Plants and Thrift Finds Make This Couple’s College Apartment So Homey
Apartment (off-campus)
Southern Illinois University
Coastal
Modern
Neutral
Carbondale, USA
591
591
Moving from the dorms into an off-campus apartment is a huge step — especially when you’re taking it with a partner. Here’s how it’s going for Southern Illinois University student Madison Harrison, who took the leap just before the start of her senior year.
Madison’s Space
What drew you to this apartment? I was drawn to the hardwood floors and timeless neutral walls. I specifically loved our countertop space — the stone is so pretty.
What’s your favorite element in this space? The large windows in the living room — the natural light has been phenomenal.
What’s your apartment best known for? It’s definitely a place to relax and unwind away from college life. That was a large transition that I loved — I went from a noisy dorm with so many people to a quiet apartment.
Madison’s Style
Define your personal home style: Modern, cozy, coastal. I was inspired by a lot of blues, tans, and neutrals. The coastal cowgirl trend was taking over the internet when we moved in, so that definitely made an impact on our decor choices.
What’s your proudest product hack? Using our TV stand as a dresser in the bedroom! We have all our tech and entertainment stuff on top of the stand, and we keep almost all of our clothes folded in the drawers.
Madison’s Budget
In an effort to remove the stigma associated with talking about money in college, we’re asking students to share how they plan and budget for their space.
How much does your housing cost per semester? $3,000.
What was your biggest splurge for your apartment? My bedding. For all of my sheets, comforter, decorative pillows, and throws, I spent approximately $120.
Best budget find? Our couch side table that holds our record player — it was $6 at a thrift shop.
Madison’s Advice
What was your biggest challenge creating this space? Because I was moving in with a partner, it was difficult to agree on decor. We overcame that by a lot of shopping and slowly building a collection of versatile pieces. As students with part-time jobs I would say budget played a huge role in our decor — we thrifted a lot of our items and utilized Facebook Marketplace.
Any other tips? Get a utility cart. I use a little rolling cart to store so many items and maximize our space.
This submission’s responses were edited for length and clarity.
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