Chic and Affordable Dorm Room Decor to Suit Your Finicky Collegiate

She may be thinking about the colorful throw pillow ($25) and bright ottoman ($60) that will pepper the room with personal style, but Mom knows not to forget the practical stuff. A set of hangers ($3), a shelf ($35) for organizing shoes and accessories, and a steamer ($23) for those last-minute outfit fixes will set this student up for a fashionable freshman year.

He likes to have everything in its place, and Mom knows that a tiered rolling cart ($30) can hold lots of dorm essentials. A desk clock ($15) is the perfect old-school design touch that makes sure he's never late for class, and a wall calendar ($10) turns his schedule into part of the room's decor. Now he'll sit back in his desk chair ($40) and admire the organized view.

She's at her desk cracking code and working on issues of net neutrality, so she hardly has time to attend to decor. Luckily, Mom knows that she'll need a couple of desk accessories, like the perfect lamp ($13) and a faux plant ($8) for a touch of natural color. Plus, since her digital daughter can be at it for hours, Mom makes sure she has a simple but elegant coffee system ($100) and a microwave ($65) for in-room dinners.

He picks out a string of lights ($15) and the perfect comfy lounger ($120) to host new friends, while Mom makes sure he has a chic coffee table ($75) they can gather around, plus a warm, cozy rug ($10) to tie the room together.

Head to Target with your teenager for dorm room essentials and you're guaranteed to put a smile on their face! Shop now!