If I had a Barbie dream house, it would be the coolest Barbie dream house on the block. Given my financial status, I might have to settle for a Barbie dream apartment for the time being, but I’m just saying, it would still be the coolest. From the bookshelves to the kitchen table, my dream apartment would be rockin’.

Check out the gallery to see what I would include in my dream apartment.

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!)

Photo credit: styleathome.com

It’s almost time to move to campus – away from parents, rules, younger siblings – and into the most drab room ever?

Yeah, dorm rooms aren’t really known for their architecture or beauty. More likely, they’re small cells with white walls and hideous flooring. So how can you take that space and make it all your own…without sacrificing your security deposit? It’s way easier than you think.

Adding a little pizazz to an otherwise boring space doesn’t take much. And thanks to all the advancements in “temporary” decorating, you can give that cell a total makeover and have the coolest room on campus. (And this goes for all you upperclassmen out there, too!)

Goodbye juvenile poster collages and hello chic sophistication!

The Walls. While you could be like everyone else and put up a cliche college poster there are so many new innovations in decor that won’t put you at risk of losing your damage deposit. Wall decals and removable wall paper are an easy way to instantly add some excitement to your room.  If you’re up to a challenge, you could also try to starch fabric to your wall.  Looking for a one-of-a-kind wall decals that stand out? Check out Etsy!

Hooks and Hangers. Want to hang frames on your wall without using a hammer and nails?  3M makes a variety of adhesive products that won’t wreck your walls, from picture hangers to decorative hooks.  Use the picture hangers to put up frames, and the hooks to hang your accessories up!  Over-the-door hooks are good for towels and coats – just make sure you can close the door when it’s on.

The Windows.  If you’re lucky your dorm room will have a big window to let the light in, because natural sunlight trumps artificial fluorescent light any day.  However, I’m sure you won’t feel the same when the sun is waking you up before noon after a night of showing off your beer pong skills. Want to put up a curtain?  Since you obviously can’t drill into the wall, tension rods are your solution.  Just adjust to the size of your window, slide on some colorful, light-blocking curtains and put in place. (Target, Walmart and Ikea have cute ones for super cheap!)

Desk – A lamp and your computer are the basics for your college desk.  Add a printer, various chargers, speakers, etc., and you’ve got A LOT of cords on your hands.  Get a Cordie to help keep it all in check.

Need help with your time management or want a place to write yourself notes?  Wall-Pops dry erase boards are cute, adhesive and won’t damage your wall. Score.

Bed – If you’re living in a small dorm room, chances are your bed will be your biggest seating space.  I suggest buying a duvet with a cover that can be removed instead of one of those bed-in-a-bag packages.  They are easy to wash if someone spills on your bed, and fairly inexpensive if you get bored with your bedding.  (I’m LOVING the ones from Ikea – they are bright and colorful.)  Then add lots of pillows; they are fun ways to accessorize your bed, but also make your bed feel more like a couch if you’re watching TV.  If you like to read in bed, Bed Rest pillows offer good support.

Storage – As most dorm rooms are on the small side, maximizing your storage space is essential. Especially for all those clothes and shoes. Dorm Buys has lots of storage solutions, from bed risers to over-the-door shoe storage.  Look for cute, colorful storage boxes to add some color or patterns to your room.

For even more inspiration check out Casey Lewis of Teenfashionista.com‘s book on dorm living and decor.  Dorm Room Delicious, Style at Home and our ladies at College Fashion all have additional tips for decking out your residence as well.

Like a fun table, perhaps?

This awesome Bottle Cap Table is easy to make and will score you some major cool points from your friends, neighbors and maybe even your R.A. (as long as you don’t let him see you “collecting” bottle caps in your dry dorm). Plus, actually making the table is a party on its own: “Hey, let’s get a 12-pack of Miller Light. I have a craft project to do!”

What You’ll Need:
- Bottle caps
- Table
- Super glue (if the glue isn’t sticking well with the table, try contact cement)
- Resin (ex. Envirotex Lite)
- Masking Tape
- Aluminum foil
- Duct tape

Start Building!

