Looking for inspiration to decorate your first apartment? Here are 42 insanely creative college apartment decor ideas you’re going to want to copy.
Whether you’re moving into your college apartment or your first place on your own, this post is full of the best decor ideas that you can easily copy. These decor ideas will make your apartment feel like home.
There are so many genius ideas in this post that will help you create a cute and comfy space to create memories and build your new life in.
You’re going to find out all of the best college apartment decor ideas from college apartment decor ideas kitchen, college apartment decor ideas on a budget, college apartment decor ideas bedroom, and more.
Here are the college apartment decor ideas that will completely transform your space into your dream apartment.
This post is all about the best college apartment decor ideas for a cute and organized space.
Best College Apartment Decor Ideas:
1. Bar Cart
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Of course, no college or first apartment is complete without a cute bar cart. This is honestly one of the cutest decor pieces that also functions as storage for all of your favorite alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages.
There are so many adorable bar cart ideas on Pinterest to spark your inspiration for this one. You can also check out this post on the cutest bar cart decorating ideas you need to try.
2. Matcha/Tea Station
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If you’re a matcha or a tea girl, having a cute little station on the counter or in the corner of your kitchen is the perfect way to make you feel like your very own barista and keep all of your powder, syrups, and accessories in an easily accessible place.
3. Create a Dining Nook
A dining nook is a great way to make your apartment feel cozy and homey. You don’t have to have a ton of space for this idea and you can turn it into a multifunctional space (use it as a desk during the day) to make it as practical as possible.
It’s always nice to have a place to sit down and enjoy meals with friends and roommates.
4. Mug Tree
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This is such a helpful idea for storing mugs, especially since they can take up a ton of cabinet space. Not only will it free up some cabinet space, but it will also make for cute kitchen countertop decor. You can put it right next to your matcha station. 😉
5. Utility Cart as Bathroom Storage
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If there is one storage piece you need to get in college, it’s one of these utility carts. If you didn’t already have one for your dorm, you definitely should get one for your apartment. They’re so versatile and hold a ton!
Especially if you’re sharing a bathroom with a couple of other roommates, you’ll probably need some extra storage space. This is where this cart will be a life saver.
6. Corky Decorative Pillows
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A fun way to spice up the couches and chairs in your place is by getting corky decorative pillows. This “high maintenance” one is definitely something that’s fitting for me and would look adorable on the couch. It’s a fun way to personalize your space.
7. Mix and Match Frames
Gallery walls are so cute, especially when you change up the frames and do a mismatched look. It’s a super cute wall decor idea that will capture eyes and keep it playful and unique.
If you want antique-looking frames like the one in the pin above, thrift shops are always great places to find them for cheap.
8. Blanket Basket
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Every cozy apartment needs a blanket basket. This organization idea also doubles as cute decor. Plus you’re going to need a dedicated storage spot for all of those throws (something every college girl has a surplus of haha).
9. Cute Coffee Table Books
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Coffee table books are the ultimate decor hack! They look super cute, will elevate your living room, and won’t break the bank. You can get individual books or get a set like this one depending on your color scheme. Amazon is by far my favorite place to find them for a good price.
10. Add LED Lights Behind the TV
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Adding LED lights behind your TV makes such a big difference! It’s a great way to set the mood when watching movies and a fun way to change up the colors in the room.
You will get a ton of compliments on this one and it’s super easy to replicate.
11. Add Artwork in the Bathroom
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Don’t forget to add decor in the bathroom. You don’t have to do a lot or spend a bunch of money to make it look nice. One of the easiest way to spruce up this space on a budget is by getting a cute print like this one. It’s the perfect addition.
12. Use Cute Coasters on Furniture
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Do not forget coasters! Trust me, you will be super bummed when all of your furniture has rings around it from glasses and drinks. Make sure your guests know it’s a coaster household too. This will absolutely save your furniture and keep it looking good long-term.
Get a pack of cute fuzzy coasters to make it fun and so people don’t miss them (the bright colors make it impossible not to see haha).
13. Bulletin Board to Hang Pictures
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If you’re looking for a way to hang small pictures and small decor, a bulletin board is a great option that will allow you to decorate the wall without putting a bunch of holes or tack marks in it.
14. Bathroom Storage Organizer
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Chances are, you’re probably going to need some sort of storage unit in your bathroom. If you have a corner space, add a shelving unit (make sure it’s meant for the bathroom so it doesn’t get ruined from precipitation).
This one is nice because you can give a shelf to each roommate to keep it organized.
15. Create a Book Crate
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If you’ve seen any of the other college posts on the blog, you’ve probably seen these crates before. They’re honestly great for storage and will make anything look cute! You can create a little book create on your nightstand with one of these.
16. Use Glass Canisters in the Pantry
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Glass canisters are a pantry organization staple. If there is one thing you should get to organize your pantry, it’s a pack of glass canisters. They’re great for holding all of your dry food and snacks.
Plus if you don’t want to buy labels, you can use a washable marker to write on the glass. Got to love a good organization hack.
17. Colorful Art Prints
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Never underestimate the power of colorful prints to bring a room to life. Decorating the walls of your apartment will take it up a level.
Again, you don’t have to spend a ton of money on this, you can easily find a pack of cheap prints on Amazon and discounted frames at Michael’s or Hobby Lobby (the deals at these places are so good!).
18. Add a Fun Bath Mat
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One of the best ways to make the most of your decor budget is to turn necessities into decor. Like a bath mat. You’re going to need to buy a bath mat no matter what, so why not get a cute one that brightens up the bathroom?
19. Acrylic Fridge Planner
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These acrylic fridge planners are the ultimate life saver when it comes to a busy schedule, especially with roommates. Take a few minutes at the beginning of the week to fill out your schedule and have your roommates do the same but with a different color.
