Adventures in Apartment Decorating: My Bedroom

Hey, guys! Both in life and in blogging, I've kinda been boycotting January. I'm going to be real with you here for a second: it is 100% my least favorite month. It's unbearably cold, slushy, and without Christmas, snow really lacks a certain winter wonderland quality. I've been spending a lot of time bonding with mugs of tea and Netflix, is what I'm saying.

So I figured since I have nothing super fun to report on my life in the outside world and, as much as I love you all, I refuse to brave the Polar Vortex to take outfit pictures...I'll show you my hibernation cave bedroom! I've been working on decorating it and making the space say "me" ever since I moved in back in September. You guys seem to like my decorating sense...my DIY Vanity post has driven by far the most traffic to this blog, and clocked in more views than any other post last year. I used that piece as a visual guide for the room and designed around it. If nothing else, this post will help you understand my depth of love for Marshall's and IKEA. It's hard to make a space speak to you when you can't really use nails or paint the walls. So, to all of those looking to spruce up a rental, this is for you!

Welcome to my Crib! (I kind of feel like I'm on an episode of MTV Cribs) I decided to pop an "A" on the door to differentiate from my dear roommate's "L." That's just a wooden letter from Michael's and some very sweet scrapbook paper! The Jaws poster is to ward off intruders.

My bed is so obnoxiously bright, it definitely serves as the focal point for the room. I found this duvet cover at IKEA and absolutely fell in love, and I got a rug (barely visible on the left) and a lamp (just to the right) to match. It even ended up matching my Casablanca and Breakfast at Tiffany's posters...swoon. Speaking of those, all 3 of my posters were actually gifts from my boyfriend, but there are definitely similar inexpensive posters floating around the internet. I think they're a great way to add some personality to the walls, no hooks required. The painting was a very cheap find at Marshall's...aren't those just the sweetest lovebirds?

As I mentioned before, you guys are probably familiar with this vanity. The daisy chain of photos is a new addition. It's not a super original decorating technique, but it certainly makes me smile when I see it over there! Never underestimate the power of having photos of loved ones floating all around your place. They really make a rental feel like "home," and as you can see, I have a lot. Also, I totally forgot to organize the vanity caddy before I took these photos. How's that for "real?" hah.

Here is my ode to my semester abroad in Europe! I love this little shadowbox (also from Marshall's) to show off my mementos, and the Minnie ears are the perfect finishing touch.

Here begins my long and passionate ode to knick knacks. They are far and away my favorite thing to decorate with. Some fun and colorful souvenirs and flea market finds are the perfect compliments to a nice collection of photos. We don't need to talk about how heavily stuffed animals factor into my decor scheme. Who says you need to be an adult at 21, right?

That bird is actually another scrapbook paper-wooden figure creation. They're very easy to make, but I love the extra color they give the space! Those fun, bright frames are also from IKEA. They're actually reversible, so you can pop even more pictures in there and flip it around, which is awesome.

 The fun bicycle frame is from Pier 1, and the embroidery hoop is from the lovely Alyssa from Ten Feet Off Beale. The savings jar is for a trip next Spring Break, but I decided to decorate it with Alien from Spring Breakers because...uh...why not? It makes me laugh every time I see it now. I think "more than a touch of whimsy" is both my design motto and my best advice to those looking to inject some personality into their white-walled rental. Fun fact: Freddy Krueger's hat is signed by Wes Craven! Pretty neat, huh?

You can't go wrong with a little Rosie the Riveter! This is my dresser.

 Here's the other half of the lovebirds! The flowers were all found on sale at Michael's, along with the colorful planter. I think that adds such a fun element to the dresser top. It draws your eye over there right away, and makes it feel just a little bit like spring even when there's snow on the ground.

I tried to make my closet a little Old Hollywood...that Cinema sign was a really sweet thrift store find. It makes getting ready feel a little bit more grand!

So I guess if there's anything to take away from this very insane hodgepodge, it's that the best way to combat boring, white-wall blues is to surround yourself with pictures of friends and family, find plenty of fun knick knacks and posters that speak to you, and do not shy away from color! If you stay near the primaries (ish...), or pick another palate (like pastel) it will probably look fine. I picked red as my main color, but all the accents work with it to create a fun and warm rainbow that almost makes you forget all the white and brown around the room!

I hope you enjoyed the tour! Has the winter made you pick up your decorating game, too?