The moment you’ve been dreaming about since middle school is finally here — you’re away from home, there’s not a parent in sight, and you relish your first real taste of freedom in your college dorm room.

The newfound independence makes you feel like the main character in a college movie because now you, too, are bright-eyed, untethered, and limitless. At least, until the honeymoon phase comes to a screeching halt and you realize that, a) your room is so small you feel like Harry Potter living in the cupboard under the stairs, and b) no dorm room idea could possibly come close to recreating the bedroom you grew up in.

But the key to curing homesickness is in the details. These dorm room ideas are designed to help you make the most of your space so it feels more like home. With aesthetic dorm room decor, creative hacks, and the best mattress in place for quality sleep, you’ll be ready to cast aside the homesickness and take college by a storm.

1. Create a Cozy Sleeping Space

There’s no way around it, you’re going to feel the effects of sleep deprivation at one point or another — college years are notorious for it. Think noisy roommates, all-nighters, and coffee-fueled cramming. These might seem beyond your control, but this dorm room idea can assure a good night’s sleep by helping you create a space optimized for rest.

The first dorm room essential is having the best mattress and bed foundation possible, which is rarely the case in a dorm room. Swapping out the default mattress in your room might be difficult, but if you have the option, consider switching to a cloud mattress for ultimate comfort. These mattresses are available as a hybrid or a memory foam.

Hybrid mattresses offer excellent support and are breathable, which can come in handy if your dorm room isn’t air-conditioned and you’re relying on the crack of an open window to get you through the summer months. On the other hand, memory foam mattresses perfectly cradle your body and are designed to provide total pressure relief. In case you’re unable to swap out your current mattress, a memory foam mattress topper is essential for sound sleep.

In a small room, the bed is always the focal point, so invest in high-quality bedding in your favorite color scheme. To up the coziness factor even more, one dorm room idea is to pile on the comfy throw pillows and faux fur blankets and create a nook for yourself you’ll enjoy coming back to at the end of the day.

2. Put Up Photos of Friends and Family

Just because you’ve always craved independence doesn’t mean you won’t feel those panging moments where you just miss home. You’ll miss home-cooked meals, sleepovers with your best friend, and cuddling with your pet. But even if you’re a flight ride away from home, you can still keep all your favorite memories alive with this dorm room idea.

Whether it’s ticket stubs, birthday cards, or Polaroids, hang these souvenirs of your home up on the wall. A hanging grid is a good option if you don’t want to tape your photos directly to the wall. The grid is also customizable, so you can easily switch up the layout or add new photos of your fond memories in college.

3. Recreate Elements of Home

If your mom routinely lit a bergamot candle come dinnertime, get the same bergamot candle for your room.

This dorm room idea is not only a great way to add personal touches, but it also evokes your senses to make you feel like you’re back home. Bring your favorite book, trinkets from your old bedroom, and even consider washing your sheets and clothes in the same detergent you used back home for an added touch of comfort.

4. Upgrade the Lighting

Second only to the linoleum floors, the most ghastly element of your dorm room might just be those fluorescent lights.

Fairy lights are an easy and inexpensive dorm room idea to create an instant warm glow. A pair of multicolored string lights and a neon nightlight can both add elements of eclectic fun, especially when you’re hosting a small party in your dorm room, while a classic table or floor lamp can help you feel settled and relaxed and offer a bit more illumination when you’re studying.

5. Decorate with a Wall Tapestry

Painting the walls isn’t a feasible dorm room idea and even putting up wallpaper can be

time-consuming. An easy way to hide those cinder block walls is behind a tapestry. If you’ve spent any amount of time on Pinterest, you’ll know that mandala tapestries and dorm rooms practically go hand in hand.

But tapestries have become so popular that they’re available in a variety of prints and designs, which means you don’t have to settle for the generic bohemian-style, Mandala tapestry that nearly everyone seems to have. Instead, find one that fits your personality and interior design style.

For instance, if you’re trying to create the perfect minimalist dorm room, an abstract tapestry with simple geometric patterns or painted watercolor leaves can tie the whole room together. Drape your string lights over the tapestry for added homeliness.

Perhaps no dorm room can replace the warmth of your room back home, but these dorm room ideas, from finding the best mattress to putting up photos of your loved ones, can get you a step closer to curing homesickness. So, get decorating and free yourself up to enjoy all the new experiences and people around you wholeheartedly.