In This “Game-Day Glam” Dorm Room, Orange Is the Hero Color

Instead of buying pre-made wall art, the University of Tennessee freshman created her own. Inspired by something she saw on Instagram, she painted a custom “Rocky Top” (the school’s “unofficial fight song”) poster and paired it with a gold frame to bring a little school pride into the room. The DIY project helped set the tone for the rest of the space, where Tennessee orange and pops of pink come together to create what Keagan and her roommate call a “modern Southern glam dorm” with a game-day feel all year long.

How did you end up in this space? I found this space through social media. The thing that drew me to this space was that it was a suite-style living space, meaning I would have a private shower, bathroom, and sink attached to my room. I share a sink with my roommate, and then I share the shower and toilet with my suitemates (two other people besides my roommate).

What do you love about your space after making it your own? I love all of the decorations in my room. My mom and I planned out my dorm together and chose the theme to be pink and orange. I love the decor that I put on my walls, specifically the “Rocky Top” poster and the “How Lucky Are We to Be in Knoxville, Tennessee” poster. I made these two posters on my own, and they turned out really cute for decor on my walls in my dorm. I also love my desk. I have my own light-up mirror at my desk, and it is just my favorite space to get ready every day.

What is your room best known for? Our space is best known for being a relaxing, homey escape from the busy pace of college life. After long days of classes, it’s where my roommate and I unwind, reset, and recharge. We spend so much time in our room getting ready together, talking for hours, and just enjoying the fun everyday moments that make college special. Our friends stop by often, and it’s naturally become a welcoming spot where everyone feels comfortable hanging out. It truly feels like our little sanctuary on campus.

How would you define your personal home style? My personal home style is that I love a fun pop of color and wall decor that makes my room stand out. My roommate and I wanted a modern Southern glam dorm that gives off an elevated game-day feel all year round. We started with Tennessee orange as the anchor color for our room, and incorporated pops of pink to make the room feel softer and more feminine. We kept our bedspreads a clean white to distinguish them from the other pops of color. We also didn’t want everything to be identical, so we used different decor, bed comforters, and blankets.

What’s your favorite element of your space? My favorite element is my desk and vanity. I love my vanity because my vision came to life for what I wanted my college vanity to be since I was a little girl. I love all of the decorations above my vanity, the light-up mirrors, and the picture frames. It is the perfect space to do my makeup every day, and I love how it turned out.

What’s your proudest DIY hack? My proudest design hack was creating custom artwork that made our dorm feel uniquely like our own. I was inspired by a photo I saw on Instagram and decided to create my own version, with the words “Rocky Top.” Instead of purchasing expensive, pre-made prints, I bought gold frames from Michaels, paired them with blank canvases, and hand-painted the decor myself. I spray-painted gold onto the letter’s “K” and “A” for my roommate and I as well. This project not only saved money, but it also added a meaningful, customized touch that truly reflects my creativity and school pride.

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? $4,490.

Do you have anyone helping to fund your housing? No.

How much did it cost to decorate your space? Around $5,000 between my roommate and me.

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

Do you pay for your living expenses? Yes.

How do you earn your income? Side hustle.

What was your biggest splurge for this space? The biggest splurge for this space was probably the carpet and bedding. The carpet was around $200, and the bedding once it was all said and done was around $300.

What was your best budget find? I got my headboard off Facebook Marketplace for $50.

What was your biggest challenge in decorating your space? [I didn’t have] the exact room dimensions until close to move-in day. This made planning ahead very difficult because we did not know what furniture would fit and what we should purchase. 

Once we arrived, we realized the bedroom space was incredibly limited, so it was really important that we were intentional with the layout because we were working with such a small space. We also had to design around the furniture provided, such as the desk, and we were also not allowed to raise the beds or modify major pieces. This required thoughtful styling, smart storage solutions, and careful spatial planning to create a space that still felt cohesive, glamorous, and functional despite limitations.

Do you have any helpful design tips to share? One of my most useful design tips is finding creative ways to maximize storage without sacrificing style. I zip-tied two plastic drawer sets with wheels together so they could easily rotate under my bed, which doubled my storage space while keeping everything accessible and organized. We also found chic storage cabinets from Target that blend seamlessly with our glam aesthetic but provide practical space for snacks, school supplies, and everyday essentials. Because our closet didn’t come with a door, we installed a tension rod and hung ruffled curtains to soften the space and make it feel more finished. These small but intentional solutions helped us stay organized while maintaining the polished, cozy vibe we wanted.

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

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