Going away to college can be a scary and daunting experience – leaving behind your family, friends, and familiarity of your home and high school can be hard. It’s totally normal to suffer from homesickness when you go away, and it can be hard to adjust to the white cinder block walls of your dorm room. But fear not! There are lots of things you can do to make your dorm room feel warmer and cozier – a lot more like home. If you want to make your living space at college feel like a place you look forward to going back to at night and also a place that reminds you of home, read the tips below.
1. Pictures
Cover the walls of your dorm with pictures of the things and people you love! There’s nothing more comforting than remembering that the world is full of people who love you, even they’re far from you; also, pictures are a great conversation starter and way for people at college to get to know you a little better. You can pick up a stylish and matching set of frames like this one at Bed Bath and Beyond from any home goods and decor store: http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=209754&RN=410&.
2. Carpets and Curtains
It might be surprising, but cloth is one of the easiest ways to warm up a room. Purchase a rug that you like to put on your hard dorm floor, and hang some bright or warm colored curtains in front of the window. Carpets and curtains can help fill the space more and make your space more cozy and inviting. Ikea has a great selection of stylish rugs in all shapes and sizes; check them out here: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/departments/Textiles/10653/.
3. Mattress Pad
It’s something that a lot of people don’t think about when moving to college – but sometimes it’s hard to sleep in a dorm room because the mattresses are thin and cheap. Buy yourself a great mattress pad – something that is comfortable to you or similar to your bed at home. By adding a comfy top to your bed, your body will get better rest and feel more comfortable when you’re far from home. Kohl’s has a great deal on a soft and comofrtable memory foam topper here: http://www.kohls.com/product/prd-c27088/the-big-one-1-12-in-memory-foam-mattress-topper.jsp. You can find toppers of all kinds at any home goods or bedding store.
4. Add Seating
Dorm rooms usually only come with a bed and desk – so add some chairs or bean bags! One way to make a room feel warmer and more friendly is to have people in it. As you invite people over and make new friends, you’ll want them to feel comfortable in your room. Think of cute and creative ways to add seating to your dorm, and you will also help fill some of the empty space and make the space cozier. Pottery Barn Teen is a great place to look for comfy and affordable seating; their chairs, bean bags, and loungers come in all colors and patterns. http://www.pbteen.com/shop/furniture/lounge-seating/?cm_type=gnav
5. Change up the Lighting
Dorm lights are almost always terrible – usually, they only have fluorescent overhead lighting or a bright desk lamp. Dorm lighting can often make your space feel sterile or industrial, so to warm it up, turn off the overhead lights and buy several lamps of your own. Get a good standing light or two to emit lots of light, and then buy several smaller lights for your bedside, desk, and other surfaces. Using your own lighting will really warm up the space and make it feel like somewhere you are supposed to be living, not working. Target is a great place to look for dorm room lighting options; this bright and fun floor lamp is a great way to deck out any dorm room: http://www.target.com/p/xhilaration-flower-5-head-floor-lamp-includes-cfl-bulbs/-/A-13828077#prodSlot=medium_1_17&term=dorm+room+lighting.