This Purdue Freshman Transformed His Basic Dorm into a Perfectly Cool and Coastal Oasis
Dorm (double)
Purdue University
Coastal
Colorful
Minimal
190
West Lafayette, Indiana
Ade Salau didn’t exactly choose his Purdue dorm — but it didn’t take long for him to make it his own. What started as a randomly assigned room quickly turned into the go-to spot for getting ready, taking photos, and filming content, thanks to a coastal-inspired setup that feels both clean and personal. It’s also the same space that kicked off his presence on TikTok (@demilives) and Instagram (@adeife_salau), where his dorm reveal started gaining traction almost immediately after posting.
Ade’s Space
How did you find this space? I was randomly assigned to it by my school. When I first saw the space, I was actually impressed, considering most of the dorms I had seen earlier had been worse, so I knew I could work with it in creating a space I could love and enjoy.
Now that you’ve made it your own, what specifically do you love about your space? I have not just created a space for myself, but my room has become the destination hangout spot, the get-ready spot before a night out, and a space where I can go and feel right at home away from home. My room also awakened my interest in sharing my lifestyle content on social media. I got a lot of attention from posting my dorm reveal and knew immediately it would be a great space to film content, get-ready-with-me videos, and fit checks, and to grow my social media page.
What is your space best known for?
The perfect photo spot before a night out.
Ade’s Style
How would you define your personal home style?
I wanted to do a coastal room but incorporate a minimal aesthetic. I also leaned into refreshing colors like light blue and white.
What is your favorite element of your space? My back shelf on the wall with my books, pictures, and decor.
What is your proudest DIY or product hack? It was my tennis racket. I thrifted it, cleaned it, and added a bow for under $10.
Ade’s Budget
How much does your housing cost per semester? $4,000.
Do you have anyone helping to fund your housing? Yes.
How much did it cost to decorate your space? $400.
Do you have anyone helping to fund your decor? No.
Do you pay for your living expenses? Partially.
How do you earn your income? Side hustle.
What was your biggest splurge for this space and how much did it cost? My fridge and microwave for $180.
What was your best budget find for this space and how much did it cost? My bedding for $80.
Ade’s Advice
What’s something you thought to bring that was helpful? Have a lot of thumb tacks and double-sided tape — it has helped me so much when it comes to putting stuff up.
This submission’s responses were edited for length and clarity.
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