Dorm rooms can be very challenging. Not only can they be small but you may be sharing space with another student and there may be rules about what you can bring into the room, Plenty of dorms still have cinder block walls, limiting options for hanging items, including posters.
    But don't despair! If you plan ahead, you can create a great room on a shoestring budget and, of course, many items can be found on Ebay. often for far less than retail stores.
 Try these steps:
1. Contact the housing office and try to get details about the size of your room as well as the layout. Ideally, if you can visit the room  ahead of time,, that'd be great but that isn't always a possibility so you have to work with what info you can get long distance.
2. Consider using putty to put up posters. There are also special systems for hanging posters without putting nail holes in walls but the putty is usually a quick way to put something up and then change it when you grow bored with that item.
3. Find out what appliances you can bring. Some dorms allow microwaves; others do not. Most allow dorm refrigerators and you can get a great deal on those if you buy between semesters.
4. Try to plan how you will use your space most efficiently. For some students a loft bed  or bunk bed system makes the most sense. Remember, if your bed is high enough, you have extra floor space underneath, maximizing the use of your room.
5. Try to find double duty items, like tv trays that can be used as needed and put away when you don't have guests. Also, aim for lightweight items like foldable chairs to have on hand. Camp chairs are ideal for some students. Others like beanbag type chairs but they do take up more room.
6. Think about using bed lifters or "risers" which raise your bed up an extra 4 to 6 inches. Use underbed storage boxes if you go to school in an area where the year may start while the weather is hot and then get cooler. You can store seasonal items in the storage boxes.
7. The new ladder systems of storage (some have desks in between two sets of leaning shelves) can be an efficient way to store your books and gain study space.
8. Many mattresses are extra long so try to find out about that ahead of time and bring the right sheets.
9. Think "outside the box". For example, if your dorm room doesn't have curtains, consider using nice fabric shower curtains with liners, which can often be found on sale for far less than standard curtains.
10. DO make sure you have good lighting for study. Inexpensive lights can be found that provide good lighting but there is one area where you need to be sure you're comfortable with both the intensity and quality of light. Keep spare bulbs on hand. Nothing like pulling an all night study session, only to have the light bulb burn out.
11. Consider getting a small reading light that attaches to a book, so you can read late at night without disturbing your roommate.
12. Compromise to make sure you and your roomie are comfortable with whatever decor you have.
13. Throw pillows and an area rug can make bare floors more comfortable but do consider a rug that is low-maintenance, perhaps even one that is sturdy enough for outside use. It'll hold up to lots of wear.
14. Finally, a plant that tolerates any kind of lighting conditions can add that special touch to your room and make the air a little cleaner too. If you're lucky, you can even have a goldfish. Both plants and fish add a nice touch to an otherwise bare or stark interior.