Students find joy in decorating dorms

Jackie Lopez Life & Arts Assistant Editor

