When you move to college and start living in a dorm, your dorm room becomes your home for all practical purposes, and just like you would care for your home, your dorm room requires the same thought and care. During my stint at college (and university) I moved from dorms and rooms several times, so I learnt (often the hard way) about how to best manage dorm living. Here are a few tips that will manage your expectations and make it easier for you to live in a dorm.

1. Be Minimalistic about what you bring to the dorm
   Dorm rooms are universally tiny. Be mindful of that reality and make smart choices about what you bring into your space. Your dorm room will likely function as your bedroom, study, and socializing space all rolled into one. So avoid crowding and cluttering it as much as possible so that it remains a comfortable space. Make a list of everything you think you want or need in your room. Then mull over each item and ask yourself if it is an absolutely necessary requirement. Think of compact alternatives to as many things as you can, for instance you don’t need a TV if you have a laptop, and canvas tote bags rather than a large laundry hamper, and so on. Focus on the essentials and don’t buy too much new stuff before you even get to college.
2. Don’t expect your room to look like what you see on social media
   While Pinterest is awesome for design inspiration. Just remember that more often than not, the rooms you see there are staged. They are not practical or even true representations of what a normal dorm room looks like. Consider this, have you ever seen full laundry baskets, waste paper baskets, clothes, shoes, trash cans, or other signs of actual student life in those Instagram worthy perfect pictures? Social media and the internet is a great place to get inspiration, but don’t let those create unrealistic expectations in your mind about what your college dorm room should look like. Your dorm room should be functional, so don’t go overboard with decorating.
3. Make a cleaning routine and stick to it
   There is no Mommy here to remind you to clean your room, or to do it for you. Dorm rooms can get really dirty really quick unless you make a proactive choice to keep it clean. There is nothing worse than coming “home” to your dorm room after a long hard day of classes to be welcomed by a gross, unkempt, dusty room. Organize yourself. Assign a place for all of your belongings and get into the habit of putting things back in their place when you are done using them. For instance dirty clothes do not belong on the bed, chair or floor, so put them in the laundry bag. Try to do a thorough cleaning of your dorm room at least once a month, and try to make your bed before you leave in the morning. You’d be surprised how much difference the simple act of making your bed makes in the overall neatness of your room. 

However you decide to decorate your dorm room, just remember that you should not try to impress anyone else with it but yourself. Make it a comfortable space for yourself that reflects your personality and gives you the opportunity to relax at the end of the day.