While the definition of a home is different to everyone, little things can be done to make a college apartment more welcoming. Not every apartment is going to be dressed to the nines, but some color, Clorox and carnations can put an apartment in business.

This month’s Ensign featured an article titled “That They May Grow Up In Thee.” The article talked about creating “a home that reflects our own tastes, lifestyle, and personality.” It mentions a young woman who didn’t want to wait until she was married to buy “real” dishes. She would reward herself with a dish each time she reached an important goal. The young woman in the article was then able to invite guests over and feel pleased about her presentation when serving them. While it may not be practical to go out and buy a nice set of dishes as a college student, having a cheap matching set can make a college apartment feel more like a home.

Putting a picture on the wall can bring life into a room.  Be tasteful in decorations.  Not everyone appreciates giant posters of Robert Pattinson or Taylor Lautner on the wall. A simple quote wall complemented with pictures of the temple or the Savior could be the perfect addition to any apartment. Kaylee Merrill, a junior majoring in general studies, recommends taking pieces of fabric and cutting out different shapes. A fabric stiffener can then be used to put the pieces of fabric on the walls. Merrill thinks color makes the difference over a plain white wall. Freshman Kelsi Wheeler, a pre-nursing major, thinks Christmas lights are the perfect way to liven up a room.

“At night it looks like you are under the stars,” Wheeler said.

Whether artificial or real, having a plant can bring life into a room. Plants have the ability to make a person feel better when they are depressed.

“My mom always had plants in her house,” Merrill said. “It makes you look more settled in. Plants remind me of home.”

Walking into a clean apartment provides a more welcoming environment for guests.  Mae Suppes, a junior studying communication, likes walking into an apartment that “smells good and is clean.” Scrubbing the counters daily and having an empty sink isn’t necessary. Making sure things are picked up can make an apartment look more presentable. Every person in each apartment comes from a different household and was raised to handle tidiness a different way. While it may not bother one person if the sink is full of dishes when it’s time for bed, another person may have been raised to never sleep with a dirty kitchen. Having a clean home makes things more comfortable for the people who live there and the people who come to visit.