Graduating college means that you graduate from "dorm room" style as well.  When I moved into my first apartment, I knew that paying real rent meant getting rid of holiday lights strung from the ceiling, construction paper photo frames stuck on the wall with double sided tape, and neon colored pillows bought 2 for $5 at Big Lots. Unfortunately, most of us tend to have an interior design budget that's more suited for IKEA than Crate &  Barrel, but luckily D-Y-I is chic nowadays.  Read on to find out how to use fabric to decorate your apartment, townhome, or studio in your parent's basement.  And not just by making throw pilows.

Wall Art:  Since so many fabrics are pieces of art in and of themselves, why not use this to your advantage.  Large-scare paintings and collages makes great focal points for a room, and can tie a room together by incorporating several important color themes.  This look can be vintage or modern, and can be embellished however you see fit.  See a great guide to circular art made with embroidery hoops here or for a more classic design check out this 

Door Panels:  Interior Design guru Apartment Therapy has some great ideas on how to decorate door panels with fabric.  They suggest gluing wallpaper to door panels, but if you're renting, you might be better served by using something like 3M's Command Strips to adhere hemmed fabric to the wood.

Ceiling Drapes:  Although slightly harder than the other DIY projects here, draping fabric from your ceiling can add a dramatic flair to a bedroom.  Try modifying this guide for wedding drapings to suit your smaller rooms.

Curtains:  Not your mother's curtains either.  With so many great patterns and colors, adding some decorative curtains can liven up an entire room.  If you have a little sewing skill, they're super easy to make.  And if not, your favorite home accesories stores liek IKEA and Target have them for cheap.  Get creative by taking curtains away from the windows and hanging them in front of bookcases, fireplaces (not in use!), or cabinets.

Of course, I don't mean to imply that you should abandon old standbys - fabric works great in small touches such as placemats, napkins, and yes, pillows.  But if you're looking to add some versitility in your design, try out some of these ideas.