Whether you're moving back into your childhood bedroom, temporarily subletting a Craigslist shoebox, or you've just bought your first place, you can make some easy swaps to go from juvenile to grown woman. Avoid these decorating pitfalls and transform your space into a ~*home*~ as awesome (and adult) as you are.
1. You still have your "Keep Calm and Carry On" poster on the wall.
I'm not saying that you won't have stress now that finals are a thing of the past, but you can still get rid of that tired reminder to chill the fuck out. Opt for a unique inspirational quote print instead — and don't forget to frame it. Fun typographical prints give you maje penmanship goals. Hand-write all the things!
Framed Art Print, SOCIETY 6, $35
2. You use string lights as a source of interior lighting.
This hurts my heart because I love string lights, but even I have to admit that Christmas lights year round don't scream "adult." A colorful tassel garland is a step up. Get one with foil strips to reflect light in a much subtler way than a million little bulbs on a wire.
Tassel Garland, CONFETTI SYSTEM, $130
3. Your room scent comes from a Glade Plug-In.
The air freshener you bought at the drugstore only gives your room an overwhelming synthetic smell. Swap that sucker out for a ~fAnCy~ scented candle (with a pretty label!) that also adds romantic mood lighting to your space.
Baies Candle, DIPTYQUE, $30
4. Your bong still has a place of honor on your mantle.
Level up your greenery game by swapping your beloved bong for a tall houseplant that will add a natural element to the room and remove toxins from the air. Hot-boxing in a 200-square-foot space for four years can't be thaaaat great for your body.
Dracaena House Plant, IKEA, $9
5. You haven't thrown out your Medusa-head floor lamp.
Do you ever try to take an Instagram with one of these awkward five-prong bad boys? Yeah, me neither. But I'm pretty sure a sleek spotlight floor lamp that bathes me in selfie-conducive lighting is the only thing standing between me and my dreams of ~truuu adulthood~.
Modern Floor Lamp, CB2, $250
6. You haven't given your Sterilite drawer cart to Goodwill.
You can do without plastic drawer tubs. Go for something more organic-looking, like these flexible storage baskets. They hold a lot, add to the aesthetic of your room, and fold up nicely if you ever go on one of those massive cleaning purges. One day.
Flexible Storage Basket, H&M, $13
7. You're still putting movie ticket stubs on your bulletin board.
A pegboard is like a bulletin board on crack. You can create a gallery wall or buy special hooks that allow you to temporarily install anything from planters to purse hooks to baskets sturdy enough to hold books. It's perfect for the indecisive decorator — or just the super-organized one.
Peg Board System, ULINE, Starting at $24
8. You sleep on brocade bedding.
No amount of Eiffel Tower jewelry holders and macaron postcards can turn your cinderblock dorm into Versailles, and those ornate floral motifs look juvenile in a grown-up home. Minimalist bedding with an unexpected pop of color can look chic anywhere.
Green Striped Bedding, KATE SPADE NEW YORK (Available June 1 at Bed Bath & Beyond), Starting at $110
9. You don't have a bar cart but there are bottles everywhere.
Now that you're legal, invest in a bar cart to show off your highbrow spirits. Bar carts are a life hack for coming across as more put together than you are. Move your liquor bottles from the top of your kitchen cabinets to a rolling cart and somehow you're fancy. It really is that easy.
Gold Bar Cart, TARGET, $130
10. Your think your psychedelic tapestry counts as statement wall art.
Tapestries are fun until you accidentally brush your finger over a layer of fuzzy dust and you're like, "Now I understand why I had seasonal allergies all year." Retire that dust magnet for a sleek wall map that's still fun and also makes you seem hella ~worldly~.
Vintage Chicago Map, ROBERTS MAPS (Available on Etsy), $39
11. You're putting flowers in Mason jars.
Earn mad respect from your girlfriends/Pinterest clique for being so quick to jump on the industrial trend with a concrete DIY vase. There are tons of crafts you can make with concrete and you're not limited to the same ol' Mason jar shape. #BLESS.
Fast Setting Concrete Mix, QUIKRETE (Available on Home Depot), $4
12. Your full-length mirror is the flimsy kind you hang over the door.
You'll be shocked how much more flattering a mirror can be when it's leaning against a wall and not hanging over a door.
Mirror, IKEA, $100
13. You have a dream catcher in your window.
You don't need dream catchers anymore because you're out gunning for your dreams all day. Geodes have that boho touch with a touch more gravitas. Plus, they look fab sitting on a shelf.
Amethyst Geode, URBAN OUTFITTERS, $24
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