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My last major DIY project was all about home décor… and the decorating bug hasn’t left me yet!

I’ve finally moved into my new apartment in NYC which is now filled with issues of Elle Décor and House Beautiful. The furniture is moved in (…and up 5 flights of stairs) and my apartment is finally coming together. However, I could not help but feel depressed when I looked at my bare, lonely, and artless walls. I was envious as I flipped through the pages of decorating magazines to see how small living rooms and dorm rooms were so fabulously decorated with different pieces of art.

But my budget doesn’t exactly allow for me to splurge on fancy art or even framed posters. So instead, I found my own cheap and chic way to spice up my walls and décor. So if you’re looking to spruce up your room or update your walls on a budget, here is an easy and fun way to make your living space unique!

What You’ll Need

Frames: Frames are expensive, especially larger frames for big walls of empty space! But the best place to look for frames on a budget is often art supply stores (like Dick Blick or even Walmart). Opt for poster frames that use plexiglass instead of glass, as they are cheaper and won’t break (aka: they can survive the college lifestyle and multiple moves). Depending on the frame size you choose, these can range from $10 to about $20. For my DIY, I got 3 16×20 size plexi-glass poster frames.

Tip: Keep in mind how you envision the frames’ position on the wall. Mix and match with different frames and frame sizes, or keep it simple with a symmetrical design of two large frames on a wall.

Wrapping paper or paper sheets: Yes, you will be framing wrapper paper. Sounds silly, but you can create a sophisticated look with something as simple as wrapping paper. Who knew?! Pick a pattern or color that suits the rest of your décor. Or pick multiple patterns/colors for different frames. Wrapping paper in larger patterns work better as they tend to look more like painted canvas or pop art. Choose anything that fits your style! Or you can go to any art store or paper store and they sell single sheets of specialty paper in cool designs for cheap.Try The Container Store, Paper Source, or even your local drug stores like CVS.

Scissors: Snip, snip!

What You’ll Do:

1. Realize first that this may be the easiest and fabulous DIY you’ve ever attempted.

2. Now that you’ve realized step 1, carefully cut your wrapping paper to the size of your frame or frames. As wrapping paper is meant to rip easily, be careful!

Tip: Use the frame paper insert (usually it’s a picture of a happy couple or animal…) to cut your wrapping paper to the exact size.

3. Now stick your wrapping paper in the frame. Pretty simple, eh?

4. Hang your frame(s) on the wall, admire your handiwork, and when friends ask where you bought your chic art tell them who the artist really is. (YOU… duh!)

Unless you have an amazing job where you can work in your PJs, you’re going to need to update your wardrobe with some real people clothes (that don’t permanently smell of pizza and beer, no matter how many times you wash them).

I, for example, currently own one pair of nice slacks and two dress shirts. And because of all that pizza and beer, they don’t exactly fit as well as they used to. Looks like it’s time to update my closest. But like most college students, I’m not exactly rolling in the dough and can’t exactly afford to buy an entire new wardrobe.

So as per usual when I need some real life advice, I sought out my go-to career hero, president of Hearst Magazine’s Cathie Black. With her work wardrobe guidelines, I’ve compiled a no-nonsense guide to work fashion, complete with tips to help you (and me!) navigate the world of appropriate work wear.

1. Dress for the occasion: Dressing well isn’t about having the most expensive outfit. It’s about knowing what the appropriate clothes are for your place of work, and wearing them with confidence. Obviously you’ll need to dress differently if you’re working in a law firm then if you’re working at a chic indie magazine. But no matter where you work, dress with confidence.

2. Cleavage: Save it for the nightclubs. Nobody at work needs to see your funbags. You can still feel sexy at work, without over-sexing yourself. Pair a form-fitting pencil skirt with a long-sleeve blouse. An outfit like this will still show off your curves, but is still work appropriate!

3. Perfume: Don’t overload potential employers or fellow employees with the Britney Spears Fantasy you bought on sale at Marshall’s. It smells like a baby prostitute. Instead, keep your fragrance simple and fresh or just use a lightly scented lotion.

4. Makeup: Like perfume, keep it fresh and simple. Unless you’re working in an industry that allows a work wardrobe to be a little more creative and free, keep your makeup to neutral colors. Go for the “You think I’m wearing no makeup but I really am” look. Don’t cake on the foundation or try to look like Avril with your eyeliner.

5. Don’t be afraid to use color: Neutrals are great and perfect for a work environment, but don’t be afraid to accessorize your work outfit with a pop of color. Find your power color, aka your color that makes you feel powerful and in charge. For me, it’s coral or an orange-red.

