After a year full of applications, acceptances and denials, the hectic college decisions have come to an end. Finally, the stressful part is out of the way, and the fun part has started: decorating your dorm.

Decorating your dorm room in a fashion that makes you feel at home can greatly affect your college adjustment — especially since sharing private space with a stranger is going to be different from your norm. Although college move-in day may seem very far away, planning your dorm takes a bit more time than most would expect. So you need to get ready and prepared to decorate your dorm!

PHOTO STRINGS

Most people like to get away from home for college and experience the world on their own for a little bit. However, it’s always nice to have some memorabilia from home close by.

A fun way to get creative with your photos is to hang them up on strings. Either hole punch your photos and loop a string through them or use a clothes pin to attach them to the string. Hang these decorative pieces along the tops of your room, between the ceiling and the wall. Or even string them over the end of your bed!

Put them somewhere you feel comfortable so that when you look at those smiling faces, you’ll feel a little closer to home.

Leaving friends and family miles away may be hard, but your pictures can always remind you that they’re just a call away.

COLORS 

As elementary as it may sound, a clashing color scheme could really mess up the dynamic of your room.

To create a desired theme within the space, coordinate a color scheme with your roommate. You don’t have to necessarily match bedding, but deciding on the color scheme will make a huge difference.  If you decide to go for a darker décor make sure your roommate isn’t huge on pastels.

Another helpful tip for color arrangements is layering your bed sheets. It allows you for more leniency due to weather when you’re actually in your room and also adds a little depth to the décor. Take your bottom sheet and fold it back slightly over the top to give your bed that finished feel you need when leaving your room.

LIGHTS

Brighten up the space and create a relaxing atmosphere by hanging up lights in your room.  There’s something so peaceful and homey about lights; they give off that “warm fuzzy feeling.”

Hanging up actual Christmas lights in the dorm isn’t allowed due to potential fire hazards, but wireless battery-charged lights are.

Throw lights up on the wall, perhaps intertwine them with your pictures or drape them over the edges of your bed to add a little more life to your dorm.

It’ll add a natural glow!

APPLIANCES 

There are so many appliances and accessories in your home that are easily taken for granted. Next year, your dorm room will not come fully stocked with a television, mirror, fridge, microwave, coffee maker and all of those other appliances that are currently fundamental to your daily life.

Now, being the independent person that you are, you have to figure out either how to live without them or which roommate is going to bring which appliance.

Some colleges are strict on certain appliances in the dorm room, so be sure to check out those regulations.

Consider the room’s dimensions and buy sizes appropriately to maximize space. For example, if you are used to a full length mirror and would like one to come along with you to college, designate a wall for this long mirror. Then build around the mirror.

Space is crucial in the dorm room, and no dead space should be left to accumulate dust.

FOOD

You are going to want to designate a space within your dorm room for food because food is very important to college life — and in general. In the same area of your mini fridge and microwave set up your snack station. Having a compartment with drawers will help keep your foods organized and easily accessible.

Some good snack items include: fruits (apples, cuties, bananas), Power Bars, Goldfish, candy, popcorn, dried fruits, veggie sticks, ice cream (if your mini fridge has a freezer), microwave macaroni, cereal, juices, sports drinks, energy drinks and those baked goods your parents packed you from home.

PILLOWS

There’s no question to how important pillows actually are function wise. However, pillows can do more than provide a cushion for sleep, they can add some spunk to the dorm room.

Decorative pillows are essential to complete your bedding look. While these pillows aren’t used for sleeping, they give your room a more “planned” feel. Fun prints, graphics or plain colors in different shapes and sizing will add dimension to the dorm.

Remember: the dorm room is only so big, so don’t overstock on the pillows. When your bed is not made, they will need another place to be stored.

ORGANIZATION

Keeping in mind the tight space of the typical dorm room, organization is key. The Container Store has some awesome dorm room must haves — shoe hangers, hampers, and special hangers that make your closet triple in capacity.

For girls, making a magnet board and attaching magnets to the back of your makeup is a cool way to keep your beauty supplies easily organized and at-hand.

If your bed is slightly raised, use bins to store extra stuff beneath your bed. Designate the bins’ contents with decorative labels that tie into the room’s color scheme. This will help keep your stuff easy to find while maintaining the dorm room’s decorative ambiance.

YOU

Make sure you have things in your room that represent YOU. If being a Californian is something that defines you, then think about purchasing a highway sign or two. Maybe buy a map of California or a decorative piece of artwork — try a palm tree sign or a surf board!

If you play a sport, express your sport. If music is part of your existence, decorate your walls with notes or your favorite album covers.

When it comes down to the décor of your dorm, make sure it represents of who you are. You’ll have to live in this cramped space for the next year, so you’ll want to be in an environment where you feel the greatest sensation of home.

Whichever college you’ve decided to go, it’s time to step up your dorm decorations. Get planning, freshmen!​