Home Improvement
I know I need to get hangers... maybe? I've gotten rid of most of my things (misc computer components, clothes that no longer fit) but I'm 20 years old with the mental age of a 9 yr old. I had to borrow the broom from a roommate. I don't feel like an adult.
Several people have said this already, but it bears repeating: get a bed frame. I rocked the mattress on the floor for like 15 years before I finally got a proper bed frame and it really does make a difference in both the look of the room and your own mental well being. I got an inexpensive foam mattress with it's own built in "box spring" layer so I didn't have to get a separate box spring or anything. It's the kind they deliver right to your house rolled up in a box!
For me it was kind of like saying to myself "hey, you are the most valuable thing in this room so you don't belong on the floor".
Also a good bed fucking rocks like nothing else. I absolutely love my bed. This is the one place where you spend most of your life so it should be the best place in your home, cant change my mind.
Beds aren't for everyone. I sleep on a mattress on the floor and have done for about eight years. It's so convenient having everything in reach (rather than cramming things on to a small bedside table which just takes up space) and I prefer to be on the floor anyway. I also sit on the floor to read and eat.
For some people, underneath the mattress gets wet, mouldy or gross. It's worth checking every couple of weeks if you sleep on the floor, but it's never happened to me throughout multiple different houses. Maybe my mattress is magic :)
Need a box spring.
Lots of college students don't use bed frames, but if the mattress is directly on the floor it's going to get moldy.
It still will with a box spring, but college students tend to move every year which helps and you'd definitely notice if it is when moving.
What would be even better is a "slat frame" that doesn't need a box spring and lifts it off the ground. You can get good metal ones on Amazon for cheap. Probably pretty close to local price for a box spring.
And it would make the room look a lot better
It's honestly not bad since you don't have a lot of stuff.
Like you said, some hangers are a priority purchase. Need to do some non permanent runs for the lan cable.
Beyond that, you'll want something to get the bed off the floor, be it an actual foundation/box spring, or something improvised. It really does change things mentally to have a proper bed. It feels more like a proper home than a temporary cot somewhere. It is harder to move, so if this is going to be a few months stay, it wouldn't be worth it, but if you're looking at a year or two, you'll want to figure something out.
Curtains would be another mid term option. Not worth it for a few months, worth it for a year plus. Makes a huge difference in sleep with the light better limited.
The rest? Depends on house rules. Like someone else said, having more than bare walls makes even a small room feel cozy and homey rather than like you're shoved in somewhere. You can use poster putty if you aren't allowed to hang things more securely.
But look, at 20, nobody feels like an adult unless they're delusional lol. You're just starting out in that regard, there's going to be bumps and a lot of changes as you figure out how to get through life. Don't worry about it, just learn from any mistakes you make so the next mistake is different, and you'll be fine.
Finding life balance is a thing. It takes time. I can't honestly say I found mine until my mid twenties, and it still took a few years to figure out how to maintain it through changes like moving or new jobs. You'll be fine homie :)
Maybe get some drawers to keep the clothes in. Just a couple hangers for jackets or whatnot, but the rest of the clothes would be better folded and put away.
The wires could be managed a little, use some 3m command adhesives with some clips so the wires aren't getting stepped on or tripped over. The command adhesive comes off really clean, so you won't wreck the paint. Run the wires along corners of the room and/or behind the desk so you don't notice them.
If you want to get all bougie, you can get your bed up off the floor, but really, it's not that big of a deal.
If you want to get all bougie, you can get your bed up off the floor, but really, it's not that big of a deal.
Or stay with the floor mattress but make it a habit to fold it and tidy up the area. It'd be like Asian style living!
The tangled white cord could fit along the baseboard around the corners of the wall to the desk. Seems like there's a small to gap under the baseboard it could fit under.
Your stuff is reasonably well organized, you just need some more permanence if you're going to be here for more than a month. Trash can is a must, then bedframs and shelves, and run the Ethernet cable more securely around the room rather than across the floor. Then add decorations if you feel like it.
The room seems rather bleak at the moment with only gray and black colors and no decoration.
From an organization standpoint consider: getting some hangers for your clothes, hanging a curtain in front of the closet (if you dont want people to see your clothes), getting a bed frame, a bedside table. Have a very basic set of cleaning supplies (windex, paper towels, a swiffer for the floor)
Add some color to the room with a rug and/or throw blanket, and get a lamp if the room feels dark
Add things to the room that will bring you comfort when you walk in - some options are plants (can be fake to avoid watering), photos of family/friends/pets, posters or artwork, books/bookshelf, a television to watch from bed
There are some great suggestions here but I wouldn’t sweat it too much, this looks pretty average for 20 yo.
I can recommend trying different layouts from time to time. You can always change it back and it helps keep things fresh (also mentally).
If you want a step up in responsibility then get an easy plant that’s suited for the light from the window.
Hangers would do wonders. If you want, ALL your clothes could get hung up. Or get a cheap plastic set of drawers to put folded clothes into.
There's nothing wrong with minimalism, just try to keep junk from cluttering your desk/workspace (something I still need to work on after 15 years in the professional world).
Needs a vr setup and a bong 7/10
When you've only got a rail like that,these things are an absolute godsend
https://www.ikea.com/au/en/cat/hanging-clothes-organisers-10459/
Hit up one of the poster vendors that usually visits university campuses to get some wall decoration.
