I Love How This NC State Freshman Worked Her Dorm’s Exposed Pipes into Her Organic-Industrial Aesthetic

I love a room with natural light, but especially in a dorm, that’s not always a given. When Kelsey (@lifewithkelsey2 on TikTok), was assigned her blissfully light-filled dorm room at North Carolina State University, she took full advantage by decorating the space with organic, clean designs and a white-and-blue color palette. Her room also features some exposed pipes, but she worked it into her vision, giving the space a bit of an industrial feel — a perfect example of how to work with, rather than against, the features of your room. 

How did you end up in this space? My room was randomly assigned to us by our school. 

What was your first impression when you saw it in person? My first impression was that it was smaller than I expected, but it was a good challenge! It taught me to be organized, and I optimized the wall space for decorating. I have a passion for memory keeping, so my wall is a reflection of that. 

What is your space best known for? There are many late nights on the rug where me and my friends would play Roblox! 

What is your personal style? I would describe my style as a mix between industrial and bohemian. The room has exposed pipes, which I really love. I like to mix it with some warm colors (i.e. bamboo and corkboard) and incorporate lots of greenery for a natural feel. If I had to describe my style in four words it would be: organic, clean, coastal, and a little mix of vintage. 

Where do you draw inspiration from? I get most of my inspiration from TikTok and Pinterest. I really love the clean Asian style bedrooms, which inspired my white bedding. I wanted it to feel homey, so I added some light blue colors with the back pillows and a throw blanket. 

Additionally, I’ve seen a lot of mix-and-match frames for wall decor on TikTok. I took a lot of inspiration from different accounts. Eric Wang, a popular home designer in California, also inspired me with his use of mid-century modern in his home. I love his passion for plants and inspired me to start a collection. I also love New York City, and I hope to live there one day so I’ve got a poster that I drew of the city. 

What’s your favorite element of your space? My favorite element is definitely my desk! It reminds me of my future goals and the people I love!

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? $4,169. 

Do you have anyone helping to fund your housing? Yes.

How much did it cost to decorate your space? In total around $350-$400. 

Do you have anyone helping to fund your decor? No, most things I’ve collected over time, and I took advantage of college dorm sales over the summer!

Do you pay for your living expenses? No.

How do you earn your income? Work-study.

What was your biggest splurge for this space? My bedding, around $200 in total. 

What was your best budget find? I was aiming for less than $400 for decor, and it cost around $350-$400. 

What was your biggest challenge in decorating your space? The biggest challenge was the pole that blocked my desk. I wasn’t sure what the best layout was, but we were able to snugly put my desk in the corner, and it fit perfectly!

What is your best tip for people just moving in? It doesn’t have to be perfect in the first month! I was super stressed about getting everything together because I wanted my dorm to immediately feel like home, but home is where things change and you collect things! My room is like a collection museum of my memories, and there are lots of things I’ve added on throughout the first semester that made it feel like home. 

What is your proudest DIY or product hack? The corkboard! I think it was around $11 from Target. I printed some photos, cut some things out from a magazine, added in a postcard and a ribbon! It took around an hour to get everything right, and there are endless opportunities!

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

Share your style: Dorm Tour Submission Form