TIPS 3#Light and Airy

You can pack a lot into your living room—even a dining set—if you keep furnishings from weighing the space down. Lucite dining chairs, an open-weave coffee table, and an unobstructed wall of windows keeps this room from feeling cramped.

TIPS 2#Pattern Play

Trellis, ikats, florals—oh my! The trick to mixing patterns is to pick a color theme—here, reds, browns, and blues—and to use big swaths of solid color (the brown sofa, red chairs, and green ottoman) to anchor the space.

TIPS 1# Seeing Red

The secret to taming a fiery red? Balance it with pops of white. A smattering of dove white wall accents with the white fireplace, chair rail, and coffee table keep the bold color in check.

#10. Stay safe.

This is the last tip here, but it’s obviously the most important. Employ basic tactics that can help keep you safe: Always lock your door. Don’t let anyone you don’t know into your residence. Never loan your key to anyone. Don’t prop open community doors that should be locked. Travel with a friend during nighttime hours. Check with residence hall or campus security staff for additional suggestions.

#9. Stay connected with others.

You’re at college to learn, have a good time and develop into the person you want to be. That doesn’t mean you have to leave everyone from the past behind, however. In fact, tapping into the support system you had in place before moving to campus can be a big help if any difficulties do come up at school. Family members and friends can provide advice and perspective on hard issues.

#8. Make your way off campus.

Student clubs and activities can help make living on campus a special time, but it’s a good idea to also spend time off school grounds. Campus can begin to seem like a bubble, and you might begin to feel claustrophobic. Go into the city and find some cultural and entertainment events that spark your interest. Find a museum or a park that you can visit when you need to get away from school.

#7. Join campus activities.

Need to get away from your roomie for a while? Get involved in plenty of activities, either through your residence hall association or elsewhere on campus. With wide-ranging student clubs and events, there’s no need to stay in. Even if you get along really well with the people you live with, university activities can introduce you to different types of people you may have never met before.

#6. Pack your patience.

No matter how hard you work to be a good roommate, it’s possible that someone you live with will make things hard – for both of you. During difficult times, keep a level head and use techniques to navigate and avoid roommate drama. Talk calmly about what’s bothering you, and seek compromise on tough issues. If things get too difficult, it’s possible you’ll have to seek another arrangement through the university.

#5. Be a good roommate.

Most college students who live on campus have at least one roommate sometime during their academic career. If you’re set to live with another person (or multiple people), things are likely to go a lot more smoothly if you make an effort to be respectful and helpful. Keep things neat. Pitch in on shared chores. Respect others’ privacy. In short, do things you appreciate others doing for you.

#4. Know the rules.

Regardless of whether you live in a residency hall, a university-managed apartment or another type of campus housing, it’s very likely there are certain rules in place meant to protect students. Many schools, for instance, ban drinking in residences that house underage students. Individuals who violate student housing rules risk eviction from a residence, academic suspension or worse. Policies and procedures can usually be located on a university’s residence life website.