Move-in day is perhaps the most hectic day of college. It can be an exciting and nerve-wracking time, especially if it’s your first one. Granted, we’re a fair bit away from the next move-in day, but as someone who has already started planning my future room’s color scheme and decorations, I’m here to tell you how I try to make a dorm as cozy and homey as possible.

Tip #1: Rearrange the furniture the way you like

You step into your dorm. What should be your first plan of attack? Rearranging the furniture!

Move-in day is the time to set up the room in whatever way you like. Your parents, roommates, and anyone willing to lend a helping hand, like your neighbor’s parents, will be there to help move any heavy furniture, so take advantage of it!

Raise or lower your bed to the height you want, move the fridge and microwave to a more spacious area so it doesn’t cramp up the rest of the room, shift around the desk so it faces the window and leaves more space for your other things—whatever you do, make sure to get it all done on the first day. Trust me, trying to make these adjustments when you’re by yourself or when you’ve already got your stuff covering the furniture is not a fun experience.

Tip #2: Decorations on decorations on decorations

Who wants to come back to their dorm after a long, tiring day and be greeted with barren walls and harsh, fluorescent lighting? Let’s be honest, the bare dorms on campus can be a depressing sight.

So let’s change that! Posters with your favorite bands or shows, cute art pieces from family or the internet, stuffed animals, or standees—these can really make your dorm feel more personal and, well, it doesn’t hurt to cover up some of the chipped paint on the walls.

But the decorations don’t stop there! I’ve walked into friends’ dorms and seen everything from a cork board with a collage of photographs pinned on it, to a kitchen knife mounted on the wall with Command strips (a product I very much recommend to anyone who plans to make the most out of their wall space). The point is you can get as creative as you like; it’s your space, so make it look like you designed it!

Tip #3: A rug

Trust me, even if your dorm comes with carpeted floors, you’ll want this. As someone who cringes at the thought of walking around in shoes inside my home, being able to kick them off in my dorm is an essential.

And if you ever feel the need for some floor time, or if you have too many friends over for everyone to pile on the bed? No one will have to lie on the floor! Plus, a rug is an easy way to add a ton of color and interesting patterns or textures to the dorm’s layout.

Tip #4: Lights!!!

I can’t stress enough how lovely lights can make a dorm. Being constantly blinded by harsh overhead lighting in a place where you’re supposed to be your most comfortable isn’t pleasant. Give your eyes a rest by getting some LED lights that change color to match your mood, or just some simple fairy lights to give your dorm a subtle glow.

I’ve gotten so used to using my fairy lights that the only reason I flick on the overhead lights is to force myself to sit down and do my work instead of lounging around.

Tip #5: Okay, but how tf do I buy all this stuff???

So, yeah, it’s no secret that getting all these things can be pretty pricey. But fear not! There are many ways to save a lot of money on your dorm decorations.

If you’ve got older siblings who are out of college, exploit them without shame. Do they have a leftover dorm rug that’s sitting in the back of their closet? Now it’s yours. Posters or storage boxes that they no longer have any use for? Well, then they’re just asking you to take it for yourself.

If you’re an oldest or only child, don’t worry; you’ve still got options. At the end of the year, when everybody is moving out, check places like Facebook or Sidechat to see if anyone’s giving away dorm decor or storage that they don’t need. It might seem insane that people will throw away these things when they’re practically unused, but a lot of the time people who live far from school aren’t able to bring these things back, so they sell them to other people for super cheap or even for free.

And you don’t even need to buy things! You can create your own decor—hang up your own art, make origami, or start some crochet projects to put on your desk and bookshelves. And if you aren’t well-versed in arts and crafts, you can always learn how. Or put up any things that are important to you, like collectibles.

Tip #6: Communicate with the roomie

Okay, this is a situational tip that doesn’t apply to everyone. But, even if you’re in a suite with singles, getting along with the people you’re living with is essential! The physical characteristics of a dorm aren’t the only things that determine how comfortable you are there; the people around you are just as important.

While you don’t have to be best friends with your room/suitemate(s), establishing boundaries and general non-negotiables is a must. Nobody wants to be in a situation where one roommate gets up at seven in the morning and plays their morning routine playlist, waking up their night-owl roommate who just went to sleep two hours ago.

This doesn’t mean you have to completely accommodate what your roommate wants, though. It’s about compromising to ensure that you have as harmonious a living space as possible. And on top of that, it’s nice to talk with your roommate—who would say no to making a new friend?

Tip #7: Have people over!

Now, all the tips listed above are certainly important for making your dorm feel comfortable and cozy, but what really makes a home is the people within it. If your dorm is too small to fit a big group of people, even just having one or two friends over can help make your dorm a place you enjoy being in.

The happy moments you have in your dorm always linger. When you get back to your dorm at the end of the day, you’ll want to fondly remember what occurred in it.

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These are just some tips based on how I like to make my dorm feel cozy—everyone has different ways of making a space their own. Maybe you don’t need to pick out a color scheme for your dorm or have a collage of different colors. Maybe you don’t need to add any decor at all! There is no “right” way to decorate your dorm.

Whatever you choose to do with it, just make it a place you feel content in!