1) Collect bottle caps. Ways to do this include befriending the neighborhood bartender, scouring the alleys behind bars, and buying microbrews based on how cool the caps look and not how good the beer tastes.

2) Pick a table. Head over to your neighborhood craft store, scour Craigslist or roam the streets for someone’s throwaways. Any size and shape will do.

3) Lay out your design. You could do anything from laying out similar caps in rows to creating an actual picture based on the colors.

4) Glue it down. Just remember that the bottle caps should be face down like on top of a bottle. Apply the glue generously around the edges of the cap and stick those suckers down. Make sure they’re really on there so they don’t move during the next step.

5) Wrap tape around the outside of the table. This is to make sure the glue and resin don’t run down the sides.

6) Build a barrier. Take a long piece of foil, fold it and build it up around the outside of the table (like a mini-fort) and duct-tape it on. This will build as a barrier to keep your resin from dripping all over your room.

7) Cover with resin. Follow the instructions inside the box on how to mix it then spread on a layer thick enough to cover the entire table and make an even surface.

8 ) Remove the barrier/tape, then let the table dry for 8-10 hours.

9) Put that table out on display, kick back with a beer (or some other beverage if you’re sick of the brewskis by now) and enjoy!

There’s a great many things to do and places to see in this world of ours.  As humans, our lives are pretty short (and if you party like I do, it’s probably going to be even shorter).  So we have to prioritize!  We have brains for a reason and that reason is…reasoning (well, at least some of us use them for that purpose: see comment about partying above).  Let me be your voice of reason as I show you all the things you should be doing right here, right now.

We’re always told “less is more.”  I’m sure a couple of you out there are familiar with the concept (it’s certainly true in the case of kissing and the amount of tongue insertion…and someone needs to inform that guy I made out with last night).  Recently, I’ve become more attracted to the concept of having less stuff.  This may be because I moved into a single room in the dorms that’s smaller than my walk-in closet at home, but I’d like to think that maybe something else is influencing me.  Perhaps it’s time for society to downgrade.

Think about how much stuff you really have.  Not just the clothes and the shoes (which, for me, is the bulk of my possessions), but every little thing.  Now think about what among those things you couldn’t live without.  If you think hard enough, it’s probably not a lot.  In fact, I’m betting you could live without 98% of your possessions (excluding the ones that, you know, make you smell better and whatnot).  So why not go for it?  Throw your stuff away!  Or, at the very least, donate it to a charitable cause (even though a bonfire of your former possessions is so much more demonstrative…and fun).  You’ll feel better – I promise. 

Less Stress – Again, this may be a symptom of having to cart my crap through a dorm that resembles an 18 Century maze, but less stuff means less stress.  If you pare down your possessions to just a few things, you know exactly what you have.  In fact, you probably see it every day.  You wouldn’t have to worry about where that one sweater went or if someone is stealing a little bit of your printer paper every day just for the simple fact that you know where everything is and exactly how much of it you have.

More Creative Opportunities -  For some reason, whenever I have to operate on a limited wardrobe, I become more creative with my choices.  Accessories suddenly become vital to my existence and I work harder to make what I have creative and fresh.  This applies to my wardrobe and other personal items.  Decorating an apartment may be easy when you have boxes full of things to nail to the walls, but what’s the fun in that?  Trust me, when you try to artfully place two photographs in an entire living room/dining area, you’ll feel more proud of your accomplishment in the end than if you had just thrown everything you had up on the walls and called it good.

More Excuses To Buy Expensive Things – When you’re living a minimalist lifestyle, you need things that are classic, durable, and essential.  This definitely is an excuse to splurge on items that could be called “investment pieces.”  Instead of buying 17 pairs of jeans from American Eagle, invest in  one or two pairs from a brand that may be more pricey, but fits you better and will last longer.  Same goes for the rest of your wardrobe.  Choose pieces that will fit you well, look good for a long time, and go with every other piece in your closet.  If  only there was a program where I could take 38 cheap sweaters and exchange them for one amazing designer sweater…Cashmere for Crap?

Moving In Becomes Easier – Seriously.  Six crates of stuff for one semester in a tiny single is ridiculous.  I need to downsize.

