Decorate A Western College Home Together

To preface, I am not an interior designer. I never have been and most likely never will be. I am simply a broke college kid who found herself needing to decorate her first rent house and learned a few things along the way. Am I the best person for this? Absolutely not. Are there people out there with more expertise? 100 percent. But I watched my mom decorate my whole life, have two roommates with their own style, and a pretty non-existent budget. How hard could it be? Going into the next school year, I know I'm not the only college kid looking at a blank wall, thinking, "How am I going to make this house a home?"

Think Small

First off, the easiest tip for me-- think small. Divide your house into sections. Okay, that blank wall in the kitchen, that will probably need some pictures. Those build in shelves? They'll probably need some books and bookends. It goes right alongside the infamous quote, "How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time."

Robin Hood Your Home

Next, raid home. Talk your mom into spring (technically late fall) cleaning and take a few things off her hands. Steal your bedroom décor. You'll only miss it during the couple weeks of Christmas break. Clean out your tackroom and use old décor to decorate. Those book shelves we were just talking about? An old pair of stirrups would be great book ends!

"Hey Macklemore, Can We Go Thrift Shopping?"

Thrifting is your new best friend. Ain't no shame in the game. You'll save lots of money. You can always redo pieces by spray painting or using for an unintended purpose. The world is your oyster!

Out of the Box

Speaking of, that leads to the next one-- think outside the box. This is your opportunity to be creative and let your style show. Use pieces unorthadoxy. It's your house, you pay rent, and no one can tell you how to style it!

Style with No Style?

"But, I have no style?" Honestly, I don't either, and I didn't have any trust in my ability to pick or plan pieces. You need to let that little voice in the back of your head go. Just start picking out pieces-- focus on what you're drawn to. There's a reason for it. Everything will come together on its own, in style-- in your style.

"Okay, I have my style, but how do I mesh my roommates' styles?"

Same thing. Have everyone bring their favorite items. Pick, piece together and place until your new home becomes a melting pot of your lives together.

This is your first home and though it may not be perfect, it's yours. And the important part, above all, is that it feels like home.

Is this your first year in college? Read about surviving college as a cowgirl here!