As summer is already half over, most college students are probably scrambling to save money, do all the fun stuff they haven’t done yet, and many are looking for ways to decorate their dorm. Well, scour Pinterest no longer. Here are 12 easy, affordable dorm room must-haves to make your little home-away-from-home nice and…homey.

1. Futon accents: pillows and a throw

Throw blankets can definitely be expensive, I saw luxurious throw blankets in my search that cost more than the rent for my apartment, but they don’t have to be! I found a lovely throw from Target for about $20 my sophomore year. Scour your parents’ house for spare blankets they might not want, or take an afghan from your grandma. Just something to add a little flair to your futon goes a long way. It’s nice for guests, and you don’t have to take anything off your bed.

Accent pillows are a lot of fun and so easy to find. Go to Walmart, Amazon or Target and you will find a hundred options (Also check Society 6, which is linked in the photo). These make your futon comfier and tie it together with your throw, making it a welcoming, cozy place to relax.

2. Floor cushion(s)

These can also get pretty expensive, but they’re getting easier to find and they’re so worth it. A nice round floor pouf is a great pillow for that friend that comes in and lays on the floor, or a nice place to prop your feet while on the futon or at your desk, and floor cushions are great for several guests or just lounging around—plus they’re perfect for movie nights!

Also, here's one that can duo as a table:

3. Lamps

You and your roommate will most likely (and definitely should) have a nice lamp on your desks, but it’s also great to have a floor lamp. It’s even better if there’s some storage with your lamp, like this shelved one from Walmart. Be aware, though, that plastic is only so strong, but it’s a good place for photos and books. Again, I will say Walmart is great for desk lamps, too, because you can "build your own" by choosing the base and the shade. And, of course, it's affordable because Walmart.

4. Accent rug

Whether you have carpet in your dorm, or you bring in a cut of carpet, or you have tile, you should consider getting a nice, little accent rug. It adds a pop of color to the room and makes it homey. Trust me, a little rug can make a huge difference. I opted for a $10, small, yellow, fringed rug from Target.

5. Ottoman or small table

A great place to put that rug is under a little “coffee” table or ottoman. Ottomans can also be expensive, so maybe if you don’t find one you like for a good price, just use your floor pouf! A great thing, too, for on top of your ottoman/floor pouf to make it more of a table is a serving tray. Top it off with a couple coasters and a plant and you’re set! My roommate chose to splurge a little on a nice ottoman that opened for storage because now she uses it in her bedroom at our apartment. I accented it with a $15 bamboo tray from Walmart, and we added a fake plant and a candy dish. Here's a (much fancier) visual:

7. Mirrors

You should definitely have a full-length mirror on the back of the door to your room, or on a closet door. But mirror-shelf combos and decorative mirrors are great to have around, not only for décor, but also for when you and your roommate are getting ready at the same time. And, yes, (Velcro) command strips can hold these, so you don't have to break rules and put holes in the wall. For decorative mirrors, once again, check out Walmart and Target. If you want to get fancier, hit up Urban Outfitters, Wayfair, or Overstock.

8. Plants (real and fake)

Go to Walmart or your local yard store and pick up a small potted plant. But, maybe you don’t want the responsibility of taking care of something, or maybe you don’t get/let sunlight into your room—in which case a fake plant is a great option. Another alternative if you do want something alive is bamboo or moss balls. Terrariums are also a really great option for plants, real or fake. There are plenty of low-maintenance plants that any sleep-deprived, scatter-brained college student could keep alive.

9. More lights

A staple in most college dorms nowadays are string lights and lanterns. These are super affordable and there are plenty of options just about anywhere. Plus, depending on the rules in your dorm, you can get ones that plug in, or that are battery-operated.

Check Urban Outfitters and Amazon for some great options.

10. Wall décor (paintings, tapestries, and more!)

This one is pretty obvious, but barren walls make a place feel cold, unwelcoming, boring, and not lived in. You don’t need to go all out and make artsy canvases or try to form a gallery wall. The easiest way to decorate and cover a good chunk of space is to get a tapestry of some sort. If you choose to hang posters, make it classier by framing them—even fake wooden ones from Walmart will do.

There are a million places you can go for wall decor, but these are some of my affordable, versatile favorites: Target, Urban Outfitters, Society 6 and Redbubble.

11. Whiteboard/bulletin board

This is another way to fill your walls if you aren’t too keen on a lot of wall art. A whiteboard/bulletin board is great for communication between you and your roommate. You can pin notes to each other, pin up class schedules, your dorm mailing address, a grocery list, your meal plan tracker, etc. Target and Walmart are, again, going to be the easiest options for a nice, cheap cork board with plenty of options.

12. Calendar

A calendar is an absolute must-have in a dorm—probably the most important one. If you have a busy schedule, a calendar will save your life. My roommate and I killed, like, three birds with one stone with a whiteboard calendar that had a small cork area on it. We pinned our schedules to the cork, kept the grocery list and self-reminders on the side area of the whiteboard, and filled the calendar up so we always knew what each other had going on. But, we also always had a decorative calendar, such as one from Rife Paper Co (linked in picture), because it did all the duties of a calendar while simultaneously being wall art. Head to Walmart or Target for a simple whiteboard calendar.

For a cheaper, DIY option, check out how easy it is to make this: