This Montana State University Freshman’s Nature-Inspired Dorm Is the Coziest Oasis (Major Boho Vibes!)
Dorm (double)
Montana State University
Bohemian
Maximalist
155
Bozeman, Montana
Have you ever wondered what an artist’s dorm room would look like? Just take a peek inside this whimsical space. Shaye (@shayealand on Instagram), a freshman at Montana State University, personalized her room with some of her own designs, like fish prints and stickers. She creates and sells a variety of her outdoorsy art on her Instagram account @shayes.outdoor.art.co, so, naturally, she added similar earthy touches to her dorm, from floral bedding to a butterfly poster.
Here’s what Shaye has to say about her cozy, bohemian room.
Shaye’s Space
What do you like about your space? I originally was not super impressed by the space when I moved in, however I really made it my own. It was challenging to make a super small space feel like home, but with the help of my mom, it really does! I love how cozy and sweet my room is, and I love all my personal touches that I’ve added. I took a bulletin board that originally looked 30 years old, and made it look brand new with some fabric, ribbon, and tons of pictures. My bed is the main attraction in my room, since it takes up a huge portion of the space, so I made sure that it was the cutest part!
What is your space best known for? My space is definitely the hangout spot! I make sure that it is super comfortable for everyone who comes over. I also pride myself on the lighting in my room, so it is always a cozy environment.
What was the biggest challenge in decorating your space? The biggest challenge when decorating my dorm was making a super old dorm room look cute. It’s definitely a small space, especially with a roommate, but we made the most of it and customized it so that we love it! The space has some damage since it is old, but we worked with it and got creative so you can’t tell.
Shaye’s Style
How would you define your personal home style? I would describe my home style as bohemian, granola, cozy, comfy, and personal. I wanted my dorm to feel like home, so I added a lot of personal touches which include pictures, letters from family, personal artwork and much more! I focused mostly on my bed since it is the main thing in my dorm. Once I finished planning my bed, I moved on to decorating the large wall space by filling it with posters, lights, flowers, and hats. I got some of my inspiration from Pinterest but most of it was my own ideas!
What is your favorite element of your space? My favorite part of my dorm is my bed! I love how comfy and cozy it is! Everyone who sees my dorm always comments on how much they love it, too.
Shaye’s Advice
What small space tips do you have? I would recommend tons of storage! Take advantage of the space under your bed and get some storage drawers to keep everything organized. I also was able to hang my snowboard up under my bed, which was super helpful for maximizing space. It is also very important to clean up messes as soon as you can since it’s such a small space that it gets cluttered quickly.
What is your proudest DIY or product hack? One project was my bulletin board. It was very old with tons of damage, but my mom and I took fabric and covered it right up! I added some lace ribbons around the edges and then hung up letters, pictures, postcards and flowers. It was a super cheap DIY that really changed the look of my dorm. It only took us about an hour to put it all together, too.
This submission’s responses were edited for length and clarity.
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