More Transportable – If I ever feel the need to jet off to Paris for a year (you never know, it might happen), then I can.  That is, if I have less crap to lug around with me.  Nothing says “cosmopolitan traveler” like two pieces of hand luggage (that a gorgeous French dude you met on the plane is carrying for you, of course).  And if Paris doesn’t work out?  No sweat!  Just pack up your minimalist life and jet again.  Being a nomad never sounded so easy (or fun).

It Impresses People – Have you ever run across someone who actually lives a minimalist lifestyle? I have.  I always wander around their spotless, effortlessly chic apartment with my jaw dropped wondering why I can’t do the same thing.  Everyone (myself included) seems to think that minimalism is an impressive feat, especially in these times where the attitude “enough is never enough” is ingrained in us from pre-school (oh yes, I hoarded chocolate milk.  I bet you did, too.  Don’t deny it).  What could be more impressive than an apartment that has almost nothing in it, yet still looks organized, decorated, and (most importantly) lived in? Nothing, my friends.  Nothing.

It’s always Halloween at Michael Jackson’s house.

Cheating could kill you. Really.

False eyelashes are fabulous (and not as difficult as you think!).

Gwen Stefani and baby Zuma. So. cute.

The Humane Society should have something to say about this, right?

Linda Hogan is creepy.

How to use Wikipedia intelligently.

Learn what you are really craving.

Croc bags that even you can afford.

Budget friendly (dorm) decorating!

Bill Clinton supports Barack Obama.

Back in August I showed you how to do a little dorm decorating without screwing up your walls (you do want to get that deposit back, don’t you?) Well now that you’ve got one wall decorated, what are you going to do with the other three?

Enter Blik Graphics, the perfect dorm room/rented apartment/ my-parents-would-kill-me-if-I- wrecked-my-bedroom-walls solution. Blik makes cute, stylish decals that are easily removable and don’t damage your walls or pull off the paint. Most of their designs are meant for one-time use (i.e. once you pull them off you can’t use them again), but I recommend trying their Re-sticks, which, as the name suggests, can be used over and over again. That way, come June, when you’re ousted from your dorm room, your decals can come with you! I usually stick mine on wax paper to prevent them from getting messed up in transit.

You can find their whole selection of adorable and unique Re-sticks here, or you can check out the list of local stores.

They can be a bit pricey, but at least they’re cheaper than that $500 deposit you’ll never get back for putting nail holes in your dorm room wall!

Going away to school is intimidating enough. You’re in a place you know nothing about, and if you’re far enough away from home, you probably don’t know anyone who goes there. You’re pretty much dumped in a completely foreign surrounding and told to hit the ground running. If you’re lucky, in some places the ground is made of nice recycled tire mulch. More realistically, though, it’s dirt with a few twigs and stones. And sometimes the ground is cement.

Obscure analogies aside, the only thing more unnerving than being in a place you know nothing about is being assigned to live with a person you know nothing about. Even if your school was nice enough to give you your roommate’s contact info earlier this summer, your conversations haven’t gotten much further than who is bringing the microwave. It can be a scary experience walking into your dorm, laden with boxes, and seeing a room that probably isn’t much larger than your bedroom at home…with another person smiling at you from their bed.

But it doesn’t have to be so scary. Roommates are one of the most awesome parts of going away to college, and I found that having a roommate my first year who was actually a year above me helped a lot. But for all you incomin’ freshmen, that probably isn’t the case. Still, no worries. Here are five awesome ways for you to break the ice with your brand new bud.

1. Decorate!: Dorm rooms are b-o-r…man, they’re so boring that I don’t even feel like spelling out the word. Eggshell white walls and nothing else? Scary. Even though I’m sure you’ve got your posters and tapestries all ready, converse with your roomie about what you have. Lay out your posters over your brand spankin’ new rug. You might find you have similar interest in bands or just both think that your poster of puppies in a basket is really freakin’ adorable. If there are posters of theirs that you like, they can be more centralized in the room so you can both enjoy them, and the same goes in the other direction. If you’re lacking in the poster/tapestry section, hit up sites like AllPosters.com or Pandora’s Box and converse together.

