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How to add a vintage look to your apartment
By Danielle Wirsansky Uloop
Everyone has their own unique style, but one style that’s particularly popular at present is vintage. Things that look vintage or are actually vintage, that’s up to you. Styling your apartment to add a vintage look to it can be pretty easy or hard depending on how much work you want to put into creating this look. Upcycle Upcycling is the process of converting old or discarded materials into something useful and often beautiful. A big part of adding a vintage look to your apartment has to do with using actual vintage items. But many items in good working condition are either obsolete (you might have a new version that works a whole lot better) or are way, way too expensive. So a great
idea is to find vintage items that you can upcycle in creative ways to make them more useful for you. A few examples include taking pallets, staining them and turning them into shelves; making interesting candles from funnels; and taking teacups and turning them into soap holders.
Distress Paint the Furniture Help to give the furniture in your apartment an authentic vintage look by distressing it. Almost any (especially wood) pieces of furniture can be given a new lease on life with a shabby chic makeover. There are a lot of easy and great paint techniques you can try. I recommend you try the method suggested by Better Homes and Gardens. You can add color to otherwise dull pieces and make the color accent or pop wherever you end up placing it.
Trade Out Your Hooks, Handles, and Knobs
Instead of using the boring, everyday hooks, handles, and knobs that your furniture comes with, trade them out for something a little more interesting. I recommend sticking with metallic colors, like silver, gold and brass to continue that vintage feel. And don’t worry about matching them — find an eclectic mix that appeal to you.The hodgepodge will be artistic and vintage. These can easily be found at garage sales and off of other furniture that can no longer be salvaged. Or you can simply go to your home supply store like Lowe’s and Home Depot and pick a couple out! Hang Lace Curtains Lace fabric is beautiful, light, and somehow vintage and timeless at the same time. Lace curtains will be airy in the summer and help to
diffuse light in the winter. They can be short or long, whatever you prefer. You can find already-made lace curtains or you can go purchase vintage lace fabric from a vintage shop or place like that in order to make your own if you have the skill. These curtains can either be a statement piece in the room or add an understated elegance. And lace curtains do not have to be limited to the bathroom — you can use them as bed curtains, shower curtains and more. Floral Patterns Floral patterns are a throwback to older, simpler and more elegant times. A nice way to make your apartment softer and more vintage feeling is simply by adding floral prints. Focus on finding prints that appeal to you, because let’s be honest, there are always ones we prefer above others. Make sure you find a pattern
that you really like: it’s not like you don’t have an almost endless supply of different floral pattern objects. And you do not have to stick to just one floral print (if you are not careful, it can sometimes get a little too matchy-matchy that way), so choose the ones that speak to you. Most will go together, but make sure you check ahead of time because you do not want to somehow mix together the worst floral pattern that the world has ever seen. If the vintage look is really what you want to go for with your own apartment, there are so many opportunities for you to make a change. You don’t have to start big. Start small and begin by introducing the elements you enjoy as you discover them. After a while, you will never remember a time when your apartment was not as stylish and retro chic.
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What to consider before moving in with bae
By Kylie Exline Uloop
There are various decisions we have to make in college, like should I study for this test worth 25 percent of my grade, or make Happy Hour and save on 2-for-1 drinks? Very serious matters at hand. There is also a slightly heavier subject to consider: should I move in with my boyfriend of six weeks because, well, because why not? Moving in with your partner not only sounds scary, but can definitely be scary if going into it blind. Warning: Don’t be blind. Below are five things to be aware of when thinking of rooming with your boy or girlfriend. If you are already in a relationship, then I am most certainly talking to you. 1. Their roommates are now your roommates. When you had your own place, and he had his, you could switch up the bed you were lying in. Now that you literally share the same bed, you’re also sharing people you live with: that’s right, roommates. Now, don’t get me wrong, it is nice to have people around when you are lonesome, but it is also necessary to have your alone time. Just make sure to live with others that you sort of like and can deal with drunk at 5 a.m. on a Tuesday night (morning?). If not, let’s just say it is going to be a longgg year, buddy. 2. Fights turn awkward real fast. Arguments are normal and disagreements are bound to occur on the daily. No biggie. What can be major though is when a fight turns into a few choice words and a door slammed in the face. Before having the same address, your escape was your
own apartment.
