advice based on my personal experiences.

• splurge on quality furniture. this may seem a little counter intuitive, but being frugal is more about quality and cutting corners than it is low-cost in my situaiton (though low-cost is a much appreciated perk!)
  • "craigslisting" can mean splurging. just make sure you're not buying a half-price walmart brand futon and considering it a smart move. instead, spend $200-$400 on a quality bedframe that you can enjoy long after your dorm days are over.
    • when you find beautiful curb-alert couches a block away from your apartment at 8pm, move them. take them even if the old couches you're looking to replace are still in your apartment. trust me, you won't be sorry (again, i speak from experience.)
    • paint and craigslist/rummage/thrift items are the perfect match. i promise. try something crazy, like neon paints, distressing, stencils or murals to spice up your style, or stick with neutral colors for a more relaxed zone.
  • rummage sales, thrift stores and your parents' basement are your greatest gifts. this is not a joke. from just my parents warehouse, i have scored: an all-wood '70s style dresser, a chunky wood bedside table, a pine hope chest, and an abandoned foot rest (that cost $15 to upholster and would have cost at least triple that new).
• don't be afraid of bargain stores. 90% of the photo frames in my home were dollar store scores - beveled, thick wooden frames that are totally customizable, but great in their own right, too. Go ahead and spend more for your favorite photographs or custom ordered art peices, but $9 of frame around all your other photographs is unneccessary.
• it's much smarter to scower etsy rather than department store shelves for linens. you can score OAK screen prints, quirky designs and quality, handmade materials that are far more durable and aesthetically enjoyable than the racks of "designer" throws at kohls. have you heard of utilitarianfranchise? take that, daisy fuentes.
• round up your handyman friends (or befriend some handymen) and design your own simple furniture items such as bookshelves, tv tables and kitchen carts. cookie-cutter shelving units have grown tired; why not try for reclaimed barnwood or recycled wooden doors? give ikea a rest and explore your own creative trajectory.