Maybe your room is suffering from an illness. It is something that occurs way too often on college campuses-- aka the dreaded 'bland room'. Plain white walls, mediocre lighting, and not a pinch of color or life in sight. Or maybe, your room is simply amazing to everyone else, but to you, it's missing a little flare. Or you may just be a freshman with a semester approaching very quickly, but you have no idea where to start when it comes to your room. Either way, you have come to the right place!

1. Plants

Now, I know what you might be thinking: plants are too much maintenance. Sure, some plants might need more attention than others, and you're worried that it might just die on you. Rest assured, there are plants that can survive if you just so happen to forget about them for a couple days. Succulents and Cacti are very popular for dorm rooms. They only need to be watered maybe once a week depending on the type, and they have so many health benefits such as breathing easier, purifying air, sharpening focus, and can even helping with anxiety and fatigue. Which is something that will probably benefit you when you start a paper that's due the next day the night before (trust me, it happens). Succulents and Cacti are also very inexpensive to purchase which is perfect for a college student on a budget (so pretty much like all college students).

2. Lighting

Lighting has the power to change the mood of a room instantly. String lights are very popular, inexpensive, and make your room feel more homey. Not to mention, they are very versatile. You can wrap them around a mirror, hang them from the ceiling or the walls, or even put them into mason jars to create a cute little light source for your desk. Something I did personally was buy wooden clothes pins and pin my favorite photos from my friends back home on the strand. It definitely helped me claim my room as my own. Salt lamps are also very pretty and they benefit your health (such as improving your sleep!) Floor lamps are also cool too and can be very eye catching!

3. Unique Wall Art/Decor

Pintrest, Tumblr, or Buzzfeed has some really good ideas to spruce up any boring white wall.

4. Diffuser

Diffusers. Are. Amazing. Whether you're trying to mask the smell of the trash you haven't taken out yet, or trying to improve health, diffusers use essential oils (i.e. lavender, orange, mint, etc.) to make a mist that will fill your room. Fill it not just with a fresh scent, but with a mist that can help your body! Lavender, in particular, helps with reducing anxiety and emotional stress, healing burns and wounds, improving sleep, helping with acne, slowing aging, and relieving you of dreaded headaches! They can also be a cool decor and lighting piece depending on which one you get. There's some amazing ones on Amazon for really good prices, as well as starter packs of some of the main essential oils so you can test out which ones you love the most!

5. A Piece of Home

The most important part of your dorm room is that one personal item(s) that remind you of home. Whether that be a snow globe, pictures, or a favorite book, bring it. It will definitely help you out in the moments where you start to feel overwhelmed and homesick. My friends from back home made me a beautiful wooden sign that I hold very near and dear to me. Trust me, it will help you out more than you could ever realize right now.

I hope this gives you returning students or incoming freshmen some new and fun ideas to liven up your dorm rooms!

With that, Cheers to a new semester!