The holiday season is officially here.

Cold weather and early sundown means students will be spending more timeindoors, so it’s especially important to have an apartment or dorm thatfeels like a home during the winter months.

While cramped, tight spaces are the norm in college life, colors make abig difference in creating the allusion that there is room to walkaround. Dark walls and furniture in a small place can make rooms seemeven smaller. If your furniture is mostly dark colors, use a lightlycolored throw blanket for the couch or bed to brighten things up.

Lavender, light blues, greens and yellows are cheerful, sunny colorsthat will turn that confined dungeon into a spacious surrounding.Matching pillows or rugs can also furnish your place with a little happyspice.

Holiday living room arrangements should use reds, yellows and orangesbecause they are vibrant and reminiscent of pumpkins and fall leaves.

Organizing shelves and mounting appliances on walls are other solutionsin the case of space deficiency. Wall-mounted telephones and shelvesgive homes a dimensional look. Placing televisions and computers onstands or desks also takes some attention away from crowded floor space.

Being comfortable and staying warm are necessities for getting a goodnight’s rest and staying healthy.

Central heating can be veryexpensive on cold lonely nights. Down comforters, wool blankets andflannel sheets are a cozy way to stay warm. The drawback is that youwon’t want to get out of bed the next morning.

Christmas lights, lava lamps, flow lamps and glow lights are a fun way tolight up the house without using a lot of electricity. Tinsel or beadsin hallways and entrances add to the mystery of what lurks behind.

Candles are another cheap item that will make your home look attractiveand smell however you wish. Special holiday scents can give your homethe smell of freshly baked gingerbread cookies or the clean scent ofpinecones and evergreen trees. Candles are also a great purchase duringthe cold winter months because power tends to go out more often.

Running water and elements of nature are also beneficial sounds thatenhance attentiveness and help to calm and relax the body. Miniaturefountains are sold at Rite Aid, Walgreen’s and many other major storesand come in all shapes and sizes.

The sounds of the ocean, rain and small animals in the forest can takeyou on a vacation without ever leaving home. Musical wind chimes canalso help to calm and alleviate stress. The soft ringing sound thechimes make as the wind blows them together produces a sweet, blissfultone.

Placing pictures of friends and family around the home can make beingaway from loved ones during the holidays tolerable. Colorful handpaintings and favorite-framed pictures should be widespread in your homedecor.Snow globes, musical boxes and figurines are fun to collect during theholidays and can make your home look welcoming and festive. Cotton ballscan be used for snow, and figurines can be hung on walls and used forholiday decorations. Fall leaves can be painted and used to make awreath, a banner or colorful fall decorations.

Sprucing up and revamping your home for the holidays can be cheerful andrewarding. With pictures of your loved ones by your side, the peacefulsound of a flowing waterfall, warm blankets and a lovely gingerbreadaroma, your dorm or apartment can be a place you would actually want tocall home.