The path to college is full of questions: “Where should I go?” “Will I get in?” “How much will it all cost?” But when you finally get to campus, there’s really only one question left:

“How should I decorate my dorm?”

From posters on the wall to plastic crates stacked on the floor, decorating the dorm is in a class of its own—something I like to call campus chic. You might aspire one day to own furniture that is worth a small fortune, but for now, a beanbag will do.

One of my sorority sisters had one of those cool blowup sofas–in neon pink. It was pretty cool. But if glow-in-the-dark furniture isn’t your cup of tea, there are actually some classy inflatable sofas that look like the real deal—but are almost as expensive as the real ones. (Did I just call inflatable furniture “classy”? Yes, yes I did.)

For those of you whose rooms are roughly the size of a shoebox, furniture might not be a part of the equation at all. That’s where a burst of your favorite color comes in. When something is attractive to look at and comforting to come home to after class, who cares how tiny it is? Check out this photo of my cousin Amanda’s dorm room—her fun bedding (love the pillows!) and those shelves with photos above her bed make her dorm so home-like that you don’t even realize she’s got that cold cinderblock wall to curl up to at night. Nice job! Good luck with your freshman year, Amanda!

If you are lucky enough to have moved into one of the roomier dorms or suites, consider some of these options—you can find similar pieces at thrift stores near campus, which are always full of students at the start of each school year.

The Papasan chair

This odd-looking chair has long been a staple in college dorms and family rooms. The Papasan chair’s thick cushion can also be taken off and used as a small but very comfy bed for a friend who’s crashing in your dorm room for the night.

The butterfly chair

While not the best piece of furniture for promoting good posture, the butterfly chair is an easy way to cop a squat in a crowded dorm room. The best part is that it folds up into a compact little bundle and can be hidden in a corner. This peace sign chair is way groovy–can you dig it?

The inflatable sofa

Okay, so it’s not the most beautiful piece of furniture you’ll ever own. But it serves a purpose and is super easy to move out at the end of the year. This blue one is probably within most college students’ budgets, but again, there are ones with much heftier price tags that look like a real upholstered couch.

Happy shopping!

–Barbara Bellesi