This Freshman Channeled Coastal Granddaughter Vibes to Create an Oasis in Her Dorm Room

When Ohio University freshman Katie Bailey (@katie.bailey_ on TikTok) first saw her dorm room, she knew she had to get creative. The journalism student had never shared a room before, and she had to get crafty with maximizing her closet space and configuring the furniture around a slanted ceiling. The result was a cute, cozy, and beachy room to call home for the year. 

How’d you end up in this space? I was placed in this dorm through my university’s honors selection process. 

Now that you’ve made the space your own, what specifically do you love about it? I love how cozy I made my space. Moving away from home can be very hard, so prioritizing comfort and peace was very important to me. I also wanted to transform the dull walls with pictures of people in my life that I love. 

What’s your space best known for? It is a place to hang out with friends. It has cozy vibes and is great for dance parties. 

Define your personal home style: I love big colors, and mixing patterns and textures. My style is very coastal, Southern, and beachy. 

What’s your proudest DIY or product hack? I DIY-ed a bulletin board with photos, cutouts, and trinkets that perfectly represent my life. 

What’s your favorite element of your space? I love my comforter spread. It is blue and white striped. I also love my gallery wall, made with white frames of postcards from my trip to Italy and pictures of my friends and family. It is centered around a giant gold letter K because my name is Katie.

In an effort 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? It is included in my tuition so I am not fully aware.

Do you have anyone helping to fund your housing? My parents did help me decorate the room, as it was a part of my graduation gift.

Do you pay for your living expenses? No.

How much did it cost to decorate your space? Between $400 and $500.

Do you have anyone helping to fund your decor? My family.

What was your best budget find for this space? Walmart and the dollar store have great storage options.

What was your biggest splurge for this space? My bedding, but I plan on using it for at least two years.

What was your biggest challenge in decorating your space? It was such a small space, so I knew I had to maximize my closet because I love clothes and have never shared a room before. We also had a slanted ceiling wall so we had to become creative around that. 

What’s your best tip for optimizing a small space? I love having a three-tiered caddy because it holds all of my beauty products. I also have under-the-bed storage for clothes and food. 

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

Share your style: Dorm Tour Submission Form