This Sophomore Used Vintage Decor and DIY Posters to Create a Relaxing, Inspiring Room

Kyleigh Wilson created her “own world” in her Wright State University on-campus apartment by filling it with soft lighting, vintage decor, and DIY printed posters. Kyleigh (@kyleighwilsonn on IG and TikTok) found a lot of her decor at thrift stores, and worked to balance using what she already owned with what she wanted for her new space her sophomore year. All in all, the Theatre major tried to create a place where she could unwind, and she’s achieved exactly that. 

How’d you end up in this space? I currently reside in an on-campus apartment. My roommates and I decided to live in this space because we wanted a dorm that felt like home. We have four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a cozy kitchen, and an open-concept dining room/living room space. 

Now that you’ve made the space your own, what specifically do you love about it? I love the amount of natural lighting the space has, as well as the location on campus. We have a balcony that has held our hammock and many plants in our time, and a living room that has seen many study sessions, birthdays, and movie nights. 

What’s your space best known for? To me, my space is most known for relaxing in the evenings. I love having my window open and my lamps and string lights on. It makes me feel like I’m in my own world.

Define your personal home style: Very feminine, as well as vintage and slightly maximalist. 

What’s your favorite element of your space? My thrifted decor. So many of my pieces are thrifted, including vases, mirrors, picture frames, prints, etc. Secondhand pieces always tie my space together. 

What’s your proudest DIY or product hack? It has to be my prints. Using FedEx, I made my own posters and prints, which completely cut down the cost of my wall decor! 

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? Around $2,400 a semester.

Do you pay for your living expenses? Partially.

Do you have anyone helping to fund your housing? Yes, but I do have scholarships that cover most of the cost.

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

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

How much did it cost to decorate your space? Including what I bought for my first dorm, probably around $500 to $800.

What was your best budget find for this space? My thrifted picture frames! I found a set of seven beautiful gold picture frames for $7.

What was your biggest splurge for this space? My biggest splurge was a door-hanging storage mirror. On sale, it was around $120, and it can hold all of my cosmetics and jewelry.

What was your biggest challenge in decorating your space? I was decorating on a small budget, as well as trying to use what I already owned. It is so tough to incorporate your older style into your new style, but it isn’t impossible. I had to compromise with myself and justify why I didn’t need to purchase different versions of things I already own. That is another reason why I love thrifted decor. 

What’s your best tip for optimizing a small space? Using things like bins, drawer dividers, etc., as often as you can. Having an exact space for everything helps you feel calmer in a really small space — especially when you have a large amount of things like I do. I use bins and dividers in almost all of my drawers, and have designated bins in my closet and under my bed for my things. Don’t let a possible storage space go unused! 

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

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