By Sarah Hunt
No matter what "home" means to you, you can transform your dorm space from institutional to inviting with a modicum of effort and a whole lot of flair. Or even a moderate amount of flair. The amount of flair is up to you. You're an adult now. The decisions about flair levels are on you.
Dad's old vinyl
Nothing says "home" like the vinyl collection your dad is tired of storing. Invest in an all-in-one turntable to turn your dorm room into a swank listening lounge. Check out Records on Walls online, where you can buy a wall case to proudly display that iconic Velvet Underground album featuring the Andy Warhol banana.
Map art of hometown
Feeling homesick? Consider some unique map art customized to your home town coordinates. Etsy is a fantastic source for art pieces that will make you feel nostalgic for all the places you ignored back home. You'll find wall art, customized pillows, blankets, ornaments and more, all emblazoned with the coordinates of the place you've left to become a "real adult." Rest easy. No one back home knows what that means either.
Refeather that nest
Call it a stereotype, call it inevitable, but you're likely to spend quite a few hours bundled up against the persistent Michigan winter… in bed. Make it homier, and perhaps even more inviting (wink, wink, nudge, nudge), by investing in some decent pillows and a nice down comforter.
Lighting matters
No one wants to examine even the best specimens of dorm mates under the harsh radiance of overhead fluorescent lighting. Ambient lighting is your friend. Buy a lamp. You'll look better and your dorm mate's shiny, all-too-frequently nude ass will too.
Keep it clean, ya hippie
Yes, no one is going to nag you about that steaming pile of last month's laundry or berate you into trashing the remains of that 3 a.m. Taco Bell run once it's reached a state of liquefied goo. But if it's homey you're going for, channel Martha, not Hoarders.
Scented bliss
There's something about the smell of cinderblock and stale, post-pubescent body odor. Something almost… well, it's not magical. Cram 700 undergrads into a single, mid-rise building with inadequate airflow and the resulting air quality can become most unkind in the olfactory way. Mask that barnyard scent with diffuser reeds for lasting relief.
Guest amenities
All the honeys love swag. Grandma knew what was what with that candy dish filled with hard butterscotch discs. Oh, they just kept coming back for more, and your guests will, too, if you keep a supply of mini candy bars on hand (don't cheap out – go for the Assorted Hershey's or stay home). Consider investing in a small set of nice glasses or a set of espresso mugs, the perfect accompaniment for all that philosophical waxing you're going to be doing now that you've become an academic. It's what your Friday nights are for now – hosting intimate gatherings, drinking chicory and discussing Poe while wearing an ironic beret. Pro tip: Keep a small stock of extra, ironic berets on hand for forgetful guests.
Memento-ize your wall
Don't forget where you came from, but don't wallow in your homesickness for too long. It's hard to walk this line, but a visual representation can help to keep you motivated while adding a homey touch. Tack up a bulletin board and turn it into a scrapbook-on-a-wall. Add mementos from high school and leave plenty of room for ticket stubs and pictures from all the great things you're doing at school. Give it the social media spin and make it all seem oh-so-inspiring, or get real and tack up that snarky note from the TA about your handwriting on your econ midterm.
Put a rug on it
It's bad enough that so many classes start at what definitely seems like the middle of the night. It's even worse when the first experience of the day is the shock of cold, hard concrete under your naked, unhappy feet. Happily, your ancient ancestors perfected the art of rug-making many eons ago and your choices are infinite here. The little piggy who ran all the way home and all his slightly larger friends will thank you.
Don't forget your lovey
Maybe it's a tattered, homemade quilt or a frayed, well-loved teddy bear: You can hide it under that nice bedding we talked about earlier if you want, but if there's something you've loved since you were still small enough to live in ignorant bliss about the cruel realities of the real world, bring it with you. Because this isn't going to get any easier. Because your lovey has been there all along, longer than almost every relationship in your life. Because you've seen "Toy Story 3."
