Sonically Shape Your Space

Most college houses are on the lower end of the square footage spectrum. But in a broke, music lover’s case, a smaller place can be a blessing in disguise. You don’t have to wait to thrift the perfect vintage armchair or to cash in on that Restoration Hardware coffee table to fill your home with things you love–put on your favorite album and enjoy your space.

All sound systems are created equal (kind of)

In my current room, I use the same Sonos One speaker I’ve had since highschool. It works wonderfully for my shoebox bedroom and I’m thankful every day to be able to turn on my playlist while getting ready for class or sitting in bed working on assignments. For the living room tv, my roommates and I use a Roku sound bar. Whether or not you’re big on movies, the soundbar provides great audio and has a feature which allows you to connect to the speaker through a phone. I’d never heard of the Roku brand before, but the sound bar was an affordable option, super easy to pick up from our local Best Buy, and has absolutely transformed our downstairs living and kitchen space.

If you live with other music lovers who also don’t have the funds for surround-sound subwoofers, thrift a CD player! Decorate the player with stickers and store the CD’s in a bin or hat box to add a touch of early 2000’s charm to any room. Collecting discs can be a fun, ongoing roommate project that lets you share music with each other while saving some money. If you’re someone who is lucky enough to have a functioning record player and a collection of vinyls, you should totally, absolutely keep it downstairs–sincerely, the roommate who wishes she’d kept her millennial-teal player from middle school.

If you have an instrument, display it!

For those who enjoy playing music as much as they like to listen, bring out your gear for some functional decor. Set your beautiful leather clarinet case on a shelf instead of letting it collect dust under your bed. Mount your acoustic guitar to the wall or get a bass stand for the living room corner. You could even leave your amp on a bottom shelf or empty spot in a communal area, (just make sure to tidy-up the cords for your roommates’ sake). 

Having one speaker, of any type or brand, in every room presents a world of opportunity. No one wants to live in a world without music, so you shouldn’t settle for a space without sound. One of the most important lessons I learned freshman year: don’t underestimate the JBL clip. Adding a bit of music can lift your mood, increase productivity, turn your space into an inviting hangout spot for friends to gather and complete your home.