2. Stock up those provisions: Meal plan or not, nothing saves you during a late-night study session like a bag of popcorn and a Starbucks Doubleshot. One of the biggest issues with roomies is the sharing of food, sometimes without permission. I know I did it. (Sorry, Lauren.) Cruising down the aisles of your local supermarket together will give you a chance to not only get stuff you need, but agree on things that you’re buying together to share and put boundaries on those special treats that are just off-limits. (Bonus tip: A lot of supermarkets have those little DVD rental machines at the end of the cash registers, where you can take out a DVD for a night for a buck. Pick one with your roomie then head back to your new shared digs for movie night!)

3. Switch tunes: I’m willing to bet that you and your roomie will both have MP3 players of some sort. If you don’t, though, drag out that CD collection (or what of it you brought to school) and then pass them over. Listening to your roomie’s music tastes will give you a good hint of what you’re going to be listening to for the rest of the year, and is another opportunity to find stuff in common. And if you come across a song you both adore, there is NOTHING like belting it out together. Just don’t do this at two o’clock in the morning.

4. Time for work, and time for play: Commiserate with your roomie over the classes you’re taking. If they suck, you can comfort each other. If they’re awesome, you can share your excitement with her. And if you have the same class, voila! You can agree to meet up at a certain point on campus and walk to class together. When classes are over, though, it’s time to chill. Let them know what shows you just HAVE to watch on Monday nights at 9 (ahem), and they can tell you the die-for reality show and they just can’t live without. This way you start to form a respect for each other’s time.

5. Roomies aren’t your BFFs: Well, okay, that’s sort of a lie. Your roomie could easily become your best friend during the year you guys live together. But that usually isn’t the case. As school starts to get less frightening, you’ll form relationships with other people, and you may or may not go your separate ways. If you’re not a freshie and you already have an established network of friends, it’s probably a little less likely that you’re going to be buddy-buddy with your roomie. But that doesn’t mean to ignore them! Come to a mutual ground so that both of you can be happy.

As many horror stories as there are of horrible roommates, it doesn’t have to be that way. Those guys just didn’t bother to learn how to be chill with their roomies like I just taught you to! Of course, there are a ton of other things you can do to help ease that “Oh God, I’m living with a total stranger!” anxiety. But, like everything else that’s going to be happening to you in a few weeks’ time, it’s a start.

[Photo courtesty gettyimages.com]

Besides all the sucky-ness that moving has to offer, it does have on hell of a silver lining: DECORATING!That’s right ladies – whether you get to trick out a house, apartment, townhome or dorm, you get at least one special private room that will reflect your amazing style. Not only will your boudoir be your locale for sleeping (or not sleeping, wink wink!), it will be where you study, get ready, pre-pregame, watch trashy TV, and lie in bed doing nothing.

No doubt it will be as fabulous as you are, but in case you needed some help getting started, here are some of this years’ hottest decorating trends.

Robin’s Egg Blue on Chocolate Brown

This pairing of ultra-pastel and super dark is per.fec.tion. Aim for a super rich brown in a luxurious fabric (or one that looks luxe, for way less and pair with super soft, silky sheets).

The palest shades of blue look amazingly tranquil on your walls and expand your room, no matter how itty bitty it may be.

By mixing crazy textures or prints all in similar colors, you can add depth to these pretty, pretty colors.

For accents and decorations on your walls, stick with shades of bronze and gold to warm up the blue and play up your brown pallete.

A funky, intricate selection of accessories keeps these colors feminine–beware of going ultra-modern, because these colors can look masculine if left too bare.

Black, White and Purple All Over

Black and white is always classic, edgy and cool. Throw a rich, royal purple into the mix and you’ve got a sexy, lush vibe goin’ on.

For a sophisticated, urban look try a deep plum semi-gloss for paint (but only if your landlord gives you the OK);

For a more playful look choose a brighter purple like the one below:

Tip: If your room is tiny (as so many of ours are), experiment with painting only one wall, or adding an inexpensive chair-rail and painting only the bottom half.

