10 things you shouldn't have in your apartment after you graduate college
- Your dorm room is your home for four years, and a lot of the items you collect during that time will be with you for life.
- But some decor items look out of place in a home space after college, either because they look immature or just can't be separated from their college reputation.
- You shouldn't have a twin bed, plastic drawers, or a mini fridge in your adult apartment.
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One of the most exciting parts of college is decorating your dorm room. Bedding and wall hangings are chosen with extreme care, as your room is the one place that's designated for you to express yourself during those four years.
But a lot of furniture and home decor that makes sense for a dorm room become defunct once you're in an adult apartment, either because the items seem cheap, they're unnecessary in an adult space, or they're too closely connected with college to look natural anywhere else.
For instance, a mini fridge or a twin bed will transport you back to a residence hall. Here are 10 items you shouldn't have in your apartment after you graduate college.
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First things first, you deserve an upgrade from that twin-bed life once you graduate.
Small beds make sense for dorms. They take up minimal space, providing a place to sleep without rendering the rest of the room useless. But even if you're still living in a small room after college, you should upgrade to at least a full-size mattress.
You probably won't be sharing a bedroom after college, so you won't need to conserve space through your bed. And your 20s can be really stressful, so making sure your mattress is big and comfortable is crucial.
And while we're on the topic, a lofted bed might have been fun in college, but it will probably just make your room look untidy as you get older.
Colleges typically provide raised beds to offer students additional storage space, as dorm closets tend to be small. But that under-the-bed area can quickly become disheveled, which ends up making the room feel more cluttered.
You'll likely have a larger closet once college is over, so you won't require a lofted bed for more storage. And if you do, opt for a bed with built-in storage instead; it will look neater.
A mini fridge does give you snacks on hand, but you can just walk down the hall when you're hungry in an adult apartment.
A small fridge is often your only option for food storage in college, but you don't have to survive off of two shelves post-grad. Two refrigerators in an apartment would be excessive.
Plastic drawers made sense when you had to move every summer, but you deserve something more permanent now.
The main appeal of plastic bins is the price point and mobility they offer, but you can find affordable storage that looks a bit nicer and still won't break the bank.
Bulletin boards help you show off keepsakes, but there are more mature products that create the same effect.
The concept of a bulletin board stands the test of time: a decor item to help you display keepsakes. But cork texture has a young vibe, so you should replace your old board with a shadow box or hanging frame once you move into your adult pad.
Reading pillows make studying in dorms easier, but there's not really a need for them after college.
A reading pillow is helpful for studying in your dorm, as the armrests make writing on your lap easier. But you probably won't be working from your bed after college. Even if you work from home, a kitchen table would serve you better as a work space than your bed.
Keep your bed a place of relaxation, and opt for regular pillows in your room. They'll offer plenty of support for leisure activities, which is all you need.
Mismatched towels aren't a big deal when you're dealing with communal showers, but they won't look very good in your bathroom full time.
Towels primarily serve the function of drying you, but they sit on display too, acting as built-in decor. Having towels that don't go together might not seem like a big deal, but it can prevent your bathroom from feeling tied together.
It's worth it to buy a matching pair, especially if guests will be using your bathroom. And it's best to get a set that goes with your shower curtain.
Saucer chairs look like they belong in a dorm or on a porch, even though they're pretty comfortable.
These scoop-shaped chairs are really popular in college bedrooms, so it's hard to separate them from that context once you move out of your dorm. But you can transition your saucer seat to outdoor furniture, so they won't go to waste.
Unframed posters scream "temporary dwelling place."
Posters offer a quick and cheap way to decorate a room, which is why you see them in so many dorms. But they look haphazard without a frame, so make sure you invest in nice casing for your art once you graduate.
A plastic desk chair is also a no-go, as it doesn't look inviting in a home space.
If your dorm room didn't come with a standard chair for your desk, you probably bought a plastic one, as it was affordable and durable. But your adult apartment should feel like a place of sanctuary, and the plastic looks more appropriate for an office space.