Nesting With Grace

by Brooke Christen

A Second Dorm Room Makeover: Same Cozy Ideas, A Completely Different Look

When we started planning Ella’s dorm room, we also got to make over her roommate Nyxon’s room! Since they were already friends, it made the whole experience even more fun. We used many of the same cozy ideas but changed the colors and details to give each room its own personality.

Making the Space Her Own

Even though we used many of the same basic pieces and layers as Ella’s room, the different colors gave this room a personality all its own! We used the same peel-and-stick wallpaper as Ella’s room, but chose a different blue color for Nyxon’s. A simple poster hung above her bed made such a statement!
This is what the dorm bedroom looked like before (not her actual room, but it is the same)

Making the Bed the Cozy Center of the Room

Nxyon loves it! She picked out the quilt, the starting off point then I created the room off of that.
In a room, the bed is usually the first thing you notice, so we made it the cozy center of the space. We started with a mattress pad then layered comfortable sheets, a rose colored duvet with a fluffy duvet insert, a quilt and plenty of pillows (inserts) to make her basic dorm bed feel much more like home. Mixing colors, patterns and textures gave the bedding that collected, layered look that I love.
We finished the bed with an upholstered floating headboard that slides right into place. It adds color and softness while making the whole bed feel more finished, without needing to attach anything permanently to the wall.
Frame // Floral Art

Creating a Cozy Bedside

A nightstand is a small, but it can add so much personality to a dorm room. We added we added a tall, simple wood lamp base with the cutest pink gingham shade for a softer glow at night, a cozy spot for winding down, reading or charging her phone and makes the area beside her bed feel much more finished and homey. Love this pink checkered rug to bring in color and pattern, make the room feel softer underfoot and protect the dorm room floor.

Creating a Little Vanity Area

We also brought in the cutest blue and white striped upholstered vanity and stool for Nixon, and it made the sweetest little get-ready station. Next to the vanity, we placed a floor-length mirror with a pretty hanging light above it, which makes the entire corner feel extra special. A hanging storage caddy keeps her makeup, skincare and everyday essentials organized.

Softening the Room With Curtains

We used tension rods to hang café curtains, giving the room a softer, more finished look without drilling holes or making permanent changes. Tension rods are one of my favorite dorm-room tricks because they’re inexpensive, removable and can be used in so many different ways.
We also used curtain panels and larger tension rod to hide open storage areas. Dorm rooms don’t always have the prettiest storage, so being able to pull a curtain closed instantly makes everything look cleaner and calmer.
We gave her basic dorm desk a big upgrade by using tension rods to hang cafe curtain panels around the bottom. It’s such a simple trick, but it completely changes the look of the desk!
The fabric adds softness and color while hiding extra storage underneath. We also brought a chair from home and added a soft cushion, making it much more comfortable and more personal than a standard dorm chair.
We added practical things she’ll actually use, along with a few decorative pieces to make her desk feel more personal. A cute container for pencils, basket, a calendar, a lamp, a plant, framed photos and a few little treasures from home make it feel lived-in while still giving her plenty of space to study.
College is such a big transition, and I loved getting to help these two friends create spaces where they could feel comfortable, settled and at home. It was definitely a project, but it was also such a fun memory to make together!
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