6. Shower. Seriously, shower. You don’t want to show up to work smelling of last night’s festivities or looking like Ke$ha on any given day.

When to splurge: There are certain work pieces every gal needs that should be of good quality, so they can last forever.

A nice blazer: This can be in basic black, grey, or any neutral color. The best part about this piece is you can wear the blazer both day or night. Wear it with slacks and a nice blouse for work, and then switch into a pair of skinny jeans and heels after work and you’re ready for happy hour!

Slacks: At some point or another, you will need to wear a nice pair of slacks. Having a few pairs in neutral colors and the perfect fit can last a long time.

Classic button down: The classic white button down is a work attire staple. Worn with slacks or a pencil skirt, this will make you look refined and professional. But work with skinny jeans and some chunky jewelry, you’ll be ready for some after work festivities.

Black pumps: I don’t know about you, but I’m not the most graceful girl when it comes to heels. I can typically wear a pair for about an hour before I have to take them off. There is no way I could last 9-5 in heels if they weren’t a 100% comfortable fit. So make sure you get a nice pair that is of good quality. Also, Dr. Scholl’s Heel Inserts For Her are a gift from the heavens.

When to save: There are certain closet pieces that you can spend the extra buck on and pieces where you can still shop for at the typical college girl’s favorite store, aka Forever 21.

Basic tees: American Apparel is one of my best friends. Despite its often awkward and super slutty advertisements, they have still mastered the construction of the most comfortable basic t-shirt ever in existence. There is no reason you should be stocking up on C&C basic t-shirts or camisoles for over $50 a pop.

For an even better price but still solid quality, stock up on tons of basic color tees and cardigans at Old Navy.

Work Skirts: H&M will be my homie once I finally get a job. At most of their stores they have a large career-conscious clothes section filled with tons of work skirts, suits, fancy camisoles and blouses. And you don’t have to sacrifice color or high-fashion just because you’re a working woman, as H&M has tons of bright colors in work appropriate cuts and styles.

If Punxsutawney Phil was correct this year, we now only have 3 more weeks of winter, which means we can soon wash away those winter blues and bust out those spring styles.  This year, Pantone’s top color will be turquoise, which is not only a fun, bright color that can be mixed with everything from neutrals to browns to other brights, but it looks great on nearly everyone.

And with Spring Break comin’ quick, now is the perfect time to nab some turquoise!

Here are some great choices under 20 buckaroos that’ll perfectly highlight spring’s most popular hue.

Sure, it looks like your average tank top, but that scoop neck and racer back gives it a whole new dimension. Put this on with a bright bib necklace and some skinny jeans for the ultimate summer look.

I dunno about you, but I’m def looking forward to busting out my flip flops and showin’ off my fresh pedi once the warm weather hits, and these (paired with the perfect tan) will look totally fab with shorts, jeans or sun dresses.  The ultimate spring/summer solution.

And speaking of pedis, how can you resist this awesome turquoise nail polish? It’s funky, fresh and different. Love it.

It’s like those designers at Target heard my prayers. Behold: the cutest romper ever. Both rompers and florals are sure to be everywhere this spring, and this one (notice those ruffles!) is just too cute for words.

Looking for just a burst of color?  Go for this floral cocktail ring.

Cute, colorful and comfy: your go-to summer skirt, for sure. Wear it during the day over a swimsuit with a white ribbed tank, or tuck in something a little tighter and a lot lower for an evening on the town.

These shoes will be absolutely A-dorable with leggings, skinny jeans or a skirt.

Colored denim will be back this season, so why not throw on some turquoise jeans?  With a white tee and sandals these would be totally cute and perfect for your first spring picnic, those last few weeks of the semester or even a casual dinner date.

Not even the Budget Stylista can help me out.

I can’t be the only one in this situation, right? Yeah, I thought not. Luckily, I came up with a solution that has seemed to triple my wardrobe and even saved me that extra money for some emergency Old Navy mints. Ready for it?

I reorganized my closet.

That’s right! I know it sounds like the opposite of groundbreaking, but roll with me here for a minute. It took me almost a whole day, but once I rearranged everything—and got rid of a bunch of old clothes along the way—it was like I had completely new stuff. My method was Color Organization, and it’s about what it sounds like—I took everything in my closet and sorted it by color. (Think Forever 21.) So if I had a purple formal dress and purple cut-off denim shorts, I put them next to each other. Yes, really.

You might think that all this created was a disorganized closet, but you’d be amazed by how many killer outfits I’ve put together since arranging things that way. Not only did I reassess everything I owned (most of which I had completely forgotten about!), but I was able to think of what I owned in a completely new way. I tend think in terms of color and what colors might look good together, so this has been revolutionary for me. It makes getting dressed in the morning soooo much easier (and more fun!); I just look at the colors and grab a few things that look good together. No thought, no fuss, no crawling under my bed to find that box of sweaters I put there last summer.

