September is nearly over, which means there’s no denying the end-of-summer, back-to-school feeling that comes when the mornings grow chillier, the days shorter, and the leaves browner. And whether you’ve just moved into a dorm, or off-campus housing, or a first “real” apartment, this is the time to think about what you’ll need to make your new dwelling feel like home.
For advice, we turned to Clementine Quittner, a dorm decor doyenne who is in her final year at Brown University (she’s also the daughter of Gardenista editor Michelle). She started off in a cubicle-sized dorm room (roommate included) her freshman year, segued into a shared suite of rooms, spent her junior year overseas, and is now living in an apartment off campus with a group of friends. How has she made the transition from cramped dorm room to more spacious living quarters? And what will she take with her when she moves into her own apartment after she graduates?
Here are her tips:
Mattress
Sheets
Window Treatments
Indoor Plants
Duvet
Linen Linens
A bonus piece of advice from Clementine: “Salvation Army! If, like me, you are decorating with mostly a mix of cheap furniture, found objects, and leftovers from graduated students, secondhand/vintage furniture can make your room look so fancy! I bought a beautiful, carved-wood, Victorian dresser and vanity for $20 last year and still get compliments on it from everyone who comes over.”
