Despite what you’ve heard about the prevalence of all-nighters during college, you’ll spend a lot of time sleeping atop your dorm bedding. On it’s own, though, that old, school-issued mattress will provide more back-ache than comfort. And speaking of that mattress, here’s where you’ll face your first college test: do you know how to assemble your dorm bed for maximum comfort and sleep-ability? With all the layers and ingredients needed, your bed is almost like a big, layer cake—not as tasty, but far more comfy.

Layer 1.) The Mattress - Your school will want you to do well and be healthy throughout college. But if you plan on sleeping well, be prepared to make some additions to the years-old, questionabl y clean, and assuredly worn mattress you’re given. At least you can be sure of its size–most schools will have Twin XL sized mattresses, so buy your dorm bedding layers in size Twin XL to make sure they fit your dorm mattress!

Layer 2.) Mattress Encasement - There’s no guarantee the previous student who slept on your Twin XL mattress had decent hygiene. And the old mattress your college gave you has certainly never seen a shower. So wrap the whole thing in a hygienic mattress encasement to seal off its unkown history. You’ll also protect yourself from potential allergens or bed bugs lurking within the dorm mattress itself.

Layer 3.) Bed Topper - Here’s where you can really start getting comfortable. With a Twin XL Mattress Topper you'll have an external extra layer of padding that’ll actually make your dorm mattress pleasant to sleep on. Without the extra cushioning, you’re left to settle with a thin, too-firm, lumpy dorm bed. So add on a memory foam dorm mattress topper or featherbed layer to really up the comfort level. Your body will also conform better with the added layer, which can only mean better sleep in college!

Layer 4.) Mattress Pad - A mattress pad will provide an extra boost of comfort (and take as much as you can get when it comes to comfort!). You might not feel a pea beneath all these layers, but without significant cushioning, you’ll still feel the bumpy unevenness of that school-provided mattress. Layer up! The mattress pad is also an easy and cheap way to protect that high quality dorm bed topper below.