So I’m going to just start off this post by stating that I am immensely grateful to be able to own my home to raise my family in comfort. This is our first home, and we moved in while I was six months along with our soon-to-be 11yo. This home has been the site of some of my best parties, amazing holidays, and a lot of DIY home improvements.
Not to mention the addition brand new windows a year or so ago when I got tired of ICICLES IN MY OFFICE WINDOWS. Ah, the joys of home ownership, amirite?
Despite (or perhaps in light of?) all this, I still remember my early twenties, post-college, crammed into a Chicago apartment with FOUR roommates. We were broke, busy, and absolutely winging adulthood. As we added significant others-turned-spouses to the mix, it got more crowded and crazy, and we had to navigate the boundaries of respect and shared space. Those days were loud, unpredictable, and somehow still full of charm.
All of Us REunited over 10 years later!
(circa 2019 reunion)
So let’s take a nostalgic twist with this post, and revisit the Roommate Days of Shared Living Space with some quality tips of living with humans you didn’t create yourself. Borrow from my experience with these fun and functional DIY projects can turn your apartment into a space you actually love hanging out in.
(When my brother first moved to Texas and was hunting for a place to rent in Houston I tried to give him a dose of my roommate experience know-how. Like any good baby brother, I’m pretty sure he ignored me completely! 😆)
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9 Fun DIY Projects to Make Shared Spaces Feel Like Home
1. Create a Shared Command Center
Roommate communication = life. A shared command center in the kitchen or hallway keeps schedules, bills, and grocery lists all in one place. Use a thrifted corkboard, chalkboard paint, or a window frame turned into a whiteboard. Add space for:
- A shared calendar
- Chores and bill reminders
- Grocery lists
- Random shoutouts or memes (you know, the important stuff)
This setup saves arguments and looks cute.
2. Personalized Door Signs
Who says your bedroom door can’t have main character energy? Craft simple DIY name signs with cardboard, wood scraps, or mini canvases. Use removable adhesive strips so you’re not wrecking the paint job, and add whatever fits your vibe; paint pens, stickers, vinyl, you name it.
Bonus: Helps guests avoid walking in on someone’s nap.
3. DIY Wall Art (That Isn’t Just Tapestries)
Instead of generic posters, schedule a roommate paint night and create canvas art for your common area. You don’t have to be super artsy either! You can stencil your favorite quotes, make a DIY travel map showing where you’re from, or collage magazine clippings and photos.
It makes for an instant conversation starter. Also, no one’s arguing about whose art gets to stay up!
4. Repurpose Old Furniture
As a serial DIY’er, I’m tell you right now that that ugly old bookshelf has got potential. Spray paint mismatched dining chairs the same bold color, turn crates into a custom coffee table, or cover the back of a bookcase with patterned contact paper.
Roommate bonding tip: Pick a weekend, cue up a ‘90s playlist, and make it a DIY day.
5. DIY Coffee Bar or Snack Station
Turn a tiny kitchen nook or bar cart into a coffee/snack station. Add cute containers for pods and tea bags, label everyone’s mugs (less drama), and display your treats in jars or baskets. You can also make a cute coffee station sign!
A mini Keurig and some snacks go a long way toward roommate peacekeeping.
6. Cozy Up the Living Room
Don’t underestimate the power of soft lighting and blankets. Use fabric glue to make no-sew pillow covers, hang string lights in mason jars, or build a blanket ladder for throw storage.
Assign each roommate a color to keep it playful and personal.
7. Shared Bookshelf or Mini Library
Repurpose a ladder, crates, or thrifted shelves to house your collective reads. Label by genre, owner, or “Roomie Picks.” You can even keep a journal nearby with mini reviews or notes for each other.
Add snacks and it’s practically a book club.
8. DIY Bathroom Organization
Bathrooms get cluttered fast when you’re sharing. Try this:
- Mason jar wall organizer for toothbrushes and essentials
- Over-the-door shoe rack for personal toiletries
- Hooks labeled with each person’s name or initials for towels
Function meets DIY. Amen.
9. Make a Roommate Memory Wall
Print your favorite photos, ticket stubs, memes, and roommate inside jokes. Hang them with clips, washi tape, or string lights in a common hallway or near the living room.
Think of it as your highlight reel, and a reminder that living with roommates is more than just fighting over the good frying pan.
What tips and tricks do you have for roommate living?
