Today, more and more colleges and universities are not guaranteeing housing. Suffolk is a perfect example of such a school. My two best friends and I started apartment shopping mid-freshman year in Boston. It was originally just a back-up plan, but then it changed to the real deal. We found an adorable apartment, close to campus, with tons of character and charm (which translates to older and on the smaller side). Complete with hardwood floors, exposed brick, high ceilings, and large windows, we knew it had the necessary elements of a first apartment. Our goal was to incorporate lots of comfort, provide an open feel for entertaining, and for it to simply have a great look to it.
Just because you’re in college and on a tight budget, it doesn’t mean your apartment has to look that way! With creative ideas, you can make your apartment feel trendy and chic without spending a lot of money. You never know, this may be your home for the next three years (or longer)! When your surroundings are comfortable, peaceful, and organized, you will feel better and accomplish things more effectively!
Living Room/Kitchen/Dining area:
We based our living room around a relatively new, neutral sofa and coordinating chairs that my roommates had. Each piece we chose for our small space had a specific function, but also looked great and fit well in the room. (The previous tenants went for strictly comfort and had an enormous sectional, which was fun to relax on, but it was a barge and took up half of the room). Our coffee table has a lower level for our books and fashion magazines, freeing up the surface for snacks, laptops, or entertaining. Our two trendy dressers add fun, while serving as storage for clothing and towels. Our end table is a used chest for additional storage. We spray painted the chest and our kitchen stools to match our palette. Our kitchen table folds out for entertaining, and folds down for everyday use.
We chose fun, shabby chic pillows and carried the colors throughout our main room for the lanterns, towels, kitchen appliances, and window treatment. You just need that one special thing that catches your eye – whether it is a lamp, a chair, an end table, or a throw blanket – to find a starting point for your entire apartment look. Ours was a cute, funky throw pillow. Lighting is a critical element for a comfy room, so we chose to hang colorful lanterns. They brighten up our living area, and complete our shabby chic look.
[pagebreak]
Bedrooms:
Our biggest expense was purchasing our beds. My roommates cleverly put together a clothes rack to provide extra hanging storage. I bought pieces from an antique consignment shop, painted everything a fresh coat of white, and added new hardware. A trunk is a perfect item to store tons of items that you need but don’t use on a regular basis. It doubles as my nightstand, and it was a bargain at $10.
I also purchased and painted an old shelved cupboard and filled it with bins to store all of my towels and miscellaneous items. I hung a jewelry rack on the inside door for necklaces. An antique vanity doubles as my desk and a place to dry my hair and apply makeup. The drawers accommodate everything, from jewelry to desk items, to a sewing kit. Every single corner of a small apartment must serve a purpose. Small suitcases make a cute end table, while also providing additional storage.
[pagebreak]
Courtyard:
Being on the ground level provided us the luxury of a private, enclosed patio/courtyard. We were given outdoor chairs to use, and picked up a table at an end-of-summer clearance sale for an excellent price. We can easily barbecue and entertain outside…a real treat!
 Remember: a tight budget doesn’t mean an apartment can’t look great if planned creatively. Shop wisely, and take the time to make your place a haven…then relax and enjoy.