Thanksgiving Break is over, so naturally the Christmas season has promptly begun. Downtown State College is beaming with holiday decorations, lights, and cheer — as should your apartment. You may only have three weeks to relish in Penn State holiday cheer, but that’s no excuse to leave your apartment or dorm room a bland mess.

The end of semester stress and finals week is awful enough, a jolly living space can really make a difference. Follow these easy decorating ideas to bring some joy into your mundane living quarters.

The Tree

If you neglect every other decoration, at least make a point to have a humble tree in your living room. Don’t go crazy and chop down a real tree, that’ll be an absolute mess and your landlord won’t be happy. Fake Christmas trees are pretty affordable, especially mini ones. And of course, adorn your tree with Blue and White Penn State paraphernalia. Invest in some cheap blue Christmas lights from Walmart. Round up all your past football game tickets and attach them all along your tree like ornaments. Don’t want a typical star as your tree-topper? Consider a mini-football helmet or a Nittany Lion stuffed animal instead. Ta Da! The happiest Christmas tree in the valley.

   The Exterior

The best part of decorating is enjoying the reactions and compliments from others. If you’re in a dorm or apartment, your door will be exposed to tons of students and passers-by. Whether you hang up a humble wreath or go all-out, decorating your door with your roommates could be an extremely fun production and may even provoke the rest of your hall to join in. An easy start is using some extra wrapping paper you may have lying around and cover your entire door like a present. The rest is up to you!

Lights

Christmas lights are usually a college decorating staple regardless of the season. If you didn’t already, invest in a few strands of simple Christmas lights to decorate the parameter of your living room or bedroom. This is easily done with some command hooks, and can instantly add coziness to your entire place. If you aren’t feeling the crazy Christmas colored lights, buy some simple white ones that can stay hung in your apartment all year long.

The Knick-Knacks 

The final step is the finishing touches. Embrace your inner Pinterest fanatic and wild Christmas-vested mom — get creative. Purchase stockings for each of your roommates and hang them up. Get some tinsel and go wild. Have absolutely NO money? Round up some white printer paper and have cut-out some snowflake patterns and hang them all over your ceiling.

Luckily our school colors are pretty festive already. If you’ve got heaps of pom poms lying around, utilize them! Hang them up alongside the lights or on your walls, they can give your room a fun “snowy” feel.

There you have it, just some creative and simple ways to turn your humble college abode into a Penn State winter wonderland. Got even better decorating advice or inspirations? Comment below!