One look at the Espejos' flatbed truck piled high with boxes would seem to confirm the National Retail Federation's recent findings that back-to-college spending is expected to rise to nearly $8 billion this year, with the largest portion of the pie spent on electronics.

John Espejo's son, Bubba, is an entering freshman at Cal State San Marcos and moved into University Village last Sunday. Like thousands of other college students across the country, he was moving into his dorm room, a four-bedroom, two-bath apartment he will share with five other young men from Torrance.

And like other students, he and his parents have spent conservatively in the thousands of dollars decking out his room with all of the comforts of home.

Once inside Bubba's single dorm-style room, it was immediately apparent John Espejo Sr., a United Parcel Service driver and self-described "Mexican guy" from Indio, spared no expense.

Out of the boxes came the brand-new 32-inch high-definition television set, a DVD player, multiple CD player and stereo, refrigerator, floor fan and futon, complete with recessed lighting to be mounted underneath the twin bunk bed. There are bed lifts and a wall mirror, too. Emptied luggage returned with Bubba's parents, as did empty electronics boxes.

And so did Bubba, for that matter, as in the confusion he forgot to pack his most treasured item -- his surfboard.

"Bubba is the first person on either side (of the family) to go to a four-year college straight from high school," explained John's wife, Michele, as she stocked kitchen shelves with brand-new dishware.

Brand-new dishware, bedding and study supplies are just a few items on the must-have list for freshmen living on campus, who with their graduation cash and gift cards significantly outspend upperclassmen. According to the National Retail Federation, sophomores spend the least.

In addition to essentials, dorm and apartment furnishings and decor are quickly becoming increasingly important to college students, with spending in this category expected to reach $5.43 billion, up from last year's $3.82 billion.

Bed, Bath & Beyond, Target and PB Teen (to name a few of the more popular) have extensive back-to-college checklists and tips on their Web sites, in an effort to cater to the back-to-college crowd. Indeed, most of the larger retailers also ship directly to their nearest campus location for free.

Jami Arms, a spokeswoman from Wal-Mart, said the corporate giant has created a roommate-style match group on Facebook, a Web-based network which claims to have the largest share of American university students. Facebook has a Wal-Mart gift card specially designed for parents and college students. "One for the parents to load on the student's card, called the 'reloader' card, and the student's card that's called the 'free loader' card," Arms said.

In another University Village apartment, two young women -- Christa Harrison, 18, of Poway and Stephanie Powell, her long-time friend from LaVerne -- unpacked and decorated their twin room in hot pink, down to Stephanie's fuchsia clothes hangers and Christa's pastel mini-ironing board.

"She doesn't really iron at home," said Christa's mother, Amy, "but we had to get it because it was pink." The wastebasket and laundry hampers are hot pink, too, as are Stephanie's comforter and the hanging bag on the back of the door for the young women's shoes.

Within a couple of short hours, the double room was already personalized with teddy bears, rubber duckies and framed photos from home.

Stephanie lined up three well-worn teddy bears with her pillows on her bed. "They remind me of home," she said simply, admitting that she was a little nervous about starting her freshman year away from home. "I was kinda freaked out last night, but I'm excited too," she said.

Both girls' mothers, who have known each other since seventh grade at Oak Avenue Middle School in Temple City, said they had been buying and stockpiling items like extra-long twin sheets, desk lamps, and bath mats since high school finished in June.

"Honey, here is the shower curtain and hooks," said Amy before handing them to her husband, who was commissioned to install it in the girls' bathroom. "They were on clearance at Bed Bath and Beyond," she explained, showing him how the small picture frames on each hook could easily be removed.

As the mothers of the incoming freshmen scurried around their daughters' new apartment, both admitted to a healthy dose of crying before moving day. "I'm really going to miss her," said Amy of Christa. "We were getting ready yesterday, and Christa asked me why I wasn't helping her pack, and I said, 'Because I don't want you to go.'" Then, she said, she started to really sob.

But there were no tears as Christa set about making her bed and then hanging up her mostly brand-new wardrobe in her tiny closet.

"Aren't these the cutest?" she asked Stephanie, taking out a dozen yellow duck treads for the shower floor. They match a gift basket with other rubber duck items placed on her apartment desk.

After hours of unpacking, Christa's little brother, Wes, 15, entered the room holding a big bag of sour cream and onion potato chips. Amy deferred to her daughter when he asked whether he could open the bag.

"That's right -- this is my house now," said Christa with a big grin. Indeed. And quite well-equipped it was, to begin what promises to be four very good years for these college freshmen.

Contact staff writer Ruth Marvin Webster at (760) 740-3527 or rwebster@nctimes.com.

Dorm Decor Hints:

Decor experts say bright hues and personal touches are the key to transforming four blank walls into a student retreat this year. All shades of brown and blue are also trendy, as are bright retro prints, lava lamps and bean bag chairs.

- Spend a few minutes thinking about what your student wants. This will be his or her first step into a new world, and a room is a great way to project that high school self into a more collegiate image.

- Make a list. Many schools give incoming students a helpful list of items they will need. Many store Web sites such as JC Penney, Kohl's, Lowe's, West Elm and others also have packing lists and helpful tips for decorating dorm rooms.

- Check first whether items such as mirrors, desk lamps, window coverings, wastebaskets and bookcases will be included in your dorm room or university apartment.

- Also check which items may be prohibited, such as candles, appliances with open heating elements, mercury thermometers, halogen lamps or pets of any kind.

- Check whether wireless internet is available and/or cable television service is available before bringing your electronic devices and cables.

- Visit the room if you can, take photos and make measurements, or ask the admissions office for a floor plan. Then evaluate your space and note the sizes of the room, the bed and any other features. There is no sense in showing up with three pairs of color-coordinated twin sheets when the bed is an extra-long twin, or hauling a love seat three flights of stairs to find it's too big for the door.

- Keep in mind that closet and storage space are often cramped, so products that help you make the most of your storage space might be on the top of your list.

- Posters are a great way to brighten dull walls and are inexpensive, colorful and easy to hang.

- If you share a communal bathroom, shower shoes or plastic flip-flops and bathrobe may be necessities. Others may include: surge protector, hangers, first aid kit, alarm clock, sheets and towels, personal identification and necessary cards (insurance, bank card, drivers license), laundry bag and detergent, office supplies such as stapler, scissors, tape and push pins, permanent markers to label everything, and of course, laptop and cell phone.

- Items that may not be required but would be helpful: flashlight and batteries, camera, large plastic storage tubs, pictures from home to show new friends, bike, headphones, small toolkit, music (CDs and portable stereo), portable blanket and shower caddy.

- Many students like bunking two beds (if allowed by your school) to gain more valuable living space. Consider raising each bed into a loft bed to get more storage space underneath. You might even be able to get a desk and chair under the bed.

- Need a sofa but have no space for one? Collect recycled sofa back cushions to turn your bed into a comfortable lounging couch.

- Work with your roommate. If you can't agree on a theme, then try to at least focus on a color scheme you can both enjoy. Also, it may make sense to buy one printer, one refrigerator, or one microwave to share.

- Keep in mind that over the next four years, your student may move at the beginning and end of every school year (and sometimes in between). This means that whatever you pack into your room, you will have to get back out again, a total of at least eight times. So, while having all the clothes you own and all of your photo albums may sound like a good idea now, it is unlikely it will feel that way at the end of the year.

- If the student is traveling by plane to a new university residence, consider having items mailed there, or buying them on arrival on campus.

Sources: Dorm Decor by Coral Nafie from about.com, housing information packets from various universities, and retail Web sites.