16 Budget-Friendly College Living Room Ideas You Will Love
Decorating your college living room can be one of the most exciting parts of moving into a new space!
Whether you’re in a dorm, apartment, or shared house, creating a cozy, functional, and stylish living room is key to making it feel like home.
With this guide, I’ll show you exactly how to create your dream space without spending a bunch of money. You also don’t need interior design skills to make it happen!
From clever DIY projects to budget-friendly furniture finds, there are plenty of ways to transform your college living room into a space where you can chill, study, and hang out with friends. Let’s dive into some fun and practical ideas!
This post is all about college living room ideas.
How to decorate a college living room cheap
Before buying a bunch of new furniture and apartment decor for your space, try out some of the options below to save money:
- Thrift stores, vintage stores/antique stores, yard sales, facebook market place etc.
- Be open to accepting hand-me-downs
- When people move out at the end of the year they leave behind plenty of great items! Some things are barely used.
- Upcycling items you already own
- Trade with friends
- Split costs with roommates
- DIY apartment decor projects (even if you aren’t super artsy! You may be surprised at what you can create).
- Only buy what you need! Don’t get too carried away with decorating since that can get expensive quickly and will make your space feel cluttered.
- Try not to buy plastic items as they break easily. Try to buy durable items so you don’t have to replace them as often!
- Choose a consistent color scheme so you are less likely to buy random things that may not fit your theme.
Cute College Living Room Ideas
1. Vertical bookshelf to save space
Make the most of your floor space by using vertical space for storage. Instead of getting a horizontal bookshelf, get one that takes up more wall space!
You can add other decor to it as well for it to feel a bit more homey!
2. Cozy lighting for a calming ambiance
Apartment buildings can sometimes have super harsh overhead and fluorescent lighting.
To make your living room really feel like home, try to decorate your space with plenty of lamps or string lights.
Make sure to also buy lamps that have a dimming effect to get that extra cozy feel!
3. Soft rug to define your space and minimize noise
A soft rug is an absolute must for your living room to make it feel more inviting and comfortable. It really ties the room together and helps to define your space and separate different areas of your living room.
Another bonus is that it helps to reduce a bit of noise and protects your floors from scuffs. That way you get your full security deposit back (;
{RECOMMENDED POST: 10 Realistic Book Storage Ideas for Small Spaces And a Cozy Vibe}
4. Hidden storage under t.v. if you don’t want to buy a media center
No need to purchase an expensive media console. They can be great for extra storage but they are also bulky (aka hard to move into your space).
Instead, mount your TV and use other furniture for simple storage. You can use a dresser or a bench and baskets to hold your electronics, gaming stuff, books, extra blankets etc.
5. Be mindful of your living room layout
You may find that you need to use your living room for more than just relaxing. Incorporate an area to study as well.
It can be nice to study at home sometimes rather than at the library. You can use a simple desk, chair, and rolling cart to hold your school supplies and textbooks.
6. Gallery wall art for a personal touch
Rather than one large (and expensive!) art piece, start collecting wall art that you love to create a gallery wall. We have plenty of affordable wall art that you can choose from or you can make your own!
I love using Canva (free design platform) to create wall art. Then thrift some cute frames and maybe decorate them. Since wall art is relatively light you can use command strips to hang them up!
7. Stick to neutral furniture for a cohesive look
For larger furniture like couches, try to choose neutral colors. That way you can add pops of color with your other decor.
Having a simple base to work off of can help your living room look calm and cohesive.
{RECOMMENDED POST: 23 Beginner-Friendly Terrace Gardening Ideas For Your Cozy Apartment
8. Low-maintenance plants
Bring some life into your lying room by adding a few house plants. This is a super affordable way to decorate your space since you can propagate plants from friends and thrift pots!
It is so fun to watch them grow throughout the semester and this post has plenty of plant suggestions that are easy to care for!
9. Cute throw pillows and throw blankets
Choose a few cute decorative pillows and throw blankets to make your living room extra cozy.
If you already have blank pillowcases, consider embroidering on cute patches or funny sayings to make them work for your new space.
10. Reading nook area, journaling, or mindfulness space
If you have enough space, create a section strictly for self-care. It is so easy after a long day of classes to flop on the couch and turn on a t.v. show. And there’s nothing wrong with that!
But it can also be helpful to have an area to relax in that is screen-free. Even if it is a simple chair with a dresser holding your art supplies, books (for fun-not textbooks!), or yoga clothes. Use this area to do your hobbies, meditate, stretch, journal etc.
{RECOMMENDED POST: 11 Clever Living Room Organization Ideas For a Simplified Space }
11. Corner storage to maximize storage space
Most college apartments that your school offers are pretty tiny. That is why it is super important to make the most of hidden extra space.
In your living room corners, you can add corner shelves or a rolling side table to store books, remotes, or cute decor. It is super convenient when you are relaxing on your couch and it ensures your space stays clutter-free.
12. Floor pillows for extra seating
Floor pillows and bean bag chairs are important to have when hosting more people than your normal crew.
I love having extra cozy seating for game nights and movie marathons that way if you don’t have enough couch space everyone still has something other than the floor to sit on!
13. Baskets as an easy way for extra storage
Baskets are a super affordable way to create extra storage without investing in expensive furniture.
They are a great place to store pillows and blankets for that extra cozy feel. You can slide them behind your couch, under your coffee table, or tucked away in corners.
14. Large mirror so the small space feels bigger
To make your living room feel a bit bigger, prop up a large mirror! It is functional but also is a tricky way to make your living room feel less tiny.
{RECOMMENDED POST: 9 Minimalist Dorm Room Ideas For a Calming Space
15. Reed diffuser to fill your living space with calming scents
Decor goes far beyond just the visuals! Try to incorporate reed diffusers, essential oils, or room sprays to really tie your space together.
Many college apartments don’t allow candles so reed diffusers are a great way to keep a fresh scent.
You can leave them out on a side table or tuck them under your couch so they are hidden if you want a more minimalist living room.
16. Small coffee table or a storage ottoman
Prioritize small furniture! Trust me, you will not want to move bulky furniture up and down stairs on move-in day.
The smaller surface area also gives you fewer opportunities to have a bunch of clutter on them which can help make your space look serene. Add a few decor pieces like candles, plants, or coffee table books.
Try to find coffee tables with drawers or you can use baskets underneath for extra storage space.
College Living Room Apartment Ideas
You truly can design a cozy living room without spending a bunch of money. Don’t feel like you need to buy everything up front either.
Buy the necessities and then as the school year goes on you can add decor and cozy elements.
I hope this guide was super helpful for you and gave you some inspiration as you put together your new living room!
Have any other college living room ideas? Let us know in the comments below! I’m sure others in the community would love to learn from you as well.
Be sure to sign up for the newsletter if you would like sustainability and wellness tips sent directly to your inbox!
Stay well,
Maggie
This post was all about cute college living room ideas.
Other posts you may like:
7 Surprisingly Simple Tips For Choosing the Best Eco Friendly Dorm Decor
13 Life-Changing Ideas For How To Organize Your Small Bedroom
9 Clever Bike Storage Ideas for Apartments To Maximize Space
If you would like to save this trendy college living room ideas post for later-Pin it!
