The Old College Try: 3 Student Rooms We Adore

The Havenly Team · November 23, 2015

Bright minimalist dorm with yellow walls, arched pendant light, coral bed frame, and compact workspace by window

You don’t always get what you want. And when it comes to your first dorm room, you’re lucky to get 50% of what you need. Shared student dwellings are unique in their multi-faceted nature. They’re for cooking, living, sleeping, studying, dining, and entertaining. Unfortunately, these essential activities typically take place in the confines of a room that’s 200 square feet or less.

With the University of Bolgna dating back to 1088 as the oldest university on record, students have had more than enough time to devise clever methods for maximizing their small spaces.

These inspiring, chic dorm rooms are full of useful tips for small apartment dwellers to make the most of their spaces.

Making The Most Of It

Warm, layered dorm with canopy bed, neutral linen curtains, wooden furniture, and organized vanity setup

{Curtain-tracks.com}

With suspended ceilings, fluorescent lighting, wall-to-wall carpet, and furnishings worthy of a hotel auction, this Baylor University dorm room needed a lot of work to attain student-chic status.

Here’s what we love about this student’s approach to a challenging space:

Placing a layered rug on top of wall-to-wall carpet creates a luxurious foundation for the room.
Hanging curtains is one of the best methods for giving the illusion of height.
Strategically-placed ambient lighting creates warmth and eliminates the need to ever turn on the fluorescent lamps.

Good Things Come In Small Packages

!Some small spaces are gems waiting to be polished. Learn how at Havenly.com

{Apartmenttherapy.com}

At 120 square feet, this dorm made up for its minuscule floor plan by providing the bones of a calm, modern space. The room’s wide plank flooring, elegant moulding, and abundant natural lighting is envy-inducing, even for those of us outside of college.

What we admire in this young designer’s room:

The sparsely appointed shelf and framed print above the bed draw attention and create a modern focal point, balancing out a rather busy corner.
With its rose-ish tones, the area rug complements the room’s otherwise neutral color scheme.
The room’s retro floor lamp offers additional lighting and a reflective chrome finish to help bounce natural light sources

Wood Warmth & Small Spaces

Mid-century inspired dorm blending warm wood furniture, cream bedding, geometric wall art, and soft lighting

{Stylecaster.com}

Close your eyes and imagine the scene: dark wall-to-wall carpet, cheap wood-paneled furniture, and windows that don’t open. Now imagine eating, studying, sleeping and relaxing in that scene for up to four years. We think this student did a remarkable job of optimizing her space while simultaneously creating warmth and texture.

What we think she did right:

Incorporating wooden artwork above the bed helps to bring texture, warmth, and vibrance to a previously flat space.
Placing a textile-covered jewelry board behind an elegant desk mirror allows the limited desk space to do double-duty as a functional yet decorative element.
Small in size, the bedside area rug brings added dimension to the small space and breaks up the monotony of the wall-to-wall carpet.

Whether you’re a student, a small apartment dweller, or a homeowner troubleshooting tight quarters, it’s time to embrace your space. Remember that perception is everything when it comes to small rooms. And with the right mix of function, mood, and personality, you can make a room of any size shine.

And if the prospect of tackling this type of project alone seems daunting, you’re only moments away from connecting with a designer that will personally craft your dream space.