This UCSC Junior’s “Fancy Nancy”-Inspired Bedroom Is Bursting with Personality in Every Corner

The first thing you notice about Naomi’s (@missmimisery on Instagram and TikTok) single junior-year dorm room at the University of California, Santa Cruz, is the ceiling.

Pink streamers stretch from wall to wall, paired with a glitter pink tapestry, making it feel less like student housing and more like the inside of Fancy Nancy’s imagination. When the sun hits just right, disco balls scatter light across the walls. At night, a projector hums on one side of the room while friends pile onto the bed. It’s a pink, whimsical, layered party of a dorm room, packed with inspiration. 

How did you find this space? This space was assigned to me by my school. I am a lead resident assistant, or LRA, who lives in a single room in an apartment that is attached to the residence hall. My first impression was that my room was smaller than it was the year before, but it has lots of beautiful natural light. I love how my window cling sends rainbows flying across my room, and I love how there are little pieces [that remind me] of people I love all across my room. I never feel the immense amount of love more than when I’m in my room.

Now that you’ve made it your own, what specifically do you love about your space? My room has become a safe haven for me and so many others. Late-night chats, vulnerable conversations, and lots of naps occur in my room!

What is your space best known for? My space is known as the relaxation space. It’s well lit with lots of natural light that makes it peaceful and warm, and my disco balls cast light beams across my room! I have a comfy bed, lots of snacks, and a projector, which makes it perfect for hosting in a safe and calming environment. My girlfriend and I spend lots of time watching YouTube and new shows in my comfy bed, and we stay up late talking and scrolling on TikTok. My room is a place to escape to for a lot of people.

What is your personal home style? Colorful, warm, fun, whimsical, pink, princess, flowy, eclectic, maximalist.

What’s your favorite element of your space? I wanted my room to feel fit for a princess, very Fancy Nancy-esque, and taking inspo from my own personal clothing style. I wanted it to look fun and exciting, and I wanted there to be a “wow” factor when people saw it. 

Where do you draw inspiration from? I definitely looked at a lot of Pinterest dorms and also party decor to make my space look fun and full of life. I watch a lot of New Girl, and I wanted my room to be Jess to the max, but also implement Naomi (myself) and my love for pink.

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? $8,000-ish per quarter.

Do you have anyone helping to fund your housing? I am an RA. It is covered because of that job.

Do you pay for your living expenses? Partially.

How do you earn your income? Being an RA.

What was your biggest challenge in decorating your space? I moved [into my single room] earlier than my [three] housemates because of my on-campus employment. I moved in and decorated slowly over the course of about two weeks. I had a limited budget as I only worked [paycheck-earning] jobs over the summer, [so I] reused a lot of things I’ve had for years, as well as cheap items such as dollar streamers. I have fire-resistant crepe paper I used as streamers to be mindful of fire hazards as well. I moved around my furniture to open the space, but my bed ended up jutting out from the wall due to my heater also sticking out. I had to stuff the gaps with pillows and a foldable mattress, but despite this challenge, some good came out of it, and my bed is a little wider!

What is your proudest DIY or product hack? My proudest DIY is my streamers! I saw a bunch of Pinterest pics using streamers to decorate the ceilings for parties, and I thought it was so cute, and I wanted to have that kind of positive atmosphere always prevalent in my room.

How do you best keep organized, tidy, and neat? I try to tidy frequently so it doesn’t build up and seem daunting and overwhelming. I have storage under my bed hidden so it seems less cluttered than it actually is. I keep many things in what may seem like random drawers, but it keeps it out of sight and I know where it is so that’s all that matters! For my Twin XL mattress, I have queen-size [bedding] so they cover [the stuff under my bed]. It’s kind of like a bed skirt.

Share your style: Dorm Tour Submission Form

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