moving into my first college apartment soon!! what should i get to make this place a home?

Question

Wine Guy · Answer

LeNOSE - Orange You Glad Life’s Not So Bad: This new hand soap from LeNOSE is one of the best things I’ve smelled. Better version of Aesop. Can’t believe it will only be 10 bucks.

Karen · Answer

Oasis Lights: Good lighting. I fell for these off IG and now they are in every room of our house. When I open the door to a cozy environment I instantly relax. If these aren’t in your budget - any lamp with the right type of ambient warm glow. That is always what makes any house a home if the lighting is right.

Clara · Answer

MUJI cotton slippers: I recommend ones that, like these from Muji, are made from cotton (for better moisture-wicking without risking mildew) and have a hard sole (for dorm hallways).

chiarabelle · Answer

Travel Poster for Marina di Ravenna, Italy Prints: The sooner you can get some art up on the walls, the better your place will feel! Even a cool newspaper ad taped up with washi tape will do!

Catherine Daly · Answer

Skyeskyns Natural White Large Sheepskin Rug (105x66cm): There is nothing like coming home to lay flat on your back on the floor on a sheepskin, and keep it by your bed to greet your feet in the morning. It’s an investment that makes me happy so many times a day (and Quince has a college budget friendly option that isn’t showing up on their website right now but check back). You will also never regret owning a foam roller.

Pavan Jagalur · Answer

A good ratcheting screwdriver: This is my standard housewarming gift for someone moving out on their own for the first time.

Assembling furniture and fixing random stuff that’s a little loose or broken will involve substantially less profanity with a good one of these.

(Yes you can go cheaper if you want, but this is a BIFL item so it’s worth making it nice.)

LAUREN! · Answer

NESPRESSO: do not sleep on this. me and my roommates use it multiple times a day to make lattes, americanos, etc. It isn’t comparable to Keurig as it makes actual espresso shots.

Analisa Burns · Answer

A Big-Ass Bucket of Maldon Salt: the baddies all got a tub of Maldon salt in the cabinet

Dylan · Answer

Kura Authentic Seaweed Furikake Seasoning:

white sesame, roasted seaweed, kelp powder & Himalayan pink salt <3

Dylan · Answer

Lemons: if i don't have lemons in my house something is wrong. i use them daily for so many different things! add to teas, zest them, juice them, boil their peels...these babies are both sour AND versatile, not unlike myself.

think you don't have the ingredients to make a meal? if you have lemons, you do! add them to pasta with a bit of butter or olive oil. pop wedges of them in the oven with your fish. use them to add flavour and depth to meals! when in doubt, add lemon!

Dylan · Answer

Gentle Habits Grounded Incense: Not just a clever name, this actually makes me feel grounded. i've tried to branch out by testing the other scents in this range but i can't go past this one. It's cosy and warming and not too overpowering for my sensitive snout!

would like to buy this holder to pair with them. I currently have this one, which I adore the look of, but i have to sit it in a dish to catch the ashes.

Gentle Habits even have custom playlists to accompany each of their incense and perfume oil scents. So cute :)

Dylan · Answer

BAKERY Scented Soy Candle: HEAVENLY!!!!

Scent notes: Almond · Buttermilk · Hazelnut · Vanilla · Tonka bean · Malt

Dylan · Answer

HOVET Mirror, aluminium: she's large & in charge but also light & lovely. most importantly, she makes my small living area feel spacious & is perfect for full body selfies if that's something that brings you joy in this life.

Dylan · Answer

$10 coffee & tea maker / french press: she gets the job done! an essential component of my morning coffee ritual & very budget-friendly at only $10! :) one day i may upgrade to this fancier french press, but for now, this one meets all my daily caffeine-related requirements.

Dylan · Answer

Baccarat KIYOSHI Chefs Knife 15cm: i don't know how i functioned before owning these knives

Dylan · Answer

Laoganma Crispy Chilli Oil: the greatest of all time

Dylan · Answer

Miss Piggy mug: She's fabulous

Dylan · Answer

Mary-Kate & Ash Tray : the perfect gift doesn't exi-

i might consider taking up smoking if i was gifted this

Dylan · Answer

Depression Ending Bear: Let me tell you, much like Shakira's hips, the reviews don't lie! this big boy currently has over a thousand 5-star reviews on IKEA website (go read some of them for comedy gold - you're WELCOME).

my cats love this one. dolly spends her nights licking it obsessively til it's saturated, then she falls asleep. cute or disgusting? a little from column A, a little from column B.