If you’re a color gal, too, give it a try. And if not, try one of these other organization systems on for size:

By occasion: Separate your closet into three partitions: one for casual clothes, one for work wear, and one for going out. If you can, separate your accessories, shoes, and jewelry in the same way. This seems like a pretty simple way to organize until you hit the items that do double – or even triple-duty – so make sure to create a couple of spaces that have room for overlap. When it’s time to get dressed, just visit the appropriate section and – voila – you’ve got your look right there in front of you.

By texture: I might understand color pretty well, but I tend to be clueless when it comes to texture. I know that Clinton and Stacy say it’s really important, so if you’re more savvy than I am, it might suit you well to organize your closet in this way. Just take a cotton from this corner and a tweed from that side and you’re done. Oh, and having a whole rack of smooth silks lookin’ back at you will come in handy when you need something sexy on the fly.

By item: This is pretty much a no-brainer and is probably the way most of you have your closets organized now. If you go for logic, go for this method. If you need a skirt, it’s sitting there with the rest of the skirts. Same goes for shirts, jeans and undies. Perfect!

Whatever you choose, re-organizing your closet can save you tons of time and completely reinvigorate your wardrobe. No need to go spending all that hard-earned cash; just re-think what you’ve already got and work it in a new way.

I recently went to Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC), a massive electronic music festival/rave, and saw some wicked cool costumes. While I didn’t go all out with leather and lace like some party-goers, I did enjoy stepping away from my usually more conservative outfits and wearing neon bright clothes. I liked it enough, in fact, that I figured I could try to work them into my daily summer wardrobe.

And why not? When paired with the right articles of clothing, bright pieces are a super easy way to add color and fun to your look.

The easiest way to incorporate color is with a bright pair of shorts. Sure, you have your reliable blue or black jean shorts that practically go with everything (so you can grab the nearest clean – or not – top), but colored shorts would make the outfit more vibrant and exciting. I picked up these shorts featuring destroyed cuffs from Wet Seal, and at $12.50, they won’t make you feel too guilty about dipping into your account for a “novelty” item. They come in a couple of other colors, and  if the cutoff look isn’t your thing, other styles are offered in even more colors.

I’ve been pairing these with a basic top (white or gray v-neck, anyone?), some key accessories and flip flops and my summer look has been instantly amped up. I’m even considering heading back to Wet Seal and getting every color they got.

Most guys we know stay up late dreaming of the day they might end up in a giant orgy with beautiful women. We, however, lie awake at night dreaming of a closet full of beautiful clothes. To the left, a wall of shoes. To the right, shelf upon shelf of delicately handcrafted bags organized by color and size.

Sigh.
We all have our fantasies.

Since guys can turn to the interwebs to get their daily fantasy fix, we thought you should, too! So, we’re bringing you some fashion porn. The best of the best in all things fashionable. Sure, it may be out of your price range, but it’s a fantasy, so live it up in all its delicious glory.

If we had to choose two things to take to a deserted island, it would be all of our shoes and all of our bags. That’s only two things, right? We know it’s ridiculous to love inanimate objects so much (especially inanimate objects whose sole purpose is to carry things), but we can’t help it if we’re addicted to bags. Even just looking at them. And how can you not love ‘em? There are so many different shapes, styles, details and sizes.  Whether you need a bag to prepare for the walk of shame,  a cute clutch for going out, or a bag for the beach, there’s something for everyone. Or a lot of somethings just for you.

Regardless of what you’re carrying this season, purses are the only type of arm candy that will never let you down. So stop hunting for a man and enjoy a little purse orgy.

Most guys we know stay up late dreaming of the day they might end up in a giant orgy with beautiful women. We, however, lie awake at night dreaming of a closet full of beautiful clothes. To the left, a wall of shoes. To the right, shelf upon shelf of delicately handcrafted bags organized by color and size.

Sigh.
We all have our fantasies.

Since guys can turn to the interwebs to get their daily fantasy fix, we thought you should, too! So, we’re bringing you some fashion porn. The best of the best in all things fashionable. Sure, it may be out of your price range, but it’s a fantasy, so live it up in all its delicious glory.

This season it seems like anything goes for shoes. There’s a multitude of colors, styles, and, most importantly, details. But one thing is for sure: boring shoes are definitely out. This season’s shoes are often gorgeous, always interesting, and many are pieces of art that look almost too good (and painful) to put on your feet.  There are some that are inexpensive (one pair is on sale for $4.99!!!) and others that we college gals will admire in the shop windows, praying the recession is over (and that we’re millionaires) by the time we get our diploma so we can “invest” in them.

