If you're anything like me, you had high expectations for how your dorm room was going to look as you got closer and closer to graduating high school. It would be your own space (albeit with a roommate, but we can deal with that later); you would be able to decorate to your aesthetic liking. I scoured Pinterest and Tumblr for hours, looking for inspiration. I jumped between having a modern room, a bohemian space, and a grunge space. We can easily all come to the conclusion that having a grunge room would not be very...nice considering it's too trendy and would be something I'd get over easily. 
So, I quickly crossed the latter off of my list after 8th grade. The former two were the ones that lasted the test of time, and I had a hard time deciding between them. After all, I love clean, minimalist spaces; there's nothing like it. Nevertheless, I was slowly falling in love with bohemian spaces; not only were they visually pleasing, they also provided a sense of comfort, may it have been because of the cozy throws and blankets or the greenery everywhere. In the long run, I'd say that I have a bohemian space (but it's okay! I'll have my own apartment sooner than later and I'll be able to have the best of both worlds).
Regardless of what theme you want your dorm room to have, they can all be cozy. Considering it'll be your home for pretty much the next year, you might as well love where you are staying and make it a "home away from home." Here are some ways to make your space cozy!

1. Bring in various textures and patterns.

You can do this with your blankets, carpet, bed comforter, or futon. My dorm [luckily] came with hardwood floors, so my gray carpet is the perfect addition to make the room cozier! It provides the perfect soft space to cuddle into and relax. I also brought a tapestry with a really cool pattern, and it's hanging up on my wall. It complements my bedspread (color-wise). You do not have to be extreme in the patterns or textures you use.

2. Use fairy lights.

I have these lights up beneath my bed, and I absolutely adore them! While I am a huge fan of natural light, whenever I want to get cozy (doing homework or reading a book), I love turning my lights on. It provides such a great ambiance to the room. I have some friends who decided to string their lights along the edges of the room on the walls, while others have their lights going vertically along the ceiling. 

3. Have a bunch of blankets!

You will not regret this piece of advice when winter comes around. There's nothing like cozying up in a thicket blanket. I have my big, blue blanket from Sam's Club underneath my desk that I curl up in my moon chair with; I also have a couple of smaller blankets that I share with my friends when they come over; on my bed, I have a heated blanket that I typically use when I go to bed. 

4. Bring flowers and plants indoors.

I absolutely adore when people have plants and flowers in their rooms, real or not. Nature instantly makes me feel cozier, and it gives a room a very fresh feeling. 

5. Burn Incense.

I know that not all dorm will allow incense, but mine [thankfully] does. Incense will make your room smell amazing and it typically calms me down. You can either burn various incenses whenever you want, or you can choose an incense and have it be your dorm's scent. That way, whenever you smell it, you feel at home.