Cozying Up College Dorms: How First-Year Students Make Their Spaces Feel Like Home

As a first-year college student, moving into a dorm can be a daunting experience. Communal bathrooms, annoying roommates, and limited personal space are just a few of the challenges that come with dorm life. However, some students are taking matters into their own hands and transforming their dorm rooms into cozy sanctuaries.

Meryl Li, a first-year student at Medill, wanted to create a space that felt like home. “I’ll be in this college dorm for a whole year, so I really wanted a place that I could feel at home in,” she said. Along with her roommate, Adelle Johnson, they decorated their room with pictures and mementos from home, creating a surprisingly cohesive and cozy space.

Sofia Papadopoulos, a first-year student at Weinberg, took a different approach to decorating her dorm room. She focused on cute aesthetics and wanted her room to feel like a forest. “Everything here is just decorations from my old room that I repurposed here,” she said. “I tried getting as many fake plants as possible because they can fill up the space very quickly. I just wanted it to look like a forest puked in my room.”

For Papadopoulos, the aesthetics of her room are more than just for show – they impact how she feels in her environment. “Honestly, I’m a very aesthetically driven person,” she said. “So, if I feel good in the environment I’m in, I’ll do good in it.”

These students are just a few examples of how first-year students are making the most of their dorm rooms. By adding personal touches, decorations, and a little creativity, they are turning their dorm rooms into cozy retreats that feel like home. So, if you’re a first-year student looking to make your dorm room feel more inviting, take some inspiration from these students and get decorating!