This Bright and Cozy FSU Dorm Will Inspire Your Next “Hobby Wall”
Dorm (double)
Florida State University
Colorful
Cottagecore
Eclectic
210
Tallahassee, Florida
It’s natural for college students to show off their school spirit in their dorms using school colors. But if the banners, posters, and other merch they’re selling on campus don’t quite fit your style, how do you pull it off?
Elysa Escobar’s (@elysaesco on Instagram and TikTok) Florida State University dorm has a garnet and gold theme, but she puts a fun spin on designing her room around her college’s colors by incorporating greenery, a memento-filled hobby wall, and trendy patterns — I especially love her red gingham throw pillows.
Elysa’s Space
What do you like about your space? My room was randomly assigned by my school, and when I first walked in, I immediately started thinking about how to make the space more comfortable and feel like home. What I’ll miss most when I move out is the way I have to jump onto my bed to get on it. My room has seen plenty of laughs, and I have met new friends, grown closer to old ones, and hosted exciting visitors throughout the year. I will miss it.
What is your space best known for? My room is in a very central location so friends will drop off their stuff if they need it, come over to get ready, or unwind after a long day while we listen to music and eat snacks.
What was the biggest challenge in decorating your space? The biggest challenge for me was visualizing where things would go and wondering if I had enough decor before I arrived in my dorm. I scoured the internet, social media, and my school’s website to see how my room looked.
Elysa’s Style
How would you define your personal home style? While designing my dorm room, I gravitated to TikTok for inspiration. I immediately liked a sort of “gallery wall” design and sought out thrifted materials and fabrics in order to create the custom decor I liked. My design style is very personal, including different mementos from travels and important memories, pictures of my closest family and friends, and my favorite colors.
What is your favorite element of your space? My favorite thing about my space is the corner where my headboard is. I really like the way my pillows, stuffed animals, and picture frames come together. It really is so cozy and perfect for late-night movie nights.
Elysa’s Budget
How much does your housing cost per semester? $4,210.
Do you have anyone helping to fund your housing? No.
How much did it cost to decorate your space? $500.
Do you have anyone helping to fund your decor? Yes, my parents and grandparents helped me.
Do you pay for your living expenses? Yes.
How do you earn your income? Part-time job.
What was your biggest splurge for this space and how much did it cost? I think the bedding including the mattress topper, blankets, comforter and pillows ended up costing the most.
What was your best budget find for this space and how much did it cost? I thrifted my headboard from a local furniture and antique store for $40
Elysa’s Advice
What organization tips do you have for living in a dorm? My most useful tip is to develop a schedule early on. Especially with cleaning and laundry, if you stick to a schedule, your space won’t get dirty very quickly, and at least for me, a clean room helps me stay in a good headspace. Also, I bought extra storage for under the bed and a bed skirt to cover the bottom, so I could still use my storage and keep it hidden.
What is your proudest dorm room find? The proudest find during my move-in process was when I thrifted my headboard from a local furniture and antique store for $40. It fights perfectly, and it has been so useful this year with the way my bed is arranged.
This submission’s responses were edited for length and clarity.
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