ChickSpeak

If you’ve ever picked up a home décor magazine such as Domino or Elle Décor, you’ve probably dreamed of buttery leather couches and floor to ceiling bookshelves, all accessorized with a ruggedly handsome man and cute Maltese puppy.

The sad fact is that even the most stylishly dressed woman doesn’t always get to come home to such a scene. In reality, our college girl apartments are often lacking for style and cohesiveness, much less even comfortable couches. Below I’ve complied a list of easy ways to update every room of the house, and hopefully bring you that much closer to an inviting haven for you and that handsome mystery man.

Kitchen

Keep the countertops as spare as possible, the more clutter the less style. Try getting a few funky rugs for the floor, as this will bring warmth and interest to the space. Lastly, try keeping some fresh wildflowers on the table. They’re free and pretty!

Living Room

Shop your local craft store or antique shop for a pretty mosaic or glass plate. Get several solidly colored (coordinating to your furniture), matching candles and arrange them on the plate for a simple centerpiece on your coffee table. If you place these with a few art books you’ll not only add detail and femininity to your space, you’ll add personality.

Bathroom

The biggest impact to be made in this room is simple-a new shower curtain! If you can’t find an interesting one in town, try online stores like urbanoutfitters.com and target.com for hip, chic styles. Once you’ve found that, get coordinating bath mats and towels in solid colors, this way everything will match without over stimulating the eye.

Bedroom

While many people choose to decorate with the “bed-in-a-bag” style, I vote for a simple, cream down comforter. If you keep the bedding simple, you can go crazy with funky pillows. If you get tired of them, they’re much easier to switch out. Also check out sites like allposters.com for chic, pretty prints that can be grouped or hung behind funky frames.

With just a few simple upgrades, you’ll find that your home can look and feel much more pulled together and stylish.

Photo by David Mulvaney.