How many times have you looked around your home and wished you had the know-how to jazz it up with style? Yeah, we’re right there with you. That’s why we’ve enlisted carpenter-painter-interior-designer extraordinaire Carmen De La Paz from HGTV’s Hammer Heads to walk us through choosing color, designing for closet-sized apartments and not blowing our budget in the process. Now, design away!

So, you're finally out on your own. Exciting, isn't it? But not quite as glamorous as you imagined. You're probably wondering how you can add a little flavor to the dreary walls you're surrounded by and struggling with tight spaces. Don't worry, there are a bunch of great new products out now that can help transform your new room from claustrophobic to cozy! But first check out our tips on what to do before you get to campus to make sure you don't wind up at school with a truck full of stuff and no where to put it: