Your college apartment should be a space where you feel comfortable and at-home, but you don't want to spend a fortune to decorate it to your liking! Here are some tips that will help you decorate your college apartment without emptying your wallet.
Use functional items to decorate.
There are certain items you need in order to serve a function, such as glasses and plates, coffee pots, board games, and books. Display items like these on shelves and tables instead of stashing them away. This way, they'll double as home decor, and you'll have to buy fewer decor-specific items to complete your look.
Visit the thrift store.
The thrift store is a great place to find wall hangings and prints. Even if you don't particularly like the picture inside a frame, you can remove that picture and re-use the cool frame for your own artwork. Another great thing to buy at the thrift store is drapes. They can cost hundreds new in the store, but you can get them for a song and a dance at the thrift store. Just launder them well to ensure they're free of dust before you hang them.
Make your own artwork.
Whether you're a budding artist or a paintbrush seems totally foreign to you, you can create your own artwork. All you need is a sturdy piece of cardstock and some acrylic paints. If you're not skilled when it comes to art, just create some abstract designs or geometric shapes. Let the piece dry, and slide it into a thrift store frame or one that you buy cheaply from a discount store. The resulting piece will add a splash of color and interest to your space even if it's not worthy of an "A" in art class.
Browse garage sales.
When you see a summer garage sale, stop and take a look. You never know what home decor items you'll be able to pick up for pennies on the dollar. Little things like candles, figurines, and vases can add a lot of personality to your space. Keep an eye out for cheap interior decor for sale you can paint to give a new look. For example, if you find a little end table that you really like, but it's bright blue and the rest of your decor is green, you can always give it a coat of paint to match.
You won't be spending more than a few years in your college apartment, so it's silly to spend a lot of money decorating it. With the tips above, you can give your space some personality inexpensively.
