Decorating a dorm room is often a challenge because of the lack of space, limited budget and the hundreds of rules you have to abide by. But that doesn’t mean you have to live with bare walls and uninspiring decor for the rest of your semesters.

Making sure your dorm room is comfortable and cozy is important if you want to maintain a space that allows you to unwind after a stressful day and still be conducive for some serious studying. One of the easiest ways to achieve this is by picking out a dorm rug that can instantly liven up and add a little bit of your personality to an otherwise boring space. Want more tips? We list down more dorm décor ideas from interior stylists on how to transform your college dorm room from bare and basic to fun and functional even with a student’s budget!

1. DON’T: Shop for college dorm décor and furniture without checking dorm rules first.

“The first thing to consider when thinking about decorating a dorm room is how much are you allowed to decorate. Are you allowed to paint, pin things to the walls or are you limited and need to be creative?” says Nicola Croughan, interior specialist at Blinds Direct.

2. DO: Use statement décor to create a focal point in your room. 

Tiny spaces can quickly turn cluttered and cramped when you fill every available space and surface with décor and furnishings. “Consider what your focal point will be so you can decide how you’ll decorate the rest of the room. You don’t want to overwhelm the space with too much stuff, so choosing a statement piece is a great place to begin,” says Sherri Monte, interior designer and owner of Elegant Simplicity.

3. DON’T: Forget about lighting.

“An often overlooked element when decorating a dorm room is lighting. There are so many great floor lamps that you can perfectly pair with a small desk lamp to create an inspiring place to live without using fluorescent lights above. Lastly, string lights are an excellent way to create a calming mood but still have a little light,” Sherri adds.

4. DO: Opt for multifunctional furniture. 

Finding a way to fit a couch, a sofa, and a bookshelf in a cramped space can be incredibly frustrating and most likely impossible given the limited space of your dorm room. So find furniture that can serve more than one function, says Sherri. “Like a storage ottoman that a friend can sit on but saves space and provides an extra place to store things. Find the deals! Your furniture is likely going to serve you for a few semesters, so have fun trying to find the perfect piece for relatively affordable cost.”

5. DO: Bring your space to life with fun DIYs, plants, and accent pillows.

great thing to consider when picking out furniture and décor for your dorm room is how to soften the space. You can add some easily removable decals, accent pillows, and throw blankets as well as decorate with plants to liven up the space a bit,” says Sherri. 

Creating a gallery wall with your own photographs can also instantly make the room “feel nice and comfortable on a budget,” adds Nicola. “This will make you feel right at home while adding character to your walls.”

6. DO: Highlight your bed with eye-catching bedding.

“Your bed is likely the biggest piece of furniture in your dorm room and the space you’re going to spend most of your time. So think about whether you want to make a bold statement with color and pattern or if you want to have something simpler,” says Sherri.

7. DO: Add a dorm rug to inject personality and character into your space.

“Rugs are a perfect way to bring your own personal touch to your room. The reason for this is because a rug doesn’t need to be secured down, which means you aren’t restricted to where you put it, giving you creative reign,” says Nicola.

Sherri agrees, adding that a dorm room rug can easily be the focus in your room and be used as a guide when picking out other design elements. “With so many affordable options, they also provide an excellent way to change up the look and feel of your dorm later down the road.”