Gorgeous Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper Transforms This Arkansas Dorm into a “Coastal Granddaughter” Dream

Blue hydrangeas are the first thing you notice when walking into Hannah Hughes’ dorm. The bold floral wallpaper instantly sets the tone for the rest of the space filled with soft blues and greens, gingham patterns, and vintage-inspired pieces layered together to create a look Hannah describes as “Southern coastal granddaughter.”

The University of Arkansas freshman (@hughes.hannahh on TikTok and @hughes.hannahh on Instagram) designed the suite-style dorm to feel calm, intentional, and “extra-girly.” Between the porcelain toile lamp, ginger jars, and decorative storage for her painting supplies, the decor balances charm and function — it doubles as a relaxing retreat and the workspace for her small business, where she sells painted banners (@hannahhhsbanners).

How did you end up in this space? I found my dorm through the university’s housing portal and chose it because of the layout. It’s suite-style, which means I have my own bedroom and a bathroom, and that felt like the perfect balance of privacy and community. The space itself felt open and functional right away, and I loved how much storage it offered — it made everything feel calm instead of cramped.

What do you love about your space now that you’ve made it your own? What I love most now is having a room that’s completely my own. Being able to decorate and personalize it has been such a sweet part of college for me. It’s where I unwind, recharge, and express myself. It may be a dorm, but it truly feels like my little home away from home. I dreamed about decorating my space all throughout the summer leading up to my freshman year, and finally moving in and seeing my vision come to life was so exciting for me.

What is your room best known for? It’s a space where I can unwind and feel grounded at the end of each day. Walking into my room instantly brings a sense of calm and comfort, making the distance from my family feel a little smaller. My mom and I designed it together, which makes it even more meaningful; every detail reminds me of her, especially on the days I miss home the most. After the move-in, I shared a video of my space on TikTok that reached over 20,000 views, and it meant so much to see other[s] feel inspired by something that was created with so much love and intention!

How would you define your personal home style? My dorm aesthetic is inspired by Southern “coastal granddaughter” decor. When I began decorating my space, I was drawn to soft blues and greens, patterns like gingham, coastal stripes, and gold. I wanted my dorm to be a fun, extra-girly space that felt intentional and cohesive. 

What’s your favorite element of your space? My favorite element in my room is, without a doubt, my blue-and-white hydrangea wallpaper from Rifle Paper Co. Wallpaper is one of my favorite ways to add character and charm into a small space, and this wallpaper was the center of my inspiration for the rest of my room. It’s the first thing I see when I walk into my room, and the bright floral pattern makes me so happy. Not only is it beautiful, but the peel-and-stick option also makes this wallpaper dorm-friendly.

Where do you get your inspiration? I’m very inspired by vintage styles, and I love incorporating classic pieces into my little college dorm, like my porcelain toile lamp and my ginger jars. Adding in these little elements makes my dorm feel so much more like home.

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? $5,750.

Do you have anyone helping to fund your housing? My parents help pay for my housing.

How much did it cost to decorate your space? We stayed within a decorating budget of $1,500, including my extra furniture.

Do you have anyone helping to fund your decor? My mom decorated my dorm room with me, and I am so grateful for her help picking out and paying for the things that I need.

Do you pay for your living expenses? No.

How do you earn your income? Part-time job.

What was your biggest splurge for this space? My biggest splurge for my space was definitely my wallpaper. I didn’t know how much I would need, so I ordered three rolls at $68 per roll. It was so worth it.

What was your best budget find?
My best budget find for my space was my headboard. Dorm headboards are such a fun trend, but they can be pricey, so my mom and I looked on Facebook Marketplace and found this one for $30.

What was your biggest challenge in decorating your space? My biggest challenge when decorating my dorm room was figuring out a space that I could only see through my screen. Being from Houston, I live far away from the University of Arkansas and did not get to see what my dorm room looked like until move-in day. 

This meant that I really had to be intentional about the things I was purchasing because I wanted everything to fit in my space. Figuring out how much wallpaper to buy, how tall my bed would be, how long my curtains should be, the width of my desk, and how much extra space I would have was definitely a challenge. I really leaned on my university’s virtual dorm tour feature to try and figure out the actual size of my space, and it all worked out in the end.

How do you stay organized and stylish? I am a huge fan of decoration that is functional and serves a purpose. It was important to me that I purchased decorations that were not only beautiful, but also useful.

On top of my desk hutch sit two hat boxes that hold all of my painting supplies for my banner business. They are adorable and a great way to organize all of my paints and paintbrushes without it feeling cluttered or messy. I also wanted a place to keep all of my snacks, but sometimes a metal cart can feel too bulky or industrial. When I found my scalloped rattan rolling cart at HomeGoods, I knew it would be a perfect fit. It holds all of my snacks and utensils while fitting my coastal, polished vibe. It also helps hide my laundry basket that lives in the corner of my space, making my room feel much more put-together.

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

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