How to Decorate Your College Apartment

A few common-sense precautions while decorating will help you receive a refund on your security deposit after you move.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Spackle
• Masking Tape
• Straight Pins
• Throw Rugs
• Used Carpets
• Washable Throws
• Masking Tape
• Straight Pins
• Adhesive Dough
• Small Common Nails

1. Hang posters with straight pins, with sticky-side-out spirals of masking tape or with adhesive dough. For framed pictures, use the smallest nail you can get by with and then buy spackling compound to carefully fill the holes before you move.

2. Cover furnished sofas or upholstered chairs with a washable throw, quilt or washable slipcovers if you eat in the living area.

3. Put an inexpensive throw rug - preferably washable - or a disposable carpet remnant under the table if the dining area is carpeted. Use a special pad to keep the top rug flat.

4. Purchase washable, tie-on chair cushions if the chair seats in a furnished apartment are covered with fabric.

5. Ask permission before you paint. Chances are, the landlord's answer will be no or will be that you may only paint the walls off-white; save enough extra paint for wall touch-ups.

6. Hide bad walls (even gouges in the drywall) with posters if you haven't been given permission to paint and the landlord won't paint or make cosmetic repairs.

7. Hang curtains with spring-tension rods that mount inside the window. You won't have to fill and touch up nail or screw holes from curtain-rod hardware.

8. Put place mats or other protective gear under tabletop furnishings such as lamps and electronics gear to prevent scratches.

Tips & Warnings

• Before you move in, take pictures of any damage in the apartment (preferably with a camera that puts a date on the print) to protect yourself in case of finger-pointing after you move out.
• Don't hang or attach anything with damaging wall fasteners. Adhesive spongy-type fasteners and toggle bolts can cause extensive damage.

on 8/8/2006 I know we all tend to be procrastinators, but if you are in high school now looking at this... don't think it's too soon to start thinking about your 1st apartment. I started collecting plates and other kitchen and bath room things since 8th grade... and keeping certian themes in mind, so now that i am a poor college student, i don't have to worry about buying nice things for my place cause i've been saving up and buying them in my younger less expensive years :)

on 8/8/2006 I am in the process of decorating my apartment. I find the best place to get ideas is the Internet. A good place to look would be the Trading Spaces website. They have cheap ideas and good ones. Also, go to garage sales.

on 6/30/2006 Over time, save tons of old postage stamps. Glue them on an old garage sale or Goodwill lamp shade and shellac. Add beads from broken necklaces and use $1 elastic thread from the local super retail outlets. The skies the limit!

on 11/22/2005 When I moved into my first apartment, I realized I had overlooked all of the small things. Like a bath mat, wash cloths, and laundry soap. We tend to take those things for granted. Take a look around where you're living now and start a shopping list for things you'll need when you have your own place.

on 11/22/2005 I find flea markets, discount stores, auctions, garage sales, and salvage yards to be amazing places to find cheap furniture and other household items. It doesn't cost much to sand off worn-out varnish and spray paint used furniture, and colorful thrft-store vases and pots can look really cool and store lots of things(for example, pillows, throws, cotton balls, kitchen utensils, etc).