This Senior’s Colorful, Maximalist Dorm Is a Total Dream for Creative Types

Abby Porter, a senior at Union University, is “a creative at heart who loves to make beautiful things.” When she’s not studying Digital Media Communications, posting fun social content (@abbytporter on TikTok; @abbyporter_ on Instagram), or creating for her art and design Instagram-based business (@luckymondaystudio), Abby’s thrifting for other small business, The Found Co (​​@thefoundco_ on Instagram). Abby “get[s] so much excitement from the thrill of finding unique, vintage pieces to share with others” that she made it a side hustle. 

She’s also brought her love of color and vintage items into her own space. Abby’s dorm room — a single bedroom in a suite with three other roommates — reflects her passions, so she’s always surrounded by things that make her happy, whether it’s time to work or relax.

How’d you end up in this space? This room was assigned to me by my school! I did get a choice between a front or back room, and I chose back … it is a sun-facing room. 🙂

Now that you’ve made the space your own, what specifically do you love about it? Being a college senior, my room is sort of a culmination of my favorite, most special things I have held on to. In a way, this room feels very representative of who I have become and the memories I have made over the past four years. The walls are now adorned with postcards of places I have traveled and photos of friends old and new! The shelves are full of thrifted trinkets I have collected over time, and my bed is now a collection of my favorite pillowcases from over the years. It is the little things that make it feel like home.

What’s your space best known for? Its array of colors! Because much of my decor is vintage, the colors vary from bright primary colors to faded warm tones and everything in between! I do not stick to a color scheme, which makes for a fun space. I utilize the space for resting and creating. It is most definitely my happy space! 

Define your personal home style: Once I started approaching home decor/style with the phrase “live with what you love” in mind, my space became much more “me.” As I have mentioned, 95% or more of my home decor is secondhand, which means each thing was found and brought home by me, simply because I loved it, not because it fit a certain vibe or aesthetic I had in mind. Everything is colorful, bright, unique, vintage, and fun.

What’s your favorite element of your space? Probably my window. Each year, I have to move out of my dorm and into a new one, which means my windows do not always get the same amount of light. This year, I have a window that lets in a lot of light, which truly brightens up my space (and my mood 🙂 ). I love opening up my window on a sunny day and watching the light reflect off my disco ball!

What’s your proudest DIY or product hack? The handmade paper chain paired with a fun garland that is hanging from my ceiling! I used paper, ribbons, tinsel, and gold stars to create a statement within the room that lifted the eyes up and made you feel like you weren’t in a tiny dorm room! I originally put it up as holiday decor, and I decided it had to stay.

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.

Do you pay for your living expenses? No

Do you have anyone helping to fund your decor? No

How do you earn your income? I have two small businesses, The Found Co and Lucky Monday Studio, that are my main source of income as a student!

How much did it cost to decorate your space? Because I thrifted 95% of my room decor over the last four years, it is hard to come up with an estimate of a budget! I will say, thrifting my decor was very affordable as someone with a limited college student budget!

What was your best budget find for this space? All of my wall art. I mixed and matched my own artwork with thrifted frames and other pieces to create a gallery wall full of color, uniqueness, and fun! I would say that I probably spent no more than $30 on my gallery wall as a whole as a result of making things and gathering the rest secondhand. This wall also allows for me to mix and match different things — it is always changing when I find new things!

What was your biggest splurge for this space? ​​​​My biggest splurge for this space actually happened recently when I was shopping at The Factory in Franklin, Tennessee! I stumbled upon a store called CR-71, and I bought a piece for my wall that says “what a wonderful world,” and it was my biggest splurge! It was $75.

What was your biggest challenge in decorating your space? Probably the measurements! It is a very small space, and I am very much a maximalist. Cultivating a space that represents me and my style, while also being intentional not to create a vibe that ends up stressing me out, was a challenge. Things have worked out, though! I love my space, and it is a wonderful place to come home to. 

What’s your best tip for optimizing a small space? Two things that helped me maximize my space were 1) adding a curtain over my open closet, and 2) lifting my bed up and adding a bedskirt so I could store things underneath! The curtain over my closet adds a pop of color, but separates my clothing from the space and makes it feel more organized. The bedskirt and lifted bed provide a place to store all of my crafting supplies, books, and other keepsakes!

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

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