Dorm rooms are often uninviting when you first move in. However, a few easy and colorful purchases can make it feel more like home. (Taylor Henry/The Daily Campus)

Moving to college brings a lot of firsts, including the first space that is entirely your own.

Your college dorm room is more than just a bedroom. It quickly evolves into a living room, a dining room, a movie room, or the place to lounge with new friends until the wee hours of the morning.

With all this traffic and multi-use, your room should be the ultimate statement of your personality.

Since dorm rooms usually start out pretty bare and bland, give it a burst of color with bright bedding.

Printed or solid, one color or five, the combinations are endless.

PBTeen has been a go-to for years among the college bound, but try to mix and match their sets rather than purchasing an all-in-one.

Don’t be afraid to mix patterns, either.

Pair their Simple Stripe Favorite Tee Sheet Set ($32-$129, pbteen.com) with the Big Dot Matelasse Duvet ($149, pbteen.com).

And the more pillows, the merrier. Your bed will be your favorite lounge spot and it should be comfortable.

Mix a variety of colors to create a perfect thrown-together look. Also, if you can wait until September, Missoni for Target will give your interiors a whole new burst of chic.

The great Italian design house is famous for their colorful zigzag prints on everything from laundry bags to quilted throws. The line will launch online and in stores Sept. 13.

If you go overboard with the pillows, you can spice up a simple futon.

There are plenty of places near SMU where you can get a futon such as Best Buy, Target or Walmart.

Although you may think your dorm room is too small for a futon, it actually is a great investment.

Depending on the way you organize your room, you may find you have more than enough space to work with.

However, if you find you need more space, try lofting your bed.

Though the height may take some getting used to, your dorm room will feel more like home if you put a futon under one of the lofted beds.

Under the other bed, you can put both sets of drawers and a mini fridge (for all the Red Bulls you will need).

College requires some studying, too — an organized, streamlined desk will help send you to the top of the dean’s list.

For a cohesive environment, go for desk accessories in one color.

Achieve this look with poppin.com’s bundles in magenta, orange, or pool blue ($25, poppin.com). West Elm also has a lacquer set in peridot yellow ($9-$79, West Elm Mockingbird Station).

And because your wall needs a little love too, snag a Jonathan Adler magnetic board to make your photos, to-do lists, and syllabi really pop ($16.95, jonathanadler.com).

Keep track of important tests, meetings, and events with a practical and chic planner.

Lilly Pulitzer’s are known for its cheerful pages and fun stickers ($24.95, lillypulitzer.com or McCartney’s University Spirit) and will keep your busy life wrapped up in one preppy package.

If you are more of a plain-jane gal, stop by the SMU bookstore and pick up a planner by Gallery Leather Co. ($24, Barnes and Noble), which are filled with crisp white pages just waiting to be filled with your social (and academic) agenda.

Bed, Bath & Beyond also sells monthly or weekly dry erase calendars to hang on your wall. Staying organized and keeping your schedule straight will prove to be very helpful during your first year.

Give your room the finishing touch with posters and art that fit your interests.

SMU’s annual poster sale is during the first week of classes

in Hughes-Trigg Student Center and serves up endless options to complete your room.

If posters are not up your alley, you can always get a generic bulletin board at Michael’s and decorate the border with a cute ribbon.

If you don’t have time for a do-it-yourself project, Lilly Pulitzer sells a cute alternative in a variety of patterns.

Bulletins boards are a good way of incorporating family photos to keep your parents happy, while including pictures of friends old and new.

The most important thing to remember about decorating your dorm room is to make sure that it represents you.