Dorms are usually cramped places that don’t come with a lot of options for customization. You can’t paint the walls and there isn’t much you can do about the flooring. Also, you usually have a roommate to deal with, so you end up only decorating half of the room. But, if you’re like me, you can’t stand to sit in a boring dreary room for more than five minutes. You’re going to be spending at least some time here studying and hanging out, so why not make the best of it. Make it an inspirational space for you and your roommate to call home for the year. There are a lot of things you can do, from area rugs to curtains and wall art, but you both need to be on the same page, or the room will look disconnected. Here are some tips for getting your roommate on board with the redesign:

1. Talk it out. Who knows, you might be preaching to the choir. Nobody likes the look of a plain dorm room, so maybe she already has some ideas for changing it up.
2. Get on the same page. You might have some avant garde ideas, but you’ll probably have to save them for your first apartment. It’s important that you both understand that you have to find a common ground in order for this to work. Your favorite color may be pink, but that doesn’t mean your roomie will buy in to a monochromatic theme for the entire room. If your ideas start clashing, it’s time to start thinking about a more neutral theme.
3. If she’s the type who really doesn’t care about the room design at all, just get her ok on a few pieces that will tie the whole room together, like an area rug and curtains. With competing wall art and lamps, the room may still seem a little disconnected, but at least it’ll be better than an obvious line down the middle of the room. A little design cohesion may also help bring a sense of togetherness, which can help with your relationship. Just let her know you’ll pay for those items and you’ll pick out neutral colors. You kind of have to, if you want this to work.

You really don’t have to be an interior designer to create a space that looks pulled together. But, if you and your roomie have conflicting ideas, it might help to think of yourself as one for the moment. If this were your job, you’d have to find a common design for the two differing tastes. Take your emotions out of the equation and look at this as a fun challenge. You’ll be glad you did!