Now you have the same living room currently seating three others, a shared bathroom, and a porch whose light switch is broken. So where do you go? You go to the roommate who allows you to vent to him because he’s too busy messing with his sweaty palms to look you in the face. Lovely setup you got there. 3. Shared expenses. A pro of living with your “depending-on-the-day better half” is splitting the bills. That’s right, I’m talking rent, electric, groceries, and yes, even those random necessities including toilet paper and tin foil. You may go through it faster, but dividing everything by two makes quite the difference. Plus, who wouldn’t want to save moolah regardless of the situation? Just be on the lookout for “Babe, can you get this?” or “Raincheck.” Spoiler alert: you’re not getting that money back. 4. Space is not a thing. We all need our space, whether it be sleeping arrangements, bathroom time, or literal freezer space to store your three tubs of Ben & Jerry’s. Priorities people. Before signing that daunting lease, keep in mind the close quarters you will be sharing, whether it be with roommates, or solely your boy or girlfriend. This also comes into play when that argument started over him not understanding why it is vital to put his dirty clothes in the hamper and now he thinks you just want to change him. You would have fled to your bed, but oh wait, he is currently in your bed. You question everything, n See BAE onPAGE 23
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10 questions to ask before renting a storage unit By Jessi Stickel Uloop As a college student, you may need to rent a storage unit sometime during your college career. College students who are going to school out of their home state will be more likely to use storage so they will not have to ship or take back all of their belongings over the summer. Since this is something that is new to young college students, you need to be very cautious and know what you are getting into, before you purchase a storage unit. Here are 10 great questions to ask before you rent your first storage unit: 1. What size unit do I need? This question is important because you do not want to spend more than you need to. Of course, a larger unit will be more expensive than the smallest storage unit,
which is why you should ask to see the different-sized units and make sure you will have enough space for all of the belongings you want to store, without having tons of extra space as well. It is also a good idea to take a good look and even pictures of your storage items to be sure you are getting the correct size unit. 2. What type of storage is best for me? There are several different types of storage: drive-up storage, indoor storage and outdoor storage. Drive-up storage units are best for when you are storing big and heavier items, like furniture. Indoor storage would work for boxes and other items like that. Outdoor storage is a lot to keep a vehicle on, which most college students would not need. It is important to think of convenience when picking between drive-up and indoor storage, depending on what types of items you want to store.
3. Is it climate-controlled? Depending on where your storage unit is located and on what you want to store, a climate controlled unit may be essential. Excessive heat, cold and moisture can ruin items like wood furniture, so it is important to know if you need this extra service and if it is offered at the storage location you have chosen. 4. Do I need a lock? 5. Is there extra security? If you are wanting to store expensive or valuable items in a storage unit, you may feel more comfortable putting your items in a storage facility that offers extra security. This may include an extra gate with locks, security camera surveillance or even security guards for the premises. 6. Is there pest control? It is important to know if the storage facility provides pest
control for the units as well. If you are storing things like clothes, this can be an especially important factor to ask about. 7. How clean is it? Another aspect to be informed about prior to purchasing a storage unit is the cleanliness. This is something you should check out when you go to view the empty units. You should also ask if the units are cleaned before you will have access. This could make your decision of what facility to store with, or may make you aware to bring cleaning supplies (like a broom) with you when you move your items in. 8. Do I need to provide insurance for the unit? This is another cost to factor into your college student budget when renting a storage unit. Not all storage facilities require the purchase of insurance on a unit, but many recommend it. Purchasing insurance on the unit will be beneficial if some-
thing were to happen to your items. The unit insurance will normally be added to your rent every month, for example an extra $10-$50. 9. Are boxes and/or moving trucks provided with purchase? 10. Is there and how long is the lease? Some facilities are flexible with leases and others are not, so knowing how long you need the unit and the length of the lease is important. Another aspect to be informed about prior to purchasing a storage unit is the cleanliness. This is something you should check out when you go to view the empty units. You should also ask if the units are cleaned before you will have access. This could make your decision of what facility to store with, or may make you aware to bring cleaning supplies (like a broom) with you when you move your items in.
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Six ways to cut costs to make rent
By Alexandra Brown Uloop Keeping a budget is a major part of being a college student. Whether your parents are taking care of your education, or if you’re paying your own way, budgeting is still essential to staying organized and being smart about money. Even if, for example, your tuition and books are financially taken care of, you still need to keep an eye out for the other things you’re spending money on, which if handled poorly, can lead to being broke. That’s never a fun time. One of the most common things college students need to watch out for in terms of money is paying their rent each month. Not only do we have to watch out for getting our check in on time each month, but we have to make sure there’s enough to cover it each month as well. The best way to successfully make rent each month while making sure there is still
extra money left over is budgeting through cost cutting. Staying organized is crucial in this process. Here are some of the best ways to budget by cost cutting: 1. Eat out less. A huge amount of college students’ money usually ends up going toward food. You tell yourself you’ll stop at Starbucks on the way to class because the caffeine will help you stay focused and attentive. Also, it’s only $3; it’s not even that bad. You might have just an hour break between classes and you don’t want to go all the way back home to make yourself something to eat, so you justify stopping to buy a sandwich with the fact that it’s more efficient and convenient. When you make a habit of these behaviors, though, your money starts disappearing and pretty soon you have no idea what happened to it.
2. Take public transportation. If you are someone who has a car on campus, gas can get expensive, especially when you’re filling up your tank on a weekly basis. Try to cut the amount of time you spend driving in half or more and start taking public transportation to class, and anywhere else on campus. You should take advantage of the public transportation system your college or university most likely has; you’re paying for it as part of your tuition anyway, so why not use it? 3. Pregame at home before going out. Like the tendency for college students to spend money on eating out, they also have a tendency to spend a lot at the bar. It is college, and going out to bars is a huge part of the nightlife on campus. However, it can be a lot cheaper to buy your own alcohol as opposed to buying
expensive drinks at the bar. Factor alcohol into your grocery budget and use it to pregame at home with friends before going out. It will be cheaper overall, and by the time you get to the bar, you might feel great and not even need to spend any money on drinks. 4. Use coupons. Download the Groupon app to your phone, as well as an app called Hooked, which has the same idea: to offer daily deals at restaurants, local businesses, retailers and service providers. Hooked is specific to the college/ university’s campus, and offers hourly, daily and weekly deals at your favorite spots on campus. The next time you are considering grabbing coffee before class, or a quick lunch on campus, you can browse Hooked or other apps with the same purpose, to carefully decide what the best decision would be economically.
5. Stock up when you’re at home. Basic toiletries and necessities you might use, like shampoo and conditioner, face wash, makeup remover, and even makeup, can get pretty costly when you run out, and even more so when you run out of them all at the same time. Next time you’re home for the weekend (if you live relatively close to campus), get that all taken care of so you don’t have to worry about it at school. If you don’t live very close, make sure to stock up on these products in bulk at the very beginning of the semester when you move in so you don’t have to worry about it later on. 6. Pay in cash. Paying in cash can help tremendously in keeping yourself aware of how much you’re actually spending.
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n BAE Continued from PAGE 6 like why you ever decided to move in with someone who could be so immature? And why your mom did not warn you? And why you didn’t buy more freakin’ loaded fries! So yeah, space is a huge deciding factor. 5. Nothing is hidden. You may think you know someone pretty well, but then you see them 24/7 and you really learn who they are as an individual. I am talking bathroom tendencies, finals week meltdowns and that week of the month that is ever so joyful. They see you at your worst and best behavior, and if being completely honest with ourselves, we know that worst is the dominant mood. Plus, there is always the desire of surprising them for their birthday or whatnot and having no way of keeping it a secret. Looks like we
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will be relying on that gym bag he used in high school to house the candles and gifts. Props for trying? Signing a lease is extremely important for obvious reasons, but so is making certain of who it is you are signing with. There are various things to keep in mind when contemplating this major decision. Just try to get a real sense on whether the relationship is serious, stable and even worth all of the disastrous possibilities in the first place. There is the whole roommates not getting along thing, arguments arising over keeping the toilet seat down, and having nowhere to go when you feel like screaming at everyone in sight. But don’t worry, everything is a learning experience, right?
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