Excelsior Paint & Design: Living from a Suitcase: How to Make a Temporary Home

Study abroad poses an interesting problem for making your living space your own. Because students usually only study abroad for a semester; decorating their space can feel like a waste of time and money. However, I firmly believe that no matter where you live, you can (and should) customize your living space on any budget. Your living space in a foreign country serves as a “home base” while you are there. It can provide familiarity and comfort as well provide a backdrop to decorate with souvenirs of your new country.

Before you go:

Find out as much as you can about where you will live and what you may need. Going to a new country can be extremely stressful, and the more prepared you are for daily life, the easier the transition will be. Living conditions can vary drastically depending on the country and city. Most students abroad live in some sort of furnished dorm living. If your space will be furnished, try to figure out what additional things you might need (i.e. desk lamp, trash can, etc.). Make a preliminary list of things you will need and put it in a safe place.

When you arrive:

Once in your new space, fully assess what you may need. Especially when abroad, try to live simply. It will be much easier to keep your space clean and pack up again for home. When you’ve decided what you absolutely can’t live without, ask knowledgeable people to recommend where you can buy these items. For larger items, such as rugs, lamps, and chairs, see if you can borrow them or get them used. If you want new items, see if you can buy them online and get them shipped to where you live. It’s worth a shot! While you are buying things, try to plan for your departure: figure out if you can recycle, donate or sell your stuff—be kind to the earth and don’t plan on throwing everything away.

Ways to decorate your space:

Paper products can be inexpensive and easily recycled before you leave. You can make collages and patterns with photos and scrapbook paper pages at a fairly low cost. Not only is painters tape or masking tape the perfect way to secure things to the wall, but it’s also a great way to “frame” things.