When it comes to creating a home away from home, there are three different schools of thinking.
Some students create a house, some create a home, and some create a fortress. The best way to survive apartment living is to do all three.
In order to create a house, everything must be functional. It’s important to get creative because living large in a small space is difficult.
ApartmentSearch.com, a website with information about many parts of apartment living, explains how important efficient space utilization is.
According to the webpage: “Your furniture can do double duty for you, making apartment living much more pleasant.”
For example, get a chest of drawers that can also function as a desk instead of buying both a dresser and a desk.
Put risers on the bed to create another foot or two of space for boxes and storage.
If you have two couches, stack one on top of sturdy trunks right behind the other couch to create a stadium effect. This technique is often used by people who have lots of friends over to watch football or have movie nights.
Erin Horton, a senior medical laboratory science major from Santa Clara, uses bookshelves to maximize the vertical space in her apartment.
“It takes up not a lot of space, but it holds a lot of stuff,” she said.
Apartment Search goes on to suggest “living in a clean space is not only more pleasant, it also helps make your space appear larger.”
Avoiding clutter and utilizing vertical space are the best ways to make an apartment a house.
Making it feel like home is more difficult. Home, for many college students, is very far away. It is also larger, has likable roommates and, best of all, better food.
Janessa Nielson, a junior English education major from Spanish Fork, decorates with her roommates to make their townhouse more bearable.
“I have pictures of my family,” Nielson said. “My roommate is a big decorator, and she decorates for every month.”
Cassidy Barnard, a freshman general education major from Plain City, focuses on her bedroom.
“My bedroom is my safe zone,” Barnard said. “I have pictures everywhere.”
Instead of buying new blankets, Barnard has homemade quilts from her mother.
“My mom made a lot of stuff,” Barnard said.
Keep security in mind. Most apartments are not very secure, so lock doors, invest in a door peephole and find a way to lock up the windows.
InsureMe.com is dedicated to providing information about home insurance and protection recommends a neat trick to stay secure. After you’ve locked your windows or glass sliding doors, put a solid stick in the sliding track so that it can’t be forced open.