A Penn State Sophomore Personalizes Her Single Dorm with Trinkets, Special Photos, and *So* Many Plants

Bella Mikelonis, a sophomore Communications major at Penn State University with a single dorm room, has created a “cozy little sanctuary” that’s basically a secret garden. She’s incorporated plants, plants, and even more plants into her space, which she recommends as a fairly easy and affordable way to decorate. But that’s not the only tip Bella (@wherethecaprisun on TikTok; @beemiike on YouTube) has for other students. Her biggest design advice: Fill your room with things you love, and the rest will fall into place. 

How’d you end up in this space? I first found out about the on-campus singles through my freshman year RA, and the moment I heard about the chance to have my own room and bathroom, I was sold. As an only child, sharing a dorm my first year was definitely a big adjustment, so the idea of having my own quiet space to unwind after classes really appealed to me. I requested a single for my sophomore year as soon as I could.

While I got to choose the type of housing, my specific dorm room was randomly assigned. When I walked in for the first time, I was genuinely shocked at how big it was. Compared to my freshman dorm, it felt massive. But what really caught my eye were the windows. The view and light that poured in were beautiful, and I knew immediately my plants would thrive here (which they have!).

Now that you’ve made the space your own, what specifically do you love about it? Now, after a full year in this space, I’ve absolutely loved having a room that’s truly mine. It’s been so special getting to decorate it with things I love, and turn it into a cozy little sanctuary. It’s where I recharge, relax, and surround myself with all the little things that bring me joy. It’s also been a great spot for movie nights and watch parties with friends!

What’s your space best known for? My dorm is definitely the go-to for any watch parties/movie nights in my friend group. This past semester, every weekend my friends would all come over and we would have a watch party for the most recent episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race. 

Define your personal home style: I’d describe my space as a cozy retreat, layered with memories and pieces from different stages of my life. Every inch tells a story, with photographs of people I love, trinkets collected over the years, and posters of my favorite movies/musicians.

Nothing is perfectly coordinated, but everything feels intentional, comforting, and mine. My plants have taken over my shelves and windowsills. I have dried flowers all over the place.  

I would say I draw a lot of my inspiration from TikTok room tours and Pinterest. I love the vibe of spaces that feel a little bit lived-in and a little bit magical. But more than anything, my style is about creating a space that feels like home. I use a lot of soft textures, warm lighting, and meaningful details to make it a place where I can simply be.

What’s your favorite element of your space? My windows are definitely one of my favorite features of my dorm. I love waking up in the morning to the sun shining in. Also, just being able to people watch and look outside, especially now with everything in bloom, is such a nice way to relax after a long day of classes and meetings.  

What’s your proudest DIY or product hack? I’m not sure if this would count as a DIY hack, but I really am proud of all my plants that I have around my room. I feel like plants are such an easy — and relatively cheap — way to decorate a space and really make it feel alive! 

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? $5,000

Do you have anyone helping to fund your housing? Yes

Do you pay for your living expenses? No

Do you have anyone helping to fund your decor? Yes

How do you earn your income? Paid Internship and part-time job.

How much did it cost to decorate your space? I’m unsure, as most of it was built up over the years, rather than buying it all at once.

What was your best budget find for this space? My chair from Target that I always sit in when watching TV; it was only $40 from Target’s clearance section.

What was your biggest splurge for this space? Definitely my record player ($300), but it was so worth it!

What was your biggest challenge in decorating your space? Truthfully, I didn’t run into any major challenges this year with my dorm, especially with it being a single. But one bump that I had to get over in the beginning was just figuring out where exactly to put everything/how to configure my room so it fit me. Hanging up all my posters easily took me a week just to plan out, and was also something I built up over the semester.

What’s your best tip for optimizing a small space? Try to fill it with the things you love. Once you stop putting so much energy into trying to create this “perfect aesthetic” and just decorate it with the things you already have, whether that be pictures, posters, plants, whatever, you realize that your room is now a perfect representation of everything that you are and truly feels like a sanctuary! 

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

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