For your bedding, stick with black and white so you don’t overpower the walls. The simplicity of this combo will pop against your vibrant walls, especially if you choose a great graphic.

For your accessories, choose sleek, contemporary designs in black, white or nickel. Keeping things like lamps and bedside tables simple keeps the focus on your sweet bedding with the gorgeous walls as the perfect back drop.

For finishing touches, keep a look out for bold picture frames and crystal finials or curtain tie backs to add some sparkle.

Sunny Side Up

Nothing can put you in a good mood like happy, sunny yellow. Choose a very pale shade (it will be waaay brighter on your walls!), because going too citrusy will make your eyes water.

You can use your bedding to determine which direction you want to steer your room’s theme. By picking an airy, frilly coverlet you lend an ultra-girly hint to this pretty pastel.

If you choose a buttery gold, your room will always look like it’s glowing and gleaming, giving it a bright, bold feeling.

Again, use your accessories to customize the look you want your yellow to take on.

The best way to score quality stuff without blowing your budget is to comparison shop. Check out Target, Walmart, and K-Mart. These stores all have great home departments with fabulous accessories at great prices. But don’t forget about discount retailers like Ross, Marshall’s, and Stein Mart; you’ll find expensive department store stuff at discounted prices.

No matter how you decide to decorate your humble abode, just keep a few simple things in mind.

1) Determine your color scheme

2) Find your bedding.

3) Match your paint color(s)

4) Personalize with accessories

5) Have your friends help – grab a bottle of wine and some friends for a painting party.

Happy Hunting, and enjoy your beau-ti-ful new room!

A newly-decorated dorm wall–for cheap!

Alright girls, it’s now officially Back To School Season. Does the thought of dorm décor make you sweat worse than the Summer heat? Do the prices in the PB Teen catalog make you woozy? Fear not, because Sarah is here to make it all better. I went to boarding school, so I’ve got double the dorm years under my belt—that means I’ve got double the tips, tricks and shortcuts to transform your dorm from cinderblock cell to palatial pad (without spending your Summer savings). So put away the lava lamps and movie posters, and let Sarah be your guide.

We all know that those PB Teen and Teen Vogue “dorm makeovers” are a sham. Why? Well, for starters no college student can afford a $200 duvet cover or a $50 pillow. We’re lucky if we can afford to eat lunch. And second—I don’t know what college these kids are going to, but at my lovely institution there is no way in hell we could ever paint the walls, swap out the furniture or even put nails in the wall (have you ever tried to hammer nails into cinder block? Not. Fun.)

So my roommates and I made due with that gummy blue tack stuff, that god-awful industrial dorm furniture, and a little inspiration. Our first dorm project starts now, in the middle of the Summer. Later on, when you move in and get settled, you’ll need a roll of ribbon, a package of wooden clothespins, and some adhesive hooks. All of these things are super-cheap, and can be found at Target or any big box store.

Right now, you just need to start collecting. You might already have a shoebox somewhere filled with postcards, notes, photos, pretty business cards, etc. If not, it’s time to start gathering! Your friend sends you a postcard of a flamingo while on vacation in Florida? Put it in a box. Spot a dish of colorful business cards at a restaurant? Stash one in your wallet. Ticket stub from a Summer festival? Into the box. Start collecting little bits and pieces for the next few months, and by Fall you’ll have a box-full.

Now all you need is an ugly blank dorm wall. Attach two adhesive hooks to the wall about 2 or 3 feet apart from each other. Cut a length of ribbon that’s a couple inches longer than the space between your hooks, and tie each end to a hook. Make sure the ribbon is pulled tight, to avoid sagging in the middle. Then just pin a clothespin to both the ribbon and a piece from your box. Keep adding clothespins until you’ve run out of ribbon. Simple!

Now you have an instant way to display all the things you’ve collected, without having to tape each individual piece to the wall—and you can change your display as the year progresses, since swapping things in and out is so simple. Throw up pictures of your new friends. Display those lovely grades from first semester. And easily get rid of evidence of the ex without having to deal with all that blue tack; just pull that once-cute photo down and replace it with something (or somene) cuter. And the bonus? The total cost for this project is probably less than $10.

Happy collecting!