Click on each image to find out where to buy (or get an up close and personal look at) these beautiful shoes.

A few months ago, we shared our picks for adding more color to your beauty bags. Now the season is in full swing, and we can’t help but feel inspired by all of the colors blooming outdoors, being displayed in store windows and taking center stage at our local beauty counters. This is the perfect time of year to add more punches of color to your beauty routine, no matter how subtle. Find these colorful picks in stores right now.

MAC “Just A Pinch” Gel Blush is a seriously bold red color in its pot, but goes on smooth and sheer when applied to our cheeks and lips. This color looks great on all skintones and can be worn as light or amped up as you like. $18.50, nordstrom.com

Essie Neon Collection

What better way to add color to your look than to add it to your tips and toes? We know that neon can be a bit scary for some, but when worn on the hands and feet, it’s a lot less “in your face”. Get this mini set, and don’t be afraid to try them all. $18, essieshop.com

L’Oreal H.I.P Bright Duos Eyeshadows pack gorgeous, even more rich pigment than the original, into two colors that can be worn together or separately. Highly blendable, these colors go on sheer when applied with a shadow brush. Add more layers to turn up the volume on your desired look. $7, drugstore.com

Bare Escentuals Free To Be Naturally Adventurous Set

With gorgeous, vibrant colors, this 100% pure, preservative-free set allows the user to play up her bohemian style; give yourself exotic eyes, sparkling cheeks, and inspiring lips with all of the lively colors. Includes a blush, two eyecolors, one liner shadow and a gloss housed in a teal clutch. $39.50, sephora.com

Sephora Brand Moroccan Sunrise Bag Collection

We believe beauty junkies can never have too many cosmetic bags. We know these will never be worn with our favorite ensembles, but these tangerine colored bags look so good in our bathrooms, and really make keeping our ever-growing beauty arsenal well-organized. Available in four sizes. From $9, sephora.com

This is the perfect time of year to add more punches of color to your beauty routine, no matter how subtle. Find these colorful picks in stores right now.

Robin Williams hit the nail on the head when he said “Spring is nature’s way of saying, ‘Let’s party!’” With less than four weeks left of school, you’re probably finding it difficult to do homework, go to class, and study. All you want to do is sit outside in the sunny, 75 degree weather and bask in all of nature’s glory.

If there is one thing I know it is that Spring is distracting. It’s torture to be held inside a dismal classroom while you could be outside drinking fruity cocktails to quench your thirst, enjoying the sunshine, and watching sweaty frat boys play frisbee on the freshly cut green grass. (Editor’s Note: Deeeelish.)

Oh Spring, why are you so wonderfully distracting?

Drinks:  After months of drinking cold beverages while trying to avoid hypothermia, we can finally sit back and enjoy cool ones without shivering.  From fruity Sea Breezes to Mojitos, these brighter cocktails provide the perfect refresher and relaxer as you start to freak out over exams. And why would anyone want to go to class when they could sit outside sipping on some Franzia?

Color:  Everything in the springtime is BRIGHT.  The grass is greener, colorful flowers are everywhere, and even the clothes are brighter.  In the winter, everything is dull and even sitting in a classroom is better than being outside in the cold.  Now, the sky is blue and generally dull-free (except for those pesky April showers), and you sit by the window in class staring at the sunshine trying to make shapes out of those friendly, puffy white clouds and dreaming of laying on the quad with an Us Weekly.

Day Parties:  Parties that go on all day are the best. And parties that go all day when you don’t have to wear a jacket, scarf and long sleeve shirt over your cute cami are even better.  It’s warm enough to walk (no DUIs) and the sun stays out longer for more all-day drinking. Perfection.

Clothes: Springtime clothes are fantastic.  With the bright colors you can get creative with your wardrobe, or wear your spring whites to make your skin look a little less pasty.  Even better, guys look snazzy and sexy in their seersucker shorts and Guy Harvey tees. Holler.

Boys: It’s a fact-spring makes you sexual.  I don’t know whether it’s the air, the clothes or the happiness that comes in a warm breeze, but sexuality seems to heighten in the spring.  How is anyone supposed to concentrate on finals when the warm weather makes you wanna jump the kid at the table next to you?

The Sun:  It’s not summer, so you aren’t cursing the sun for being blazingly hot, yet it’s warm enough for you to lay out. (Between classes, of course.)

It’s amazing anyone can get anything done in this wonderful season. It’s amazing that I was able to write this entire post. Oh look! A butterfly!

I’m out.