Are lights on your dorm room checklist? They should be.

College dorm rooms are not known for their style and charm. They serve but one purpose for the budding student – a place to study and (occasionally) sleep. Equipped with little more than a bed and a desk, an empty dorm room requires some essential supplies. I’ve put together a list of several different types of lights — some fun and some functional — that need to make it on your back-to-school checklist.

The ever-popular rear bike light from REI that will at least make you more visible when cycling across campus at night, just not nearly as awesome as synchronized LED bike tires.

Shop for Dorm Room Lights

Living in a small space may be challenging, but we like to take on challenges and make the best of what we have to bring out the beauty in our homes. From a studio apartment in Hoboken to a single-family home with a narrow eat-in kitchen in Palm Beach Gardens, we can help inspire you to make your home exactly what you want.

Maximizing storage and arranging furniture can dramatically enhance the space you have, and learning to use color effectively will also brilliantly expand the dimension of your room. Keep clutter to a minimum, add a few decorative statement pieces, and finish off the room with perfectly placed lighting.

Top Tips for Illuminating and Expanding your Decorative Interiors to Make Every Inch Count

Hang several sets of drapes along a wall to give your small room personality. This can work instead of paint and wallpaper. You will give the illusion that there are windows hidden behind the drapes, rather than just a wall or tiny window. You can also hang the drapes higher than the window sill to create a taller looking room.