At Cornell, your room will be your sanctuary and new home, so decorating it and making it your own is very important. It can help when you are feeling homesick or overwhelmed by how new everything feels. Having a space that reflects you makes the transition to college a lot easier.

Make it Cozy

I recommend getting stuffed animals and giving them names (mine is a highland cow named Nutmeg, and my friend has a caterpillar named Gregory). I also like to have a lot of soft throw blankets, great for when you just want to curl up and watch a movie or read a book. If you are feeling fancy, you can get decorative pillows, but they’re not necessary. Another critical part is having a good mattress topper. You need to have a comfy bed for your room to truly be complete! Another aspect to think about is lighting. Rooms come with overhead lighting, but I prefer smaller lamps for softer lighting while relaxing or reading. I have one on my nightstand and two on my desk. Another idea is to have a sunset lamp, which also helps with the cozy atmosphere. Making a vision board is a great way to get your ideas in order!

Consider Wall Space

I personally chose a couple of paintings in decorative gold frames to hang on my wall. One painting is of a highland cow, and another is a Monet piece I love. I have seen other people put up collages of pictures with their friends and family, art prints, fairy lights, music posters, or music vinyls; the options are endless. I truly think you can get the most creative with your walls. Another tip is to use command strips for hanging things on the wall, which is a great way to avoid damaging the walls.

Organization and Storage

I will not lie, a room in a residence hall is smaller than most people are used to. I currently live in a double, but even in a single, you have to be careful with how you use your space. The space underneath your bed will be crucial. You can put extra bins for shoes, clothes, and anything else you can think of. I like to have a desk shelf to make the best use of the space on my desk. It helped to organize my makeup, jewelry, and all of my other accessories. A desk shelf is also a great place for your fan, so it can blow on you in bed. I prefer to be cold when I sleep, so my fan was a necessity during the beginning of the fall semester. Costco and Target have great organizational items, in my experience.

Stick to a Budget

Another point I would like to make is that decorating your room does not have to be expensive. I know it can seem daunting, and all the things can add up quickly, but if you are smart with what you want to splurge on, it can be done. I recommend finding sales and buying secondhand. I also shopped at TJ Maxx, HomeGoods, Marshalls, and Target. If you have extra things around your house, that would be another great way to save money for other buys.

Just like college in general, your room is what you make of it, and I cannot stress how important it is to have a place entirely your own to recharge. It’s also fun to see your creative spirit come to life in your room! Your space is a reflection of you, so make it cozy, make it artistic, make it yours. Best of luck!