This will help avoid schedule confusions and is super helpful for remembering all of your activities and appointments, because chances are, you’re going to look at the fridge multiple times throughout the day.
20. Decorative Shelf Unit
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Shelf units are quite honestly the best of both worlds. They can be used for both organization and decor and are super easy to decorate. It’s a great place to store extra accessories, jewelry, makeup, and show off any candles or cute prints.
21. Neon Sign
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Neon signs are an iconic college decor piece. They’re fun, cute, and will light up the entire room. You can get custom ones, but those tend to be a little pricier. You can get premade ones for a lot less and they’re just as cute!
22. Add Fresh Flowers
Fresh flowers are so simple but they make such a big difference. There’s something about getting a fresh bouquet of flowers that will immediately brighten up your place and make it feel happier.
You can find really affordable bouquets at Trader Joe’s. They have a great selection and you can even make your own bouquet with a couple of different flowers.
This is one of those things that’s worth investing in once a week or a couple of times a month.
23. Polaroid Picture Frame
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You can honestly do this with any picture frame, although the gold ones are cute. Just add a couple of your favorite polaroids instead of one larger picture to your frame.
24. Girly Shelf Decor
There’s nothing like some cute feminine shelf decor to make it feel like a girly apartment. If you want a soft feminine vibe, a blush or light pink shade is a great core color for a lot of your decor.
25. Use Gallery Lights
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Gallery lights are a really cool way to illuminate any art, shelves, or really any wall decor. They instantly make it look like your wall came out of an interior design magazine. It’s definitely worth the extra touch.
26. Add a Hook Unit Next to the Door
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Invest in some kind of hook unit for by the front door. That way you don’t have to go searching for your keys or wallet when you’re in a rush out the door. You can also get one with a shelf on top to add cute decor or hold bags.
27. Use Records as Art
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If you’re someone who loves collecting records, try using them as art. Even as someone who doesn’t collect records, I definitely would for the wall art.
You can find affordable acrylic shelves like the ones above to hold them and make sure they stay in good condition.
28. Candle Warmer
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Candle warmers are one of the best gadgets you can get for your home or apartment. You don’t have to worry about an open flame or a fire hazard, but you still get the sweet aromas of your favorite candle.
It will also make your candle last so much longer.
29. Over-the-Toilet Storage
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This storage idea is great if you don’t have an open corner or any other space for a storage unit. It will give you so much extra storage space and won’t overcrowd your bathroom.
30. Choose a Theme
One of the best ways to make your apartment feel cohesive, even if you don’t add a ton of decor, is by simply picking a theme.
It doesn’t have to be super strict, but if you have an idea of what you want your apartment to look like, it will likely turn out a lot better than if you just choose random decor and pieces to decorate as you go.
31. Armrest Holder
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If you don’t want to buy an extra side table to put drinks and small items you might reach for when you’re on the couch, get an armrest holder. That way you don’t have to get up to grab your drink from the other room or worry about it spilling if you put it on the floor. Super convenient!
32. Use Shelves for Dishes
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Small little shelves like these are such a cute idea for the kitchen area to store dishes and small accessories. You can put it over your kitchen for easy access to all of your dinnerware. It’s super easy to decorate and makes for adorable wall decor!
33. Hang Fairy Lights
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Fairy lights never fail to disappoint. They’re great for making any space feel cozy. You can hang them from the corners of your room so they drape down or outline the ceiling with them. Either way, they make for the best ambience lighting.
34. Alcohol Bottles as Vases
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If you have a couple of alcohol bottles on your hands, instead of throwing them out, wash them out and use them as vases. It makes for really cute and creative decor. Plus it’s a great way to recycle items around the house so you don’t have to spend extra money on vases.
35. Use Multipurpose Furniture
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Making the most of your limited space and budget means finding multipurpose pieces like these hooks you can use to store your purses and the shelf above you can use to decorate with frames, candles, and whatever else you want.
36. Storage Ottomans
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If you had a dorm room, you probably had a storage ottoman. They’re one of the best small pieces of furniture that can fit into a small dorm space. If you don’t already have one that you can repurpose in your apartment, you can find some cute and inexpensive ones on Amazon.
They’re a great way to get in extra seating for guests will giving you some extra storage space.
37. Roommate Wall
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This idea is too cute! If you don’t already have some fun pictures of you and your roommates that you can use, do a little photoshoot. You can even turn this into a wall of your hometown best friends. This wall decor idea will definitely bring a smile to your face. 🙂
38. Coffee Station
If you’re a coffee gal, create a little station in your apartment with everything you use to make your coffee. You can do this instead of a bar cart or use counter space for your coffee making station. It’s practical, and such a cute way to decorate and make the most of your counter space.
39. Use Cubbies
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Cubbies are always a great organizational piece. You can use them as they come, or add pull out cubby bins, or do a combo of both. They’re also super easy to put together so you don’t have to worry about having any furniture building skill to put this one together haha.
40. Towel Ladder
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Use a towel ladder in the bathroom to hang up towels and keep them out of the way. It’s also really helpful for making sure they dry out properly. This idea doesn’t take up a lot of room and is a great use of space in a small bathroom.
41. Storage Cart as a Nightstand
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Remember how I said a utility cart will be your best friend? Another way you can use this is as a nightstand. Works just as well as a regular nightstand and will probably give you a lot more storage space.
42. Gym Equipment Cart
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If you have some gym equipment you want to store and keep out of the way, get a small cart to hold your weights, yoga mats, and anything else you need for your at-home workouts or yoga classes.
This post was all about the best college apartment decor ideas for a cute and organized space.
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