The roommate issue – If you don’t know your roommate, you really should wait before you go out and buy dorm décor. Why? Well, for one, you might become instant best friends and want to buy matching (or coordinating) décor. Or, on the other hand, you might hate each other (sorry, but it’s true); in which case, you might want to be careful about buying things for the room like curtains or rugs. Things that you can keep completely on your side, like bedding, wall tattoos or mirrors, are usually okay (if you really can’t wait).

Time to settle in – You probably haven’t had to decorate a new room yet, or maybe you have, but you should know that it’s always better to live with things the way they are for a few days before you decide what you really need or want for the room. You can see how the light shines into the room in the afternoon and how dark it gets at twilight. This will help you decide what kind of curtains and lighting to get. You can figure out where you want your television, which will help you figure out what size to get. You get the picture.

Save money – I don’t like to admit this, but I have jumped the gun in the past, buying things before I settled in to a new place. I ended up with a lot of extra stuff that I didn’t need, and then I had to go out and buy new stuff that was right for the space. Sure, I was able to return some stuff, but I still invested extra time. It’s better to avoid the charade in the first place.

Here are a few things that I recommend bringing with you to the dorm:

1. A good mattress pad. If you’re like me, you can’t sleep on a hard mattress, and dorm beds aren’t known for their plushness. Get a memory foam or down mattress pad to ensure you get a good night’s sleep and are fresh for classes in the morning.
2. Extra-long sheets. Go ahead and bring two sets of sheets, so you don’t have to have emergency laundry days. Clean sheets are important.
3. Colored bedding. When you buy those extra-long sheets, buy them in colors or patterns. Just don’t buy white. Even if you’re a neat freak, you’re going to be using your bed as a desk (at times) and a couch (most of the time), and of course as a bed. It’s not going to maintain that pristine whiteness you’re looking for. Just get something that won’t look too dirty after a year of constant use.
4. Colorful area rug. I’m a firm believer that a room shouldn’t be boring. A boring room just drains your creativity. Add a little spice to your room with color in the form of an area rug. It’ll keep your tootsies warm and your mind free to be creative.

Here are some tips for creating a Feng Shui atmosphere in your room:

1. Doors – According to Feng Shui principles, your bed should never be directly in front of a door. This one is really hard to follow in a small space because you have your front door and closet door to contend with. But, if you possibly can, move your bed so that the doors are opposite the side of your bed.
2. Electronics – Most people will have a computer and a television inside their dorm because that’s your only living space. But this goes against the principles of Feng Shui. At the very least, you should keep the computer, television and any other electronics as far away from the head of your bed as possible.
3. Windows – If you’re lucky, you’ll have a window or two in your dorm room, but it really shouldn’t be directly next to or over your bed. If you can’t avoid this, just use dark curtains and close them before you go to bed. Those who practice Feng Shui believe that your energy can escape through the window while you are sleeping.
4. Mirrors – I always recommend adding a mirror to a dorm room because it makes the space seem larger, but in Feng Shui, mirrors are another energy stealer. If you hang a mirror, keep it away from the bed.

Actually the window treatments are a very important part of your room design because they will determine how much light enters your space. Since dorm rooms tend to be on the small side, you should choose a window treatment that allows the most light into the room. That will not only boost your mood, but it’ll make the space feel just a little larger than it is.

So, whenever I’m designing a dorm or another type of small space (be it a living room, bedroom or office), I like to make use of sheer curtain panels. Sheer panels let in the most amount of light while providing a soft cover of privacy for your room. If you feel you need more privacy, like if your room is on the ground floor or directly across from a room in the next building, you can choose a curtain panel with a little less opacity, but still try to go with something that lets at least some light in.

When choosing your curtains, you have to keep in mind that this is your dorm room, and much like a bedroom, you may be changing your clothes in this space. You don’t want people to be able to see it at all times. One solution for this is to hang solid curtain panels in front your sheers. This way, you can close the two solid panels whenever you’re changing, and keep them open to let the light shine in during the remainder of the day. When you’re sitting there taking your online accounting courses, you probably will appreciate the glimmer of light and not mind giving up a little privacy. When it’s time to hit the hay, close the solid panels again.

But that shouldn’t stop you from making yourself feel at home. There will be some rules you’ll have to follow (for example, most students aren’t allowed to paint the walls), but you shouldn’t let that bring you down. Think about how you would want to design your first apartment. Seriously, give it some thought. You definitely won’t be able to bring all of those elements into a tiny living space, but it’ll give you an idea of where you’re headed. Don’t just add things willy-nilly and tack up posters and images on the wall as if you’re in prison. Come on, people. This is going to be your home for the next year (off and on, but more on than off), so make it a nice, comfy place to be.

One of the first things you should decide on is the bedding. Most dorms have extra-long twin beds, so you’ll probably have to go out (or get mom to go out) and buy all new bedding. Think of it as a good thing. You can start from scratch and create a bed that looks like it came straight off the pages of an interior design catalog. Oh, and if you don’t feel confident doing this yourself, you can either enlist the help of a more design-savvy friend or relative, or you can buy a bedding ensemble that is pre-designed. I’m not talking about those cheesy sets that you’d get in a bag at Walmart. You want it to look like your room was designed by someone with taste, right? Take a look at the preassembled collections put out by Dormify: not too matchy; seems just right. So, as you’re sitting there studying and learning how to become a fashion designer, at least your room will look like it has a little style.

When you’re designing a small space, such as a dorm room, your number one goal is to make the room appear larger than it is. There are two ways you can do this: With color and with space. There isn’t much you need to know about space, except that you should keep as much of it empty as possible (while still creating a functional dorm). But, color is a little more complicated. The 60-30-10 rule will get you halfway, and your color choices will complete the picture.

When you’re designing according to this rule, you need to choose three colors (I’ll offer tips on that next week). One color takes up 60 percent of the room, so that’s your wall color. If you can’t paint the walls, your 60 percent could be a large area rug or the bedding (since you’re probably only decorating half of the room anyway). The 30 percent is usually the curtains, and the 10 percent color represents the accent pieces (like throw pillows and vases and such). You can go with patterns (and you probably should for the throw pillows), but you want to make sure of two things. Don’t fill your room with a lot of patterns; instead mix patterns in with solids. Also, make sure the dominant color is what you’ve chosen as one of your three. So, if you chose blue, yellow and beige for your 60-30-10, respectively, your throw pillows should be predominantly beige, but they can have hints of other colors.

Just follow these simple rules and your space will become a simple, yet elegant hideaway instead of a drab and dreary dungeon. Trust me, it makes a big difference. And, you want to be sitting in a nice space when you have to do boring things — like pull an all-nighter studying for a forensic psychology exam. Fun times!

Here are a few types of items that you can look for the next time you’re at a flea market.

1. Area rugs: Just be sure to ask whether they’re used. I’m not a fan of buying used rugs. You just never know what went on before it made its way to you, and steamers can only get out so much. On the other hand, if you can see that it’s in really great condition (check the back for stains), you might want to throw caution to the wind and go for it.
2. Furniture: A lot of craft furniture manufacturers can often be found at flea markets, and you’ll also find some people selling antique and used pieces. Don’t count these out. Remember, almost anything can be restored or repainted to create a new look. Have a little imagination.
3. Candles. Believe it or not, the flea market is a great place to find candles and votive holders for your décor. I say that because you’re likely to find stuff that you won’t see elsewhere, which is always cool.  Last year, I found the coolest pair of antique candlesticks for a client of mine. She was an administrative assistant with an eye for quality and an almost non-existent budget (a difficult duo). But, she loved the design we landed on (thanks in part to my flea market finds!).

When you have a small room, you can’t just go buying things willy-nilly. You have to carefully consider each item before you let it stand on your hardwoods. Here are few ideas for things that can serve double duty (and help save space) in your room:

Murphy Bed – Obviously this one doesn’t apply for those of you who are dorming it this semester, but the Murphy bed is perfect for those tiny off-campus apartments. For those of you who don’t know, a Murphy bed folds up into a wall, so you can use your room for something other than sleeping whenever you want. Some Murphy beds even have a table on the other side, so when your bed is folded up, you have a small sitting space that you can use.

Bookshelf Room Divider – If you need some division between you and your roommate, consider getting a small bookshelf to put between your beds. You both can use it, so it’ll be super functional.

Hope Chest/Bench – If you need extra storage in your room, a hope chest is a good way to go. This way, you can get a pillow for the top and use it as a bench when you’re not shuffling things in or out.

Here are a few simple tips for designing your dorm that will help make it feel like home:

1. Avoid the urge to match your roommate. It’s always a good idea to coordinate, but if she chooses an ornate pattern for her bedspread, you really don’t have to go with the same pattern for a harmonious look and feel. Just pick a color that goes with it, and call it a day. Too much of one pattern will overwhelm a small room anyhow.
2. Bring only your most functional furniture – Think about bringing furniture that can serve double-duty, so you don’t have to bring two pieces to do the same job. You might opt for a bookshelf that can also serve as a room divider or a storage trunk that can provide extra seating for when you have guests. Keep it simple, but above all, keep it functional. Do not (for the love of all that’s holy) bring any furniture that does not serve a purpose. You just don’t have the space for that.
3. Hang a large mirror. Mirrors are great for opening up your space and making it feel bigger. Have you ever been in a restaurant that had a wall lined with mirrors? You thought the place was twice as big as it was, didn’t you? The same principle can work for your room. While you’re sitting there and spending hours studying for your forensic psychology exam, you don’t have to feel like the walls are closing in on you.

1. Space heaters – Mom might be worried about you being cold at night, but the school is worried that you might burn down the dorms, so keep that space heater at home. Dorm rooms are generally kept very warm anyway, so space heaters wouldn’t be needed.
2. Hot plates – For the same reason that you shouldn’t have a space heater, and so many more, you shouldn’t be cooking meals in your dorm room. The quarters are just way too close for it to be safe. Ask mom to get you the dining hall plan instead.
3. Pets – Believe me, I know how hard it can be to leave your four-legged friend at home, but you must. Even if she’s a teacup poodle that your RA probably wouldn’t notice, you don’t want to have any trouble. Plus, a dorm probably isn’t the safest place for a pooch that small, anyhow.
4. Weapons – Goes without saying? Well, there are some kids out there who grew up hunting and plan to continue that tradition throughout their college years. It’s not safe, and it’s not allowed. Leave the guns, knives, bows and arrows at home. You don’t want to be responsible for what your silly drunken mess of a roommate does when you’re not looking.