A RGB lighting strip around the roof perimeter can do wonders for setting the mod of the room.
If you have want to have people in your room to hang out, consider getting a futon instead of a bed. Won't do your back any favors, but will be more functional during the college years.
You should pick up some posters of things you like or some paintings from goodwill. It can feel good to have some wall decorations
The cord on the floor looks like a hazard that’s just asking to get tripped on. If you absolutely need it, it looks like you may have more than enough extra cord to just run that along the walls/corners to get to wherever it needs to go. I’d try to tuck in underneath the trim if there’s space, or just try using strategic tape/glue/caulking to keep it out of the way/hidden. Maybe a floor protector for the chair.
Changing the orientation of the desk such that it’s against the wall with the window might help if glare is an issue on the computer screen. You might also look at utilizing the closet as more of an actual closet. Adding doors could help keep unsightly storage out of sight.
Otherwise, it’s a livable area for a single person. The more compact your situation, the easier it is to keep clean. Maybe look at making upgrades here and there as your income allows for, though eventually it probably requires upgrading your space as well, but that’s dependent on where you’re at in life.
OP: get a dope bead curtain for your closet!
Not too shabby. All it really needs is some personalization, maybe some things hung on the walls to show your personality and taste in decorating a little bit. I'd tuck that loose wire behind the bed and under an area mat between the bed and wall in the last photo. Lastly, you're not super messy so that's good! Maybe slightly untidy, but that's all ADHD people (speaking from experience), and it only takes a minute to spot clean or tidy up a room with this many items in it.
Don't sell yourself short, you're doing fine. It looks pretty good and generally organized. You just need some more storage (drawers, shelves or a wardrobe).
Hangers or a dresser for your clothes.
Don't worry about the broom thing if this is a shared house, that's really a "one per house" type of thing, no need for every tenant to have their own.
The desk/storage next to it is getting a little cluttered. Be careful of that, it's a natural starting place for mess to creep out into the rest of the room.
You don't feel like an adult because you're 20. You barely are one, it's okay. You'll figure things out as you go.
Heck, I'm in my 40s and don't feel like an adult much of the time. Especially when I think about my parents passing.
Good enough better than how i live.
I’d recommend better cable management. If you’re gonna use the outlet on the wall by your bed, I’d recommend some kind of power strip with a longer cord so you can run the strip behind your desk rather than having all those plugs and cords jutting out of the wall right by your bed.
Even better would be a power strip and extension cord combo to utilize the outlet on the wall opposite of your bed. Run the cord around the room along the baseboard to get the power strip behind the desk, and to keep the cord in place along the baseboard, you can secure it with some gaffer’s tape.
Same with that phone or Ethernet cable you’ve got a huge tangle in that runs across the walking space of your floor. It’s a tripping hazard and a bit of an eyesore. Running that around the room along the baseboard, with the excess gathered and secured behind your desk will make a huge difference. You can also secure that with some gaffers tape to keep it neat and in place if you choose to run it this way.
Finally, I know it may not be affordable depending on your situation, but a bed frame would do a lot too. If you can’t afford it, I’d suggest keeping an eye out at Goodwill and/or whatever thrift/resale shops you have access to as you can often find bed frames and other furniture at really good prices.
Thanks. A lot of good advice for my dire cable management situation. I do need a bed frame but honestly the mattress I sleep on right now was from my landlord's garage. It's hard and my lower back is nearly destroyed from sleeping on it. I'm saving up first for a softer mattress
You can get "flat" extension cords with or without a surge protector at the end.
Instead of coming straight out, the plug is really skinny and the cord is right next to the wall parallel to it.
They also make these little plastic things that clip onto the cord on one side, and stick to the wall on the other. So you can keep the cord nice.
I made a different comment about slat frames. But if your looking for a new mattresses and have back issues, I strongly suggest one of the latex/foam mattresses and a metal slate frame. It's going to be cheaper than just a conventional mattress from a store and way better for your back.
Saving for a good mattress is definitely a priority. For whatever it’s worth, regular yoga can help mitigate the damage and discomfort of the current mattress.
As a short term solution to the hard mattress you can use a mattress softener.
Advice I'd give is to get some proper gaff tape for those wires. It will prevent trips and protect them. There os a specific way to apply and remove the tape when gaffing you may want to look up. This will prevent any potential floor damage.
Other folks have the big stuff recommended, and I just wanted to add: rugs. Adds some color, helps dampen noise, and can hide some cabling.
Get two monitors for your desk and a dock for your laptop. Get a laundry basket. Otherwise it looks good.
You’ve already gotten lots of excellent advice. The only thing I have to add is only get hangers if you’ll use them. I also have ADHD and for me it works best if laundry has the fewest steps possible. This means only hanging up my dressy clothes. For the rest I have open bins that I toss my clothes in.
I used to try and make myself hang all my clothes up because I thought that’s what I was supposed to do as an adult. And my clean clothes would just sit in a laundry basket next to where they should be hung up.
Here’s an adult secret (that took me until my 40s to learn): do what works for you. Especially in spaces that you don’t share with anyone else, if it works for you then you’re doing it right.