Dylan · Answer

Hommey Sheet Set - Cloud / Capri: finally adorned my bed with these dreamy stripey sky baby blues and i'm in love. sleep time now feels like a calming cosy cotton cloud <3

Dylan · Answer

Hario Cold Brew Pot 1L: Endless coffee, cold brewed according to your personal preference. Can also be used to make your own tea concoctions or an array of other fun drinks.

The insert is made of a super fine & strong mesh & comes apart easily for cleaning. Stores perfectly in the fridge door. A real winner!

Dylan · Answer

Devils ivy: much more low-maintenance than i expected. people have said that about me before.

i have a few of these babies, and one has grown from my ceiling down to the floor (!!) it's so long and luscious i'm so proud of myself for keeping it alive all these years!

they seem to thrive on living indoors by the window without direct sun & i water them whenever they start looking a bit sad.

Dylan · Answer

Slinky: Ahh, the humble slinky. A childhood simple pleasure and an adulthood stim toy. I personally love the sound and feel of the metal ones, but you can also get plastic ones, which my cats are very fond of.

Myan Aljets · Answer

A record player: This might sound so cliche and you can insert another music player, buttttt the act of putting music on in some ritual way is so lovely. ❤️

Maribeth · Answer

Art made by friends who will be far away: What could possibly make you feel more at home than mementos from the people who constitute home for your soul? Make art for them to keep in their space, too. ♥️

Eric F · Answer

Narwal Robot Vacuum & Mop 🤖: Vacuums AND mops (together or separately). App creates a convenient floor plan that allows you to choose specific rooms and schedule daily programs, and it has a tangle-free roller brush (long hair friendly). Got ours ~50% off ($360 down from $700) during Prime Day.

Megan · Answer

A good chair: Honestly, a comfy chair, really any good chair, whatever feels comfortable to you. Having a place to sit and relax that isn’t your bed will make all the difference, and you can buy a comfy chair for a lot less than investing in a good couch would be!

bella · Answer

Curtains to the floor!!!: Curtains that are hung from really high and nearly hit the floor are a super easy way to make your apartment feel nice and expensive and cozy. I like a heavy curtain around the outside and a tension rod inside for a sheer drape so you can choose your level of light blocking. IKEA has really good options. avoid those god awful navy blue micro-velvet curtains with the big grommet holes that plague college dorms everywhere!

Clara · Answer

A cotton bathrobe: I wish I’d had this for college! It’s so much nicer than wearing a towel, especially if you have to walk down a hall from the showers. I especially like the affordable waffle knit ones since they’re quick-drying without being too heavy.

AMB · Answer

A meaningful piece of art for your room: Something that made me feel more comfortable in my college was having a meaningful piece of artwork displayed. Maybe it’s of a special place or a special memory, but working to make the dorm/apartment space your space brings some life into it. It’s especially meaningful if the artwork is created by you, someone you know, or a local artist.

One of my friends gifted me a painting of a landmark that’s meaningful to me; I had it in my dorm room and still have it in my current room too.

Jamie · Answer

a perfect ikea hamper: I keep one of these (or some version of a hamper) in nearly every room! This one is perfect because it’s SO cheap, SO spacious, and SO easy to carry (because it folds up). I shed clothes everywhere, and I leave them wherever they come off. The only way to solve this was endless hampers. Designate one as re-wearable clothes that don’t need to be washed yet, helps solve the clothes chair problem.

Lida Richardson · Answer

Pothos: Not a plant person bc I simply do not have the constitution and can’t have a pothos bc they’re toxic to cats (and my cat is obsessed with eating them for some reason), but I think pothos is a classic first home plant!! So so easy to take care of, they kind of refuse to die. When my parents got divorced I bought my dad one for his apartment and it’s still thriving 20 years later.

grace murray · Answer

lamps: college dorm/apt overhead lighting is especially offensive. get yourself some lamps (floor, table, bedside, etc.) to cozy the place up!

Emily Teague · Answer

A Big Swedish kilim: A big kilim brings a little color to dorm life, softening hard floors, adding character, and creating a space people want to hangout in. A good lamp helps too

Grier · Answer

A Tray!: Congratulations! Begin with a tray! Stack books & vases on it, matchboxes, various odds and ends. It will make everything look tidier and more elegant at the same time.