Ahhh, your own dorm room.  Finally, a hundred square feet to call your very own.  Once the excitement of your newfound freedom has worn off a little bit, your new digs might seem more like a prison than a palace.  Here are some quick tips to make your dorm room feel like home without breaking any rules or your budget.

Candles are generally against the rules since they’re a fire hazard.  But there’s no reason to settle for a lack of nice lighting!  Pick up LED night lights at the store. They’re cool to the touch and energy efficient.  Or, visit the dollar store and pick out some glass candle holders.  Instead of candles, toss in a couple miniature glow sticks (also available at the dollar store.)  They’ll only last an evening, but while they do they’ll cast some nice mood lighting in funky colors.

Hanging artwork, photos and memorabilia can be troublesome.  Instead of tape or sticky-goo, string fishing line, beading wire or jute against your walls and use binder clips (found at an office supply store) to hang up your stuff.  Hang just a few and make your walls look like a posh art gallery, or cover your walls if that’s more your style.  You can change photos as often as you want.  

Seating can be an issue in any small space.  In the spirit of making new friends, see if your new roommate is up for dumpster diving or check the thrift stores for a good price on a couch.  But lose the frame and keep the cushions.  (Hint:  If you score some cushions outside, or from inside a dumpster, make sure they haven’t been rained on too many times, or underneath a carton of rotten eggs, before bringing them inside.  In most cases, a bottle of Febreze or a good scrub with baking soda and water will get out most smells.  Three cushions can become seats for three people, an impromptu cot (line ‘em up on the floor), or an ottoman (stack ‘em).

Vinyl wall decals are super stylish, but they’re also super expensive.  Make your own using contact paper!  Either find a color/pattern that you like, or spray paint sheets of contact paper.  Then, just cut out and stick!  Simple geometric shapes are easy to cut out and look really hip.  Or try silhouettes of birds, trees or flowers for a more natural look.

You can also use starch to adhere onto your walls and easily removed later on.  You can either cut out shapes, or cover your entire wall using the fabric like wall paper.  This can get messy, so keep that in mind.  First, wash your walls well.  Measure and cut your fabric exactly the way you want it.  Mix the starch following the instructions on the bottle.  Then “paint” the wall where you want to apply the fabric.  Place the fabric onto the sticky wall, smooth it out, then “paint” with the starch over the fabric.

Good luck!  The best way to make your dorm room seem bigger is to keep it un-cluttered and (OK, at least relatively) clean.  Avoid dark colors which will also make the room seem smaller.  A small clip fan on your bed will circulate the air and provide white noise to help drown out hallway noise.  Finally, buy a small potted plant.  Something alive and green will brighten up any room.  Just don’t forget to water it!