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wow. I had the same exact problem last year. I ended up getting this earthtone floral comfter with matching sheets cause everything else was... well... worse. Also my black mosquito netting canopy was against fire regulations, and my roommie had a larger than life Bob Marly flag on our closet door. So yeah there were some compromises. but ideally most of college is spent outside your dormitory. If you've got some posters and a screensaver you should be able to sleep at night.

Aw man, I love netting canopies! I was hoping to get a black one, but it's probably not allowed at my school too.

Bedding can be a pain in the arse... especially when you're looking for bedding in a twin size.

It took me a few months before I found the perfect comforter for my room. However, I would reccomend looking into discount stores (Marshalls, AJ Wrights, etc.) and seeing what they have. They yusually have numerous styles for twin beds, and will oftentimes have more 'mature' sets than the usual sets aimed at children and pre-teens. If all else fails, just find a solid bugrandy, purple, black, or other misc. colored comforter.

As for accessories, it's summertime, so check out yard sales and flea markets! They're great for those little odds and ends that will give your side of the room it's own special flair.

Another good thing to do is decide what you want the feel of your side of the room to be. Is it an exotic opium den? A medieval dungeon? An Elizabethian cottage? A posh Belle Epoque budoir? A sleek and ultra-modern room with a dark twist?

Focus on, and think about what you want your room to look like, and if you come across anything that would go well with that look, then get it! Things will all fall into place as you contine to look for, and find, the things you need.

For me it wasn't really that hard. I found a gorgeous deep purple faux-silk comforter, with light purple sheets to complement it. I decorated my walls with my Nene Thomas and Harry Potter posters. Past that, there wasn't much I could do; we weren't allowed to paint the walls (and that would've been too much of a hassle anyway), and besides that I didn't see what else I could really do to make it gothier.

The following rules can be applied to pretty much everything visual about goth, whether it be fashion, visual arts, interior decorating, whatever-

1) DON'T OVER DO IT.

Clutter isn't becoming, so don't buy something you don't really need. Keep things simple for the greatest effect. Going overboard can make the whole composition just seem like a gimmick.

2) ALL BLACK IS A NO-NO

All black is just plain annoying. Everything looks the same; nothing stands out. Go for a trichromatic scheme; three different colors. While "Black, White, Red" is always classic, it's also a bit overdone. Replace red with another color: purple is feminine without being girly; blue is emotional; green is serene; gold is handsome.

Contrast is key; white on black (or black on white) will get the greatest effect, and a color accent will add depth and emotion to it all.

3) IF YOU GO BIG, DON'T GO CHEAP

If you want to be extravagent, more power to you. But there's nothing extravagent about bargain bins and feax-finishes. Nothing looks cheaper than something that is trying to appear classy.

Want gargoyle wall hangings? Don't buy plastic ones from a Halloween store, buy stone ones from an antique store or estate sale. Want a candelabra? Hit a nice interior decorating store (such as Pier One) or a lighting-specialist store (like Brose); don't go buying cheap candlesticks from JC Penny.

Et' cetera.

4) MOST IMPORTANT- COMFORT OVER AESTHETIC.

Would you buy boots three-sizes too small just because they looked cool? No. Then why would you buy something that's inconvenient or uncomfortable just because it fits your decor?

Black sheets are nice, but not if they're scratchy. A wrought-iron bed-frame is handsome, but at 200+ pounds, it's not worth carrying up 12 flights of stairs to your dorm.

Simply put, comfort is more important than aesthetic.

Ooh...these are some great ideas, I think I'm gonna go look for black silk flowers now!

I personally find dried roses to be classier than silk flowers. You do have to replace them every few years (as the stems turn yellow over time), but they're very pretty!

My only tip is, if you use real dried roses, don't just sit them in a vase to dry. They'll wilt, and won't look very nice. However, if you tie them together and hang them upside down until they're stiff and pretty well dried, then they'll look lovely! ^_^