Holiday Decorating for the College Student

As college students, it’s hard to find time to get into the holiday spirit, especially when the holidays fall in the middle of midterm and final season (check out these ways to prep for the holidays!). But, that doesn’t mean it is not possible! Here are some college student budget-friendly ideas on how to decorate your living space and get into the holiday spirit.

1. Cut out paper snowflake chains.
Snowflakes create an automatically festive look for your living space; they are cheap to make and don’t even require a trip to the store for supplies. Just grab some scratch paper—I would make use of that essay you would rather not ever see again—and some scissors, and get cutting! Pinterest also has a plethora of creative ideas on how to craft the perfect snowflake, in case you are one of the tutorial-following types like me.

If you like what you see in the photo above, click here for more winter decorating inspiration!

2. Put out a bowl of holiday sweets for visitors.
Whether it is chocolate, sugar cookies, or Christmas-colored M&M’s, having this element in your living space automatically adds a welcoming feel. You can embrace the spirit of giving by sharing your homemade cookies with everyone who comes by, and your visitors will feel right at home as they scarf down homemade gingerbread after gingerbread cookie.

3. Twinkly lights, twinkly lights, twinkly lights.
If the rules are still the same since my freshman year of college, twinkly lights are not allowed in the dorms. However, if you are living in your own off-campus apartment, this is one of the best ways to automatically make your home feel more cozy and ready for the holiday season. Twinkly lights provide mood lighting for your space, and the best part is you can keep them up all year round!

4. You can make a Christmas tree out of virtually anything.
Mini Christmas trees are not too pricey at hardware stores or Christmas tree lots, but if you want to save money or get creative with your tree this year, you will be happy to hear that there are a whole slue of ways to make your own trees out of common household items! You can make a tree by simply stacking 3 kitchen funnels on top of each other and wrapping ribbon around them to give them a cozier feel. You could use patterned washi tape to make a personalized 2-D tree, or if you pick up extra strings of twinkly lights at the store, you can zig-zag them across the wall for a wall-feature that will brighten up the space!

5. Forget the trees! Just hang ornaments everywhere.
If you are not feeling the tree idea this year, that’s okay! Just grab some ornaments from the store and hang them on curtain rods, lamps, or just tack them to the ceiling! If you’re looking to get a big effect but with little effort, this is the way to go.

6. Candles provide coziness, winter smells, and mood lighting!
I light a giant eggnog-scented candle each year around the holidays. The smell makes me nostalgic for past holidays and provides a warm feeling at home for when I’m curled up on my couch watching a movie or reading a book. Candles are pretty cheap, so you can get one for every room!

7. Hang garlands.
You can make garlands out of virtually anything. Much like Christmas trees, it is easy to get creative with your garlands. If you want to do something simple, you can cut shapes out of paper and string them together, or make pom-poms out of yarn and tie them together for a longer-lasting garland. Additionally if you are in it for the long haul and want to create something a bit more complex, you could make popcorn chains, or bead garlands. Whatever you choose to do, it’ll look great!

8. Put together a wreath to welcome visitors.
Wreaths show everyone passing your door that you are in the holiday spirit and ready to celebrate! They’re cheap and easy to buy, and if you buy a fake one you can reuse it for years to come! Otherwise, you can make your own and even make it your craft for a crafting party with your friends! I am personally a fan of ribbon wreaths, they require minimal materials and you can pick and choose the color and fabric of your ribbon to create a personalized wreath!

I hope this list of ideas helps you get as pumped for the holiday season as I am, and feel free to share your creations by taking a photo and tagging #Instaberk on Facebook or Instagram. We’d love to see what you come up with!

Cover Image Source: Rosemarie Alejandrino