13 Reminders of Home for Your First Apartment

By Elise Nelson on October 13, 2017

This article is brought to you by CORT Furniture Rental. We take the hassle out of furnishing your new place so you can do more important things like read this article. Learn more about why furniture rental is the best way to get a great looking apartment.

Moving away from home to rent your first apartment is a big step. So, it’s easy to get a little shell-shocked when you’re on your own for the first time. You may end up missing home occasionally. Here are 13 reminders of home that will help you combat homesickness.

1. Stuffed animals

Bring along your favorite stuffed bear from when you were a little kid, especially if it’s from a loved one back home. If you’re anything like me, then your cotton-filled friends will take up about 90 percent of your bed.

2. Real animals

If your landlord allows it, your new roommate can be your pet! Check the lease agreement to see what kind of pets, if any, you may bring into the apartment. Be sure that you have the means to take care of your furry roommate before you commit to moving them in with you.

Image via Pixabay.com

3. Photos of family and friends

Pack up a box of your favorite photos when you move into your new apartment. There are so many great ideas on how to spice up your home using photographs! Buy or create your own decorative frames, hang them from clothespins, or washi tape them around your room to see your long-distance loved ones every day.

4. A box of memories

Keep all your memories in one place, such as an old shoe box. When you’re feeling homesick, break out the box and take a walk down memory lane. Fill the box with whatever you’d like — childhood mementos, concert tickets, postcards, etc. Decorate it as obnoxiously as possible for added laughs.

5. Posters

You’ll feel better about your new apartment if you decorate with some posters or even paintings that remind you of home. Did you go to any concerts back home and buy a poster as a souvenir? Hang it in your bedroom! If there’s a particular piece of art that reminds you of your hometown, use it as a pop of color in your kitchen.

6. Scented candles

Every home has its own smell (and that’s not a bad thing). Have you ever gotten a whiff of some scent and it reminded you of somewhere you’ve been? Use your nose to your advantage!

Think about all the scents you pick up in your old home. Do you smell the cookies your mom always bakes? Or the flowers by the window? Find your favorite scent in a candle and smelly-up your new place.

Image via Pixabay.com

7. Furniture

You can bet that bringing along your favorite napping couch will make you think of home. Ask your parents if they’re willing to part with any chairs, tables, dressers, loveseats, etc. You won’t have to buy as much furniture so this will save you some money as well.

If you’re crafty, and you work well with tools, you can take older furniture and refurbish it. It’ll be a piece of your old home with a fresh start in your new apartment!

8. Blankets and pillows

Everyone has a favorite blanket or pillow from childhood. If you still sleep with yours (no shame), then it should move to your new apartment. Homemade quilts or throw pillows are also a must-have for your cozy new bed.

9. Family recipes

Make your kitchen smell like the spaghetti and meatballs that mom (or dad) used to make. You’ll be reminded of home while learning some great cooking skills at the same time, so it’s a win-win.

Image via Pixabay.com

10. Decorative mugs

Out of all the types of tableware in existence, mugs are probably the most expressive. Start a mug collection filled with any mugs you’ve been given as gifts (especially if they have funny quotes or cute pictures). If you can legally obtain a mug from your favorite diner or coffee shop, add one to the mix. You’ll think of home every time you pour a cup of coffee.

11. Those woodshop projects you made in high school

If you weren’t one of the star students, then it might not be an entirely functional piece of work. But, it’ll add some flare to your new apartment.

12. Those refrigerator magnets you made in elementary school

Again, their artistic value depends on how good you were at coloring inside the lines as a seven-year-old. They’re a great conversation-starter, though!

13. A sign that says “home”

If this doesn’t say “home” to you, I don’t know what does.

Looking for an easy way to furnish your off-campus apartment? Renting furniture from CORT saves you time and money. See how easy it is to get great looking furniture without breaking the bank.

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