Going away to college can be tough on a kid. Not only have you left behind friends who have gone off to other schools themselves, you are greeting a new phase in your own life without your family nearby. Your new life will take awhile to get used to and in the midst of it all, you will be adjusting to a new living arrangement. Some get to pick their own roommate or they get a roommate who they hit if off with right away. In some cases, freshman get to room alone, which is great for some people but others get lonely. If you are headed off to college, it is important to give yourself a space that is personalized that offers you comfort. When your day is done, you want to come home to a room that, even if small, offers you the feeling of home. Dorm rooms can be uncomfortable and cold, but with a little planning and some creativity, you can turn yours into an area where you will want to spend time. Even if the room initially looks impersonal, you can make the space your own and help you feel better. The same rules for making a space feel good in your home apply to a dorm room. Create a personalized, fun space that provides you with a place to relax. There are plenty of organization options for even the smallest, boxiest dorm rooms. You may not have the space or money for anything elaborate like mezzanines or pallet racking, but you can use more sophisticated means than just stacking milk crates.

Most of the time you will not have an option to paint your dorm room walls, but sometimes buildings do allow this. If you have a desire to turn your dorm rooms walls a different color, be sure to check with the school before attempting paint or more permanent wall coverings.

However, you can still bring color into a space without paint. You can hang tapestries on the wall, put up pictures or even add fabric covers with temporary adhesive materials.

Flooring also provides a way to add color. There are a number of brightly colored rugs on the market that are sized especially for small dorm room spaces. The room may feel cozier if you separate it into areas for living, sleeping, and studying. Even if these spaces are small, separating them can help you stay organized.

Finally, bring in accessories for even more personalization. Once you have chosen colors you love, you can add accessories for a truly unique look. Bring photos from home and put them on shelves or on the wall. You will feel most comfortable in a space that reminds you of the friends and family you have back home.