With all the excitement surrounding your freshman year in college, seeing an empty dorm room for the first time can be a bit disheartening. Cinderblock walls do not say “homey”, but don’t be discouraged. There is no dorm room too bleak that can’t be made fabulous for an exciting new start to the college years. Melissa Moffett’s daughter Isabella and her roommate Mary Ashlyn’s learned this lesson when interior designer, Melissa Moffett, transformed their empty, cold dorm into a functional yet chic space for the girls to feel at home away from home.
BEFORE
AFTER
The girls had never met before becoming roommates. LSU’s residential housing match process had them fill out questionnaires and decided they would be a great fit as roommates. The girls were placed in one of the older dormitories which had very small rooms, but it was a good location for campus life and that was important to them. Isabella and Mary Ashlyn did a great job at deciding on a style that would fit them both, and Melissa made her magic happen with her design talents.
Melissa executed the “extreme dorm makeover” on a tight budget making custom-upholstered headboards from a ten-dollar piece of plywood, and quickly painting abstract art pieces to add a modern flair. Most of the décor was purchased from Target and Marshall’s, bedding from Pottery Barn Teen, and the perfect pop of pink with an inexpensive rug from Ikea.
It helps when your mom is a talented interior designer, but with a little imagination any cold, old dorm room can be a cozy, chic place to make memories and give you a great start to your new college adventures.
SOURCES: Coral Solid metallic window curtain, Target
Nate Berkus Stitched Edge Window panel, Target
Emily and Merritt Pirate Stripe Sheets, PBteen
White rosette Quilt, PBteen
Gold Dot sham, PBteen
Sparkle throw pillow, Target
Lamp, Target
Blush throw blanket, Target
Extra long dorm bed skirt, Dormco
