How to Turn Your Bedroom Into Your Sanctuary
This article is brought to you by CORT Furniture Rental. We take the hassle out of furnishing your new place so you can do more important things like read this article. Learn more about why furniture rental is the best way to get a great looking apartment.
With today’s college students on strict budgets (and likely suffering under a mound of student loan debt), it’s not unusual for student housing to be a bit of a tight fit. Whether you’re able to swing living by yourself, or you’re sharing a house with seven of your “closest” friends, everyone needs a place to retreat. Whether you use your bedroom for sleeping only, recovering from your latest hangover, or for most of your entertainment, your bedroom should be the place where you feel most comfortable – somewhere you can find peace within yourself – a sanctuary.
We all have days where our bed doesn’t get made up, where our dirty clothes don’t make it to the hamper, and you’re grabbing clean clothes to wear from out of the dryer. There are always days where we lack the self-discipline to keep our bedrooms in pristine living conditions. However, the set-up and vibe of your college bedroom can be a foundational point of your well-being, mental health, and self-esteem.
There’s more than one way to turn your college bedroom into your sanctuary. Additionally, there are many parts to a bedroom that require personal attention if you’re wanting to create a serene space for peace, quiet, and comfort. Here are six specifics that you should analyze when you decide to transition your bedroom into a sanctuary.
Scents
Keeping your favorite candles wax scents on hand are going to be important to the overall feel of your bedroom. Coming home from a long day of classes, or that double-shift you worked waiting tables should mean walking into a place full of your favorite smells. Avoid anything too strong – as your roommates or visitors may not appreciate it.
Candle warmers or wax melting lamps are the safest way to smell up your room when you aren’t home. I leave my candle-warmer on while I’m at work, so when I come home, I’m greeted with the smell of my favorite Yankee Candle.
Febreeze and other scent sprays are less effective, so I’d recommend using candles with scents that will last.
When the season changes, change up your scent. You’ll enjoy walking into cinnamon in the winter, but maybe not during the summer. Find what works for you — and what makes your nose happy!
Lighting
Lighting can make or break the comfortability of a room. Avoid using lights that are too bright and overwhelming. Lamps (floor or table) are best when it comes to transitioning from the day into evening/bedtime. You’ll find that it’s important to feel calm in your space, so lamps are the best way to go.
Also look into the lighting that comes from windows. Natural lighting is the best kind — so the more often you can open your blinds and let in the sunshine, the better you’ll feel about your college bedroom turned sanctuary.
Texture
When picking out textures for your bedroom, always go for soft and fluffy. Whether it’s an extra pillow or an area rug that your bare feet will enjoy, the extra softness will bring loads of comfort. You’ll be thankful for the rug when your bare feet hit the floor in the mornings at the sound of your alarm. You’ll love cuddling up in your chair with that extra soft blanket that you love.
Color Scheme
When in doubt, always opt for neutrals. Color “popping” is a good way to catch the eye of your visitors, but for the most part, neutral colors make us feel comfortable, safe, and at peace. Instead of a bold, loud comforter for your bed, consider something gray or off-white. The tricky thing about using neutrals is that you’ll have to keep the place extra clean.
Organization
No one enjoys coming home to a disaster of a living space. If your stuff is scattered all over the place, your clothes are strewn about all over the floor, and you can’t tell the clean socks from the dirty ones, you aren’t coming home to a space that’s welcoming and inviting.
Keeping up with your bedroom organization is just as important as washing your sheets (weekly, let’s hope). When everything is in the right spot and you know exactly where your things are located, you’ll be much happier about spending time in your bedroom.
Plants
Having living things in your bedroom can add a sense of calmness to your life. Not only will you have the “responsibility” of watering your plants, but you’ll get to enjoy their weekly growth and the layer of beauty they add to your sanctuary. You’ll be surprised at how much a little greenery can add to your life.
Turning your bedroom into your sanctuary can take some patience and thought. You’ll need to carefully pay attention to all areas of the room in order to really feel as though you’re getting the full effect. Whether is the scent or the lighting, the fluffy pillow on your chair, or the shag rug under your feet, coming home to a place of peace just can’t be beat.
Looking for an easy way to furnish your off-campus apartment? Renting furniture from CORT saves you time and money. See how easy it is to get great looking furniture without breaking the bank.
Follow Uloop
Apply to Write for Uloop News
Join the Uloop News TeamDiscuss This Article
More Uloop Campus Life Articles
- Is Group Studying More Effective?
- What You Need to Know About Moving Mid-Semester
- Dos and Don'ts for the Night Before Midterms
- How To Decorate Your Apartment Walls
HARVARD HOUSING LISTINGS
See all HARVARD Housing ListingsHARVARD Housing Listings
WRITE FOR ULOOP
Apply to Write for Uloop NewsGET TOP STORIES DELIVERED WEEKLY
TOP COLLEGE NEWS
TOP HARVARD Campus Life Q&A
BROWSE OTHER COLLEGES
- By CollegeBoston CollegeBoston UniversityBrandeis UniversityHarvard UniversityUniversity of Massachusetts-AmherstMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyNortheastern UniversityTufts UniversityClark UniversityUniversity of Massachusetts-LowellUniversity of Massachusetts-BostonWorcester State CollegeBentley CollegeWheaton CollegeMount Holyoke CollegeLesley UniversityHampshire CollegeSuffolk UniversityWestfield State CollegeUniversity of Massachusetts DartmouthWilliams CollegeAmerican International CollegeAmherst CollegeAnna Maria CollegeAssumption CollegeBabson CollegeBay Path CollegeBecker CollegeBerklee College of MusicBoston Architectural CollegeBridgewater State CollegeCambridge CollegeElms CollegeCollege of the Holy CrossCurry CollegeDean CollegeEastern Nazarene CollegeEmerson CollegeEmmanuel CollegeEndicott CollegeFisher CollegeFitchburg State CollegeFramingham State CollegeGordon CollegeGordon-Conwell Theological SeminaryLasell CollegeMassachusetts College of Art and DesignMassachusetts College of Liberal ArtsMassachusetts College of Pharmacy & Health ScienceMassachusetts Maritime AcademyMerrimack CollegeMount Ida CollegeNew England School of LawNewbury CollegeNichols CollegeRegis CollegeSalem State CollegeSimmons CollegeSmith CollegeSpringfield CollegeStonehill CollegeThe New England Institute of ArtUniversity of Massachusetts Medical School WorcesterWellesley CollegeWentworth Institute of TechnologyWestern New England CollegeWestfield State CollegeWheelock CollegeWorcester Polytechnic InstituteAndover Newton Theological SchoolBenjamin Franklin Institute of TechnologyBerkshire Community College Bristol Community College Bunker Hill Community College Cape Cod Community CollegeGreenfield Community College Massachusetts Bay Community CollegeMassasoit Community College Middlesex Community College (MA)Mount Wachusett Community CollegeNorth Shore Community College Northern Essex Community CollegeQuinsigamond Community College Springfield Technical Community CollegeAilano School of CosmetologyAlexander AcademyAssabet Valley Regional Technical SchoolBancroft School of Massage TherapyBay State School of TechnologyBentley UniversityBlackstone Valley Vocational Regional School DistrictBlue Hills Regional Technical SchoolBoston Baptist CollegeBoston Graduate School of Psychoanalysis IncBranford Hall Career Institute-Springfield CampusCatherine Hinds Institute of EstheticsCharles H McCann Technical SchoolConway School of Landscape DesignCortiva Institute-BostonDiGrigoli School of CosmetologyDiman Regional Technical InstituteEINE IncEmpire Beauty School-BostonEmpire Beauty School-FraminghamEmpire Beauty School-HyannisEmpire Beauty School-LowellEmpire Beauty School-MaldenEpiscopal Divinity SchoolEverest Institute-BrightonEverest Institute-ChelseaFINE Mortuary CollegeFranklin W Olin College of EngineeringGreater Lowell Technical SchoolHallmark Institute of PhotographyHellenic College-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of TheologyHenris School of Hair DesignHult International Business SchoolITT Technical Institute-NorwoodITT Technical Institute-WilmingtonJolie Hair and Beauty Academy-LudlowJupiter Beauty AcademyLa Baron Hairdressing Academy-BrocktonLa Baron Hairdressing Academy-New BedfordLe Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts-CambridgeLincoln Technical Institute-BrocktonLincoln Technical Institute-SomervilleLowell Academy Hairstyling InstituteMansfield Beauty Schools-QuincyMansfield Beauty Schools-SpringfieldMarinello School of Beauty-NorthamptonMassachusetts General Hospital Dietetic InternshipMassachusetts School of LawMedical Professional InstituteMGH Institute of Health ProfessionsMildred Elley-Pittsfield CampusMillennium Training InstituteMontserrat College of ArtMotoring Technical Training InstituteNational Aviation Academy of New EnglandNational Graduate School of Quality ManagementNew England College of Business and FinanceNew England School of AcupunctureNew England Tractor Trailer Training School of MassachusettsNorth Bennet Street SchoolNorthpoint Bible CollegePope St John XXIII National SeminaryPorter and Chester Institute of CantonPorter and Chester Institute of ChicopeePorter and Chester Institute of WestboroughPorter and Chester Institute of WoburnPortfolio Center - WalthamRob Roy Academy-Fall RiverRob Roy Academy-TauntonSalter College-ChicopeeSalter College-West BoylstonSalter School-New BedfordSchool of the Museum of Fine Arts-BostonShawsheen Valley Regional Vocational Technical SchoolSignature Healthcare Brockton Hospital School of NursingSoutheastern Technical InstituteSouthern Worcester County Regional Voc School DistrictSpa Tech Institute-IpswichSpa Tech Institute-PlymouthThe New England Conservatory of MusicToni & Guy Hairdressing Academy-WorcesterUniversity of Phoenix-MassachusettsUrban College of Boston
- By State
- By City