Whether it is your first year at college, or your last, figuring out how to decorate your dorm room can be quite a task. Just remember, this is the one place on campus you can truly make your own. But how should you do it?

Here is a list of six items you cannot forget to have on your dorm decor list, because without them your room just isn’t complete.

1. Message Board

Whether it used to help you remember important dates or assignments, or a way for your friends to leave messages, a message board is a must have when living in a dorm. And I’m not just talking about a plain, old, boring dry-erase whiteboard. They are nice because they are easy to clean, but they don’t really let you show of your style. So, why not make your own! If you have an old plastic binder, mirror, or chalkboard laying around, spruce it up and make it useful again by adding a little flair and putting it in an interesting frame. Don’t want the hassle? Check out these chalkboard frames at Etsy!

2. Versatile Tapestries

Tapestries are not just meant to hang on the wall any more. A lot of them can be used as black-out curtains or even as a blanket for your bed. And with so may designs to choose from, you are bound to find one that matches your style. Dorm Co. has a lot of great designs including the ‘Indian Star‘ shown above, so why not head over to their website and find your favorite.

3. Bedding

Bedding is the most obvious thing to have on your list, but I wanted you to know that it doesn’t have to be boring. There are so many amazing patterns and colors to choose from, making this one of the easiest ways to turn a blah dorm room into your own little piece of heaven. Whether you like neutral or neon, Bed Bath & Beyond has got your bedding needs covered. And you don’t have to buy everything separate, thanks to B3’s dorm kits (that even include bath towels) and complete sets.

4. Floor Lamp

Most dorm rooms don’t have a lot of light - most only have one fluorescent light on the ceiling and one small window - so having a 5-arm floor lamp will add more light while letting you be a little stylish. Why a 5-arm? Because they have adjustable arms that let you put the light where you need it and most of them let you can choose how many of the lights you want on. And the best part is that they don’t take up a whole lot of space or cost that much - starting at $20.

5. Full Length Mirror

If you are lucky, you will have a mirror in your bathroom that lets you see most of your outfit, but we all want to see the whole outfit, right? Well, that’s what a full length mirror is for. Kohl’s offers an over-the-door mirror, which makes set up easy. If you hang it on your dorm door you can make sure you are looking your best before you leave - and as a bonus it will make your room feel a little bigger and help reflect more light.

6. Storage

It should be pretty obvious that there will not be enough room for all of your clothes and other necessities, so have something for storage will definitely come in handy. Sterilite has a bunch of options for storage, but I would go with the 3-drawer cart ($30) because anything less than that would not be helpful. The 3 drawer cart has enough space to store clothes or shoes you wear the most (or least) and/or any bathroom or school supplies you cannot fit anywhere else. Plus, it will fit perfectly under your bed with or without the swivel wheels, so you don’t have to worry about everyone seeing your belongings.

I learned the hard way my first year in college that these few, though small, items were essential to a dorm room and are some of the easiest ways to decorate. Hopefully, this will help you make your dorm room more “you” as well as more functional. And don’t forget to be creative - just because it is plain, doesn’t mean it has to stay that way and you don’t always have to get everything from a store.