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3 DIY Upgrades for Week One

Once you’ve snagged your essentials, it’s time to give your room some character without blowing your entire semester budget. Taking on a few super quick DIY projects during this first week is the best way to make a sterile dorm or apartment feel cozy and personalized:

• Custom Photo Grid Collage: Print out 20-30 favorite photos from home at a nearby CVS or Walgreens, grab a roll of painter's tape or mini clothespins with twine, and create an aesthetic grid wall above your desk.

  
  

• DIY Framed Matchbook & Ticket Shadow Box: Start collecting matchbooks from your favorite spots around town (like a 6th Street Spot or local coffee shops) and print outs of concert tickets from local shows at Moody and elsewhere.

  

  Drop them into a simple clear shadow box to keep as a growing memory piece throughout the year.

  
  

• Upcycled Desk Organizer: Wrap empty glass jars or metal tin cans in cute textured contact paper, yarn, or twill ribbon to make customized holders for your pens, highlighters, and makeup brushes.

  
  

At the end of the day, remember that nobody has their life completely together during the first week of classes. Your space doesn't have to look like a Pinterest board overnight, and it's totally normal to feel a little lost once the initial excitement settles down. Take a breather, grab a taco from a local truck, stay hydrated, and welcome to an amazing new school year—Hook ’em!