If you are about to start your first year of college, you're in an exciting time of life. You're likely moving out of your home for the first time and living on your own. While it might seem overwhelming, college can also be the best time of your life. You'll make friends who you will have for the rest of your life. Making your dorm more comfortable is an easy way of relieving some of the stress. 

Why Live on Campus?

If you're trying to save money at school, it can be tempting to look for nearby off-campus housing. But even though dorm rooms might not seem inviting at first, you can make them cozy, and living on campus has its advantages. It's a great way to develop a sense of belonging, especially early on in your college years. You'll likely be closer to your classes than if you lived off-campus. Plus, you might find living in a dorm makes it easier to develop friendships at school. While living on campus can be more expensive, many students believe that the price is worth it. If you find there is not much money left for other college expenses after getting on-campus housing, consider taking out private student loans. They're a good option if you have maxed out your available federal loans. 

Make Your Space More Inviting

If you want to make your room seem homier, make it a cozy place for guests to hang out. Typical dorm rooms are small and often don't look inviting. Try to keep your blinds open as often as you can to allow natural light in. That'll help the room to feel bright and airy. Choose a lighter color scheme to make the room feel bigger and cozier. For example, if you like blue, consider choosing sky blue bedding instead of navy blue. If you like bold colors, save those for accents, like lamps or decorations. If you have a roommate, try working with them to coordinate the colors to the whole room instead of only your side. That makes it look much more uniform for people who walk in. A rug is an easy way of transforming your space, especially if the floors are hard. It can cover the cold floor while adding a bit of color to the area. Try coordinating with your roommate and placing it in the center of the room. You can also place some smaller rugs on either side.

Get Some Extra Seating

The standard dorm usually has a desk chair and bed for seating. It's not the most inviting for having friends over. Even if you have a tiny space, consider adding some extra seats for when your buddies come over. It doesn't have to be anything huge, either. Look for small beanbags or futons. You can even find some seating options that double as storage. Even if you don't have people over that often, having more seating is a great place for doing homework. It doesn't have to cost that much money, and it can make a big difference in your productivity levels.