This University of Miami Freshman’s Single Dorm Is a Music-Lover’s Dream (So Many Cool Posters!)

One of Ruby Tavano’s (@ruby.tavano on IG, @ru.by5563 on TikTok, @ruby.tavano on Pinterest) memories from move-in is blasting music from her record player while she hung up her posters, transforming the room’s bare walls into her own personalized space. With posters adorning every inch of her walls, Ruby says the best part of inviting new friends to her room is watching them admire the space. “They stand and just stare at all the decor with a smile,” she says. 

How’d you end up in this space? I found my dorm space by applying for my freshman housing in the summer before my first semester of college; the process was completely random. I had a minor choice in my housing situation by knowing that I wanted a dorm room where I could have the space completely to myself. I was drawn to a single dorm room because I knew I would need time in my room all to myself. Also, decorations are one way I truly express myself; my space at home is filled with trinkets, posters, stuffed animals, and lights. Having a roommate would mean having to coordinate style and knowing that my space would never 100% be for me. 

Now that you’ve made the space your own, what specifically do you love about it? My place is truly a reflection of me. Every poster was hand picked from Pinterest, or from a concert, or one of my favorite record stores, or a gift from my friends back home, or even ones I created myself. All the decor is very personal. The best part is when I have new friends over in my room and they stand and just stare at all the decor with a smile and ask me all the questions about it. They always say my room is the coziest and safest place to be.

What’s your space best known for? Being the coziest and coolest dorm. My friends call it their second home; they sometimes love to hang out in it more than me. That was one of the most important things to me — I wanted my space to reflect me, but also feel like a home to my friends. The vibes are always up in my room and anyone is always welcome to stop by. It truly is the most fun hang-out spot. 

Define your personal home style: Very bubbly, fun, maximalist, and a true reflection of my personality. What you see me wear is exactly how you picture my personality would be. What inspires my interior design style is just making a space that shows what you love and collect. I come up with different aesthetics in my mind and then reflect that in my room; I never want an empty space on my walls. All of my art is posters of things I love — mainly pop music artists. I just kind of put what I like on the walls and do not think about anyone else’s opinion.

What’s your favorite element of your space? The mini fridge in my room. I found a vintage-looking fridge, but the plain white color was not enough for me. I hung a bunch of pictures of my friends from back home, cards I had received for my birthday, fun magnets from different countries, stickers, magazine clippings, images of pop music artists, and just anything I loved. I think it is a unique way to display special things; I call it my scrapbook fridge.  

What’s your proudest DIY or product hack? The way I raised my bed. The legs of my bed frame were very skinny and did not fit any normal-sized risers. I knew that I wanted my bed up high so I could store things underneath my bed, so me and my dad figured out a way to do this. We went to The Home Depot and got rolls of duct tape and taped around each leg of the bed until it fit in the hole for the riser. My bed has not fallen apart and has stayed strong and tall my whole school year. (Editor’s note: Make sure to check with your dorm if your bed is suited to risers or lofting.)

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? $8,690

Do you have anyone helping to fund your housing? Yes.

Do you pay for your living expenses? No.

How much did it cost to decorate your space? Not sure.

Do you have anyone helping to fund your decor? Yes.

What was your best budget find for this space? Definitely my mini fridge; it was on sale for only $100 and it had a freezer and fridge. I used it almost every day and am planning on using it in my next apartment.

What was your biggest splurge for this space? Either my filtered showerhead or my record player. The showerhead I swear by definitely kept my hair healthy and fabulous. The record player made my room feel very homey and honestly overall aesthetically pleasing. I used my record player every day, and all my guests would always comment on how fun it was. The showerhead was $170 and the record player was $260.

What was your biggest challenge in decorating your space? Making sure that all my items, specifically clothing, would fit in my room. My mom was the most helpful; she found a bunch of organizers at Target to maximize my space. Still today, though, items go missing, and my room kind of always feels messy. But otherwise, I feel I did well with the space and laid it out very well.

What’s your best tip for optimizing a small space? Raise your bed in your small space as tall as you can. I am able to store all my big boots, T-shirts, suitcases, and sweatpants under my bed. The drawers and closets are small, and having this extra storage space is truly a game-changer. I would also recommend, if you can, buying a showerhead filter; it truly changes the way your water quality comes out.

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

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