One of the significant challenges of college life is homesickness. You might be studying in a far-away college where you spend more time than at home. Or you've been learning within your hometown from kindergarten to high school but suddenly have to pursue your studies in a foreign country or city.
Memories of a home will often flood your mind in line with the adage 'East or West; home is best.' But since finding a college near your home and studying as a day scholar isn't always practical, an excellent option is to make your student apartment feel like one. That entails furnishing and decorating it with items that bring memories of your home. Below are some tips you may want to implement:
1. Choose A Luxurious Apartment
Home is synonymous with comfort, and you'd want to extend the same to your student apartment. Comfort begins with your choice. It wouldn't be prudent to rent a house in a run-down neighborhood and expect to enjoy life. Worse still is choosing a ramshackle and hoping to turn it into a haven of rest.
Your winning point is choosing a state-of-the-art apartment. If you're studying at Utah Tech University, flats like Vintage at Tabernacle may serve you well, and you may want to check out more information on their website. Some amenities you may want to consider while house hunting includes the following:
- Heated swimming pools where you can relax with friends after a tough day in class
- Fully equipped gyms for fitness training
- Gaming lounges for random competitions with your schoolmates
- Private study areas for maximum concentration, as well as group study areas for discussions
- Secure parking lot to safely store your car
- Outdoor relaxation spaces for catching up with friends
The right combination of apartment features makes your life in college comfortable and homier.
2. Install Cozy Furniture
The seats and beds in your student apartment should be of similar luxuriousness to those at home for you to simulate the experience. Think about the comfortable sofas back at home. If you have non-comfortable wooden or plastic chairs, your mind will often stray back home, where comfort is the order of the day.
So, try your best to purchase a comfy seat. You may want to try second-hand and save some cash. Alternatively, you can lease furniture for the few years you'll be in college. Companies understand the typical predicament of international students regarding furnishing their apartments. Many are skeptical about purchasing premium quality home furnishings because they'll use them for only a few years. By leasing, you enjoy luxurious furniture and return it to the owner once you finish your studies.
You can choose a monthly payment plan, as it's more manageable. A typical student furniture rental package may include a sofa, dining table, chair, bed, bedside chest, and study desk. However, as long as you have the cash, you can scale as many pieces of furniture as your student apartment can accommodate.
While at it, pick furnishing items that match what you have at home. The assumption is that you invested much energy and creativity in choosing your home pieces; thus, they're the best. Choosing similar ones for your student apartment makes it feel like a part of a home.
3. Paint The Walls
What color are the walls of your childhood bedroom back at home? If it still amazes you and makes you tick, you can replicate it in your student apartment. However, you may have to check with the property owner whether they will allow you to paint the walls. While some student apartments have magnificently painted walls, some look shoddy, and you'll forever feel uncomfortable living in such a space.
The good thing is that painting is a relatively easy and affordable undertaking. You can make it a do-it-yourself (DIY) project if you have done such. But if you aren't confident with your handicraft skills and expertise, you can always enlist professional help.
Bold colors are generally the best for student studio apartments, as they infuse liveliness and vibrancy. Consider subtle but warm pastels like bitter lime, close-to-nature naturals like green onion or cool blue tones, bold shades like Olympian blue or salsa pink, and not-so-basic whites.
Sticking to a specific color pallet throughout your apartment would be best. Otherwise, mixing a lot of colors will be too visually distracting.
Besides painting, try wallpaper. Some rental property owners prefer them, as they aren't permanent like paint. You can quickly remove them once your study years elapse.
4. Hang Family Portraits
There's usually nothing as satisfying as meeting your dad, mom, and siblings whenever you step into your home. While such daily interaction may not be possible at school, you can bring them to memory by hanging life-size portrait photos on your apartment walls. More oversized picture frames have a more profound visual impact, making you feel like the persons depicted in the images are right there with you.
You may want to duplicate the wall hangings you have at home for seamless continuity. Such familiarity makes you momentarily forget you're miles away from your family. If you have more space, you can hang pictures of your hometown's neighbors and other significant persons.
5. Carry Sentimental Items Into Your Apartment
You probably have items that are so valuable to you. It might be a pillow from your grandma or a mug from your sister or brother. Don't leave such things at home. Carry them into your student apartment to behold them daily. The emotional connection makes you imagine you're at home, even though it may be miles away.
6. Cook
Eating daily at the restaurant may not be prudent if you're after a homey feel. So, consider fully stocking your kitchen with essential appliances and food supplies.
Below is a list of appliances you wouldn't want to miss:
- Electric kettle
- Coffee maker
- Food storage containers
- Mini fridge
- Microwave
- Pressure cooker
- Water filter pitcher
- Blender
The list is endless; it all depends on how much space you have in your kitchen.
As for the food supplies, ensure you have all the ingredients for preparing local cuisines. If you're from Arizona, you probably are a fan of fry bread or Jambalaya if you hail from Louisiana. Making these delicacies while at school will significantly keep homesickness at bay.
7. Light Scented Candles
The sense of smell is equally crucial when modifying your studio apartment. Lighting a scented candle transforms the interior atmosphere into a cozy one reminiscent of home. The good thing is you can choose a variety of scents, from baked goods to sandalwood, citrus, floral, spicy, earthy, and fruity. Just ensure you like the aroma.
The scent also makes you relax and relieve stress, such as the feeling you're after. If burning candles is not allowed in your student house, consider placing a time-release air freshener to fill the room with captivating aromas.
8. Replace The Light Fixtures
Many student apartments have harsh lighting, as it's cheaper for property owners. Fortunately, you don't have to bear the brunt. You can switch out the lighting fixture to invigorate your living space. Hang a magnificent chandelier that brightens up every nook and cranny in the room. A brighter space is far much better than a poorly lit one.
If not a chandelier, install several downlights in a unique pattern to light up every corner of the room. You'd like a cozy and intimate feeling for the bedroom, which you can achieve with a suitable mood lighting fixture.
On the same point on lighting, you'd want to hang sheer curtains on the windows to let in enough natural light while enhancing privacy. Well-lit rooms feel more open and relaxing, enhancing your experience.
9. Invest In Cozy Bedding
Home is associated with relaxation. You run to it daily after a tough day at school or work. Thus, your bed should be welcoming and sufficiently comfortable. That boils down to the mattress and bedding you have.
Purchase a premium quality mattress with sufficient thickness, firmness, and dimensions. It shouldn't sink too deep under your weight or be so rigid that it hurts your joints. Consider soft, light, and breathable bedding materials like Pima, Supima, Egyptian cotton, or silk. You can even invest in heated blankets for optimal thermal comfort during winter. All these features facilitate a good night's sleep, which is essential for every student. Sufficient rest helps you wake up with renewed energy to face the day's lectures and participate in class.
10. Add A Plant
Houseplants create a comfortable and homely environment. Caring for them is also soothing and rewarding, making your life in college a bit more interesting. Consider the lighting conditions in your apartment and the area's climate, as they dictate what plants you can grow and which you can't.
Plants like cacti and succulents require bright, direct sunlight, while snake plants and ferns can do well in less bright rooms. You must also consider the available space. Consider small and medium-sized indoor plants like Silver Pothos or ZZ plants for smaller areas. For larger spaces, try a plant like Monstera Deliciosa.
Remember to prune, water, fertilize, and spray the plants to keep off pests and diseases. Otherwise, they'll soon wither and leave your space dull.
11. Set Up A Video Calling Big Screen
Video calling is an excellent way to catch up with your family and friends after class. Seeing and communicating with them makes the conversation more intimate and realistic. While you can always do it through your smartphone or laptop, you may want to take things a notch higher by installing a big screen capable of connecting to your mobile device for video calls. It could be a smart TV or a computer monitor.
Video calling over an enormous screen is more impactful, as you feel their presence in your room, unlike doing it over a tiny phone screen. Several brands make these smart TV screens; shop carefully to pick one that meets your needs and budget.
12. Have Rugs On The Floor
Plain tiles or wooden floors are somewhat bland. They can become unbearably cold, spoiling your experience. A cozy rug on the floor adds color and a touch of comfort to your space. The good thing is they're affordable. It's also a portrayal of your fashionable personality. Consider area rugs in the dining room and lounge. Also, add throw pillows and blankets to your sofas to enhance coziness.
Choosing floor rugs entails several considerations. The color should blend perfectly with the rest of the room decor. Irregular-shaped drugs are ideal if you want some dynamism in your space. You'd also like to consider a pattern that matches your interior decor. Options include stripes, florals, geometrics, and checks.
13. Discard All Moving Supplies
After moving into your student apartment and bringing in all essential belongings, you wouldn't want to keep the moving supplies in your rooms. Doing so creates a feeling of unsettledness. It's best to unpack all your items and discard the moving boxes. You can donate those still in good condition and trash the damaged ones. Further, arrange your space and place every appliance and furniture where it belongs. A neatly laid-out home promotes a feeling of serenity, just like your home is.
Conclusion
Making your student apartment feel like home is possible through creativity. It primarily entails adding features that enhance your comfort. It could be posh seats, family photos, or sentimental paraphernalia.
While pimping your house, it's best to consult your landlord on how much you can modify the rental unit. Some property owners are so particular and wouldn't tolerate anyone touching the fixtures. In this case, you'd want additions that don't interfere with the room's fixtures, like throw rugs and tabletop picture frames.
And even if they allow you to do modifications like painting or switching out lighting fixtures, consider enlisting professional help for a perfect outcome. All in all, be a responsible tenant, as you're only there for a few years.
