The mornings are crisp, the glorious sun takes a little longer gracing us with it’s light and I’m dreaming of pumpkin, that can only mean one thing … its nearly September and back to school time! I have always loved this time of year, as a child it meant seeing friends I hadn’t seen over the summer, new clothes and school supplies, and getting to organize my desk or locker (yes, that’s right – the thought of organizing made me loose sleep) and as an adult, there’s a real sense of new beginnings and fresh starts, even more so than January.
This time of year can also mean relocating for a lot of people – moving into new apartments or dorm rooms in preparation for school, practicums, residency’s etc. So I’ve pulled together some tips and tricks to making your new home truly yours for as long as you’re going to be there, in ways that aren’t going to upset your landlord or floor coordinator.
Often times when renting a space, the inclination is to hold off on buying ‘real’ furniture until you get to your ‘forever’ home. I say invest in key pieces, especially those that could be re-purposed – a smaller dinning table could be used as a desk in a larger space, a compact sofa could fit into a den in another home. Investing in quality furniture now will help to create a space that feels comfortable and like a home. Think about multi-functional furniture, for instance in a dorm room a futon can be a sofa by day and a comfy bed by night.
(PC: Modern Family Expo and Ikea)
Don’t be limited by existing configurations of furniture in a dorm room, feel free to move pieces around to find a set up that works best for you and your needs. For instance setting up your bed as a daybed offers seating options for when friends stop by and putting the dresser in the closet can open up a space.