When you first move in, your dorm looks empty and can feel like a prison cell especially if you're in an older dorm. Between the tiled floor, the brick walls, and the poor lighting, the excitement of moving into your room can get lost. Here's a few tips to make your room feel like home.

1. Pick a good color scheme.

If you choose a ton of random colors for your room and nothing matches, then it can make your small space feel cramped. Try sticking to colors that match or compliment your bedspread, and try correlating with your roommate. I picked out greens and browns to add nature to my room without having to buy a plant.

2. Get a nice rug.

I don't know why, but my rug is the most important thing that makes my room feel like home. Once I have my rug in my room, move in is complete. Having a rug will keep your feet warm in the mornings when the tile is cold, and it also helps absorb some of the sound in your room so that it's less echo-y.

3. Hang posters/pictures/tapestries.

No one likes boring white walls. Use some commands strips to hang up pictures, posters, tapestries, and paintings. It adds color to your room and will make your room more cozy. Just don't try to cover every inch of wall space or your walls will look busy and overwhelming.

4. Get different lights.

Dorm lights almost always suck. They're either too dark or too bright. Invest in a floor lamp, a desk lamp, or fairy lights to give your room better lighting and more options. I personally don't think about lighting much, but when I'm writing a paper I'd rather be focused on the paper than worried about the lack of light.

5. Bring a comfort item.

For me, my comfort item is a book. Whenever you start to miss home, you'll want something with you to give you a sense of home without having to drive or fly all the way back.

6. Stock up on snacks.

You won't realize how much you snack at home until you get to school and have no snacks. Having food in your room can be a big help when you don't have time to run through the drive through or go out to lunch.

7. Organize your room.

A messy room will only make you more stressed out. If your room is chaos then you won't be able to find things and you'll just get frustrated. Organize your room before the semester gets too busy, and you won't have as many problems with losing things later on.

8. Call it home.

It won't be your permanent home, but if you refer to it as home then you'll settle in more, especially freshman year.

Living in a dorm can feel like living in a hotel room for four months, but the more you personalize it, the more comfortable you'll be.