Four years of college flew by just as fast as everyone said they would and it’s time to face facts and move home. Whether it’s for a month or a year or, OMG, for an unforeseeable amount of time the old bedroom is home base again and it should reflect your own personal style. Remember, your bedroom at home is not a dorm room, and it deserves more taste than posters, pep rally towels and ANYTHING representing a brand of alcohol. I’m afraid duct tape, thumb tacks and poster putty are also out of the question now as well. We’re back in civilization so we use for-real picture hangers and we hang pictures that actually have frames. As you refurbish this space to make it your own again keep in mind that in about six months those very fine people from the student loan company are going to want their money back. And of course they’ll torture you with those fun, monthly payments, so this is no time to break the bank redecorating.
The first way to re-personalize your space is to paint. It is a big undertaking, but well worth the results. Granted that the home owners (mom and dad) approve, chose a sensible color that compliments the size of the room as well as the amount of light it receives. Try a darker shade of the color you chose for one wall. This will give the room dimension. Paint the opposite wall a lighter version of the color you chose for an added touch. With this clean slate you can get imaginative with wall décor and learn how to do for-real picture hanging.
As you may have already discovered, you have more possessions than you used to. When you relocated to college you took a fraction of your stuff with you. Undoubtedly that collection has grown. Now your drawer space is restricted and the bar in your closet is beginning to take on a large "U" shape. Boxes are just not the place for those new additions you purchased online, while you should have been writing a paper. A smart way to store more without adding another dresser is to do away with all of your space-hogging storage pieces and consolidate those clothes in a large armoire. Consider one with different means of storage such as shelving, drawers, and bars for hanging clothes. Mirrored doors are a great way to make a room look larger, and who doesn't love a full-length reflection. It only took me three days to build mine, hope you do better.
Tip: Make sure to secure these large pieces of furniture to the wall to avoid a fashion, and potentially very human, catastrophe.
You are an adult now, and adults own books. Whether they are AP Style Guides, memorable issues of Vogue or Jody Picoult novels, they should be displayed. Book shelves are easy to come by and rather effortless to assemble if not already in one piece. To add your own sparkle, leave a shelf or two book-free. Use that space to display artifacts that represent you, such as college memorabilia, a jewelry box, or photographs. Pictures are a perfect way to keep great college memories alive, although I would save the keg stands for the photo albums.
Don't be afraid to make use of what you already have. Unmatched wood and hand-me-down furniture is totally fine when you are saving up to achieve the ultimate goal of moving into your own place. On that very extraordinary day you will be happy that you saved that money and can now buy your own things. To help save that cash, shop thrift stores and off-the-racks retail for great bargain finds. Shop online or go to garage sales for cool framed wall art or home wall décor that will complete your re-decorating adventure and never pay full price for anything. That’s what I always say. CC
For more information on picture hangers or picture hanging or Hangman Products visit the Hangman Store.
