you to take with. That old coffee table that was in their first apartment, for starters, or perhaps that bookcase that is cracked and faded. And let us not forget the dishes from the years just after you were born that mom has been saving in a box for the day you move out. Often, parents and others give those just starting out all kinds of stuff, trying to be helpful, that they can use in their new place. And sometimes, this stuff is ratted, not repaired, and seems useless. However, nearly everything that you have been given can be used to give your new place your own flair, your own style, and a look of its own. Why not paint your dining set and chairs deep red? That will cover up any nicks and scratches, and give your dining room a unique and interesting feel. Or, take the wooden chair that great-aunt Thelma gave you, and plaster it with pictures from a magazine, or even photographs, covered with clear glue or matte finish from a scrap booking aisle of your local store. This is a great way to promote your style, have something that looks brand new, and have fun, as well.

Get Creative – Make Things Work!

Part of being out on your own is making things work for you. When you are decorating your own space, think about how to use items you already have to your advantage. Have an extra dresser, but no entertainment center? Make the dresser into your TV stand! Keep the drawers to store your goodies and your games, and paint it the same color as your living room. Put your TV on top, and you are good to go!

Another situation that works well is also for the living room. Instead of buying a coffee table, or finding one somewhere, go to a department store or someplace else, and buy an old fashioned, flat topped trunk. You can use it for a coffee table. It will be sleek and stylish, and it is a great place to store clutter if someone is stopping by and you do not have time to clean. It is also a great investment, because years from now, after you have moved on and have a real coffee table, you will still have that old trunk to use for storage.

Make a Statement

Above all else – as you decorate your life, the most important part is to decide on a style, and make a statement. Stick with the same general style, and do something special to make it your own. Each place you live should be yours, and it should be apparent that it is so, simply by walking in your front door. It might be hard to be out on your own, and it might make you nervous to invite people over. But if you decorate with style, comfort, and above all else, with yourself in mind, you will find that your place can be much more than you would have ever dreamed possible.