This Freshman’s Cozy, Black-and-White Dorm Comes With a View of the Manhattan Skyline

The view of the Manhattan skyline from Margo’s (@marg.o018 on TikTok, @margo0.18 on Instagram) dorm is amazing, but the sights don’t stop there. Her black-and-white gallery wall is so creative and cool, and her minimalist style is as sleek and glam as the city lights surrounding her residence hall at Fordham University. 

How’d you end up in this space? I was randomly assigned this room by my school. My dorm has a beautiful view of the Manhattan skyline.

Now that you’ve made the space your own, what specifically do you love about it? My favorite part of my dorm (and definitely the most beautiful part) is the views and the wall-to-wall windows.

What’s your space best known for? My space is definitely best known for the lack of color. It is always the first thing that people comment on whenever they enter the room. 

Define your personal home style: I’d describe my dorm style as minimal color, fun lights, and a cozy environment. It is inspired by simple art of the city, glammed-up girls, and the girly-sleek aesthetic. I love posters, sky lamps, little trinkets and collectibles, and cute stuffed animals. 

What’s your favorite element of your space? My favorite element of my room is my poster wall. To me it is very clean and aesthetically pleasing. I also love my bed. It has all very comfortable bedding, and it creates a warm, cozy atmosphere. 

What’s your proudest DIY or product hack? My proudest DIY would be the family collage/poster I created that I have hung up in my room. 

To remove the stigma associated with talking about money in college, we’re asking students to share how they plan and budget for their space.

How much does your housing cost per semester? $10,820. 

Do you have anyone helping to fund your housing? My parents and grandparents. 

Do you pay for your living expenses? No.

How much did it cost to decorate your space? Between $500 and $700. 

Do you have anyone helping to fund your decor? My parents and grandparents. 

What was your best budget find for this space? My rug. It was about $17.

What was your biggest splurge for this space? My air purifier was around $100. 

What was your biggest challenge in decorating your space? The biggest challenge in my dorm is the strict regulations on what we are and are not allowed to have. As I am on a high floor, there are stricter fire codes on what we can bring into our dorms. For example, we aren’t allowed to have things like ottomans, beanbags, or any outside furniture.

What’s your best tip for optimizing a small space? Command hooks/Command products in general will be your best friend. It is so helpful to have a temporary, easily removable product that can be used for small shelves, hooks, hanging frames, or small shower organizers. Hanging things or putting them on small shelves can help maximize the space on your desk or closet and can also be very cute.

This submission’s responses were edited for length and clarity.

Share your style: Dorm Tour Submission Form