This SCAD Dorm Is Dripping with Lace, Vintage Details, and Fairy Cottage Vibes

At an art school, even the dorm walls double as gallery space. Lucy Barnhart (@cherielucie on TikTok and @lucycooperhart on Instagram) goes to Savannah College of Art and Design, and she and her roommates have turned their suite’s common room into a rotating showcase for the work they create in class.

The freshman didn’t get to choose her exact housing placement, but she lucked out with tree views, a suite-style layout, and a bathroom configuration that actually works for four people. Add golden lighting, thrifted finds, and draped lace details, and her space feels far more like a creative studio apartment than a first-year dorm.

How did you find this space? I didn’t get a choice on where to live. It was sort of a luck-of-the-draw situation, but I got pretty lucky. I was excited about my housing assignment; the room has a view of trees instead of another building, which I love. I think for a freshman year dorm the layout is very nice: We have a common area with a couch, coffee table, two side tables, and a piece of furniture [for] a TV. The bathroom is separated so the sink is on the outside, there’s a room for the toilet, and a separate shower room. This bathroom layout is amazing when living with three other people. There is another sink next to where our mini fridge is. 

How do you feel now after making the space your own? Since making it our own we have lots of alternative light sources that make the space more cozy. We have a wall in the common room for all our art that we make in our classes. We’ve made the dorm as cozy as we could.

What is your space best known for? My roommates have their friends over to the dorm quite a bit. My side of the room is mostly for me to relax, do homework, and read. I usually go to my friends’ dorm to hang out. The majority of them live in the building next to mine, so I walk over there for movie nights and just to spend time with them.

What is your personal home style? I would describe my personal space [as] vintage, eclectic, and feminine. There are some cottagecore, indie vibes. I think the warm, golden lighting creates a dreamy, cozy atmosphere. My space feels personal and nostalgic. I have lots of little trinkets that make me happy.

Where do you draw inspiration from? I get a lot of decor inspiration from Pinterest. I love to thrift, so many things are vintage and thrifted, and collected from all over.

What’s your favorite element of your space? I think my favorite part of my space is my draped lace curtains around my lantern light. I think it makes my room look less like a dorm and a lot more cozy and intimate.

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? My college is by quarter system, so it’s approximately $3,937 ($11,811 [for]/ 3 quarters).

Do you have anyone helping to fund your housing? I have family funding my housing.

How much did it cost to decorate your space? I’m not sure on an exact number, but roughly $1,000.

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

Do you pay for your living expenses? Partially.

What was your biggest splurge for this space? My bedding was from Pottery Barn, so that was a bit pricey.

What was your best budget find? I got a lamp for the living room which was only $10 dollars, and a mini love seat couch for $100.

What was your biggest challenge in decorating your space? My biggest challenge is that I live across the country from my college so [I had to ship] the majority of my belongings [to my dorm]. My college collabs with a moving service so that when I move out at the end of this year I will just pack up my things and they will store it until I come back to move into a different dorm next year.

What is your proudest DIY or product hack? I made a cute decorated frame for photobooth pictures. I found a glass frame and then cut out a piece of scrap fabric the same size as the frame and then placed the photos with bows and lace. It turned out very cute and I have it on top of my desk hutch.

How do you make your dorm feel cozy and personal? I think a rug really makes a difference to make the space more cozy. I also suggest a shoe rack to store your shoes under your bed. And I think a really important thing to purchase is an ottoman. They act as seats and extra storage, as well as a boost to get on a high bed. As for wall decor I think that collecting things that go well together and bring you joy make a college dorm special and personal. I love adding more art and photos to make my wall personal. 

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

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