College is right around the corner. Creating a dorm room can be a bit daunting. It's probably the first time living away from home and that's always a new adjustment. Get into contact with your future roommate and start talking about who will bring what to the room. There are tons of necessary items that are mandatory (bed sheets) and at times that might make all the difference for your personal comfort.
It's extremely important to be realistic when thinking about your dorm room. There is a huge difference between driving and flying to your future home. Mainly, driving allows for more items because you won't be charged half your soul if you end up going over 50 pounds. If your roommate is closer in proximity to school, seeing if they are willing to bring in heavy weight items is a good idea depending on how well you both know each other. I remember meeting my roommate for the first time outside of school in order for us to get to know each other at the mall.
Choosing a theme for the room or for at least your side is optional, but can be extremely fun. From large statement posters, to flags, and even photos, it can be a great way to make the room look more like a second home. Adding a little personal touch at the start of the semester (especially photos) can help make the change less difficult. Becoming home sick can happen at the start, but seeing familiar faces or items on the wall or on your desk can help make everything more of a fun new start than the end of the world. I ended up putting photos on the door of my closet; a place where I was able to see familiar faces everyday when I woke up and before I went to bed. Another tip to help combat and even prevent homesick is to put a familiar pillow or comforter from your room onto your new bed. Don't worry, sometimes calling home and texting friends are just the very best options and that's even better than a photo.
Beds are an important part of creating a dorm room and should not be overlooked. If you are a light sleeper or just prefer a bit of comfort, a mattress pad is definitely an option. After two mattress pads, I found that my bed was comfortable enough for me to sleep in at night. To be fair, that was my fault for finding two of the thinnest mattress pads and then having the genius idea to combine them- one truly sized mattress pad should do just fine. Also buying at least two sets of sheets is definitely helpful and usually all they have to be is twin extra long and you are good to go. I bought two sets because sometimes laundry is just not an option, but neither are dirty sheets. It keeps life a little less worry free and more focused on school work and adventure. As the attention of the eye will generally be drawn to the largest object in the room, choosing a comforter with a pattern or color you enjoy is a great statement piece.
If size and space are problems (most likely they will be), thinking about putting up a flag (so college) over your bed or even a poster can help fill up the off-white creme walls and make it look more personal. Keep in mind the convenience of items with multiple functions in order to keep space reserved for the most fundamental items (mini fridge and printer anyone?). If you find that you have too many shirts to fit in your drawers you can try this trick - fold your t-shirt sleeves in towards the middle so the sleeves are touching each other. Then from the top of the shirt begin to roll it. I found that when properly rolled instead of folded, they are easier to fit into drawers and luggage. When in doubt, look on YouTube for more clothing space tips.
The most comforting part of moving in should be that you are far from being the first or the last person to live in a dorm room- feel free to ask around for tips. College students are more than willing to help out with advice. Make a great room and set yourself up for a great year to follow.
