If you walk into any dorm room on campus, you’ll find more than just a bed and a desk. Students personalize their dorms with photo walls, personal belongings, and color themes with roommates to show who they are, where they come from, and what makes them feel at home. In a setting that can initially feel unfamiliar, dorm decorations often provide a sense of comfort and identity.
For many students, dorm rooms serve as both a living space and a place to study, relax, and recharge from their busy schedules. How students decorate these rooms can reveal their personalities, routines, and what helps them feel comfortable in a shared campus environment.
Decorating is a way for some students to show their personality, but when decorating, students have to keep in mind the limited space. Freshman Tim Mitchell, who lives in the Trees Residence Hall, emphasized the importance of practicality when decorating his dorm room.
“Storage was big for me,” Mitchell said. “I have this IKEA TV stand that houses a lot of my clothes and a lot of my shoes, a very practical item. The decor is mostly leftover from my dorms in high school, and the jerseys are a good go-to piece.”
For those students living with roommates, decorating can become a collaborative process. Coordinating themes, colors, and shared items often begins before move-in day. Sophomore Jasmine Shattuck, who lives in the Boylston Apartments, described how she and her roommate approached decorating their space together.
“I love how much storage space is in all of the drawers and closets.” Shattuck said. “My roommate and I coordinated what color scheme we wanted, then picked out the posters and rug that matched it all.”
Decorating a dorm can also involve compromise, especially for students with roommates. Shared spaces often require balancing different styles while still creating a comfortable environment for both people.
While dorm rooms may be temporary, the effort students put into decorating has a lasting impact. These personalized spaced offer familiarity, comfort, and a sense of belonging, turning standard dorm rooms into places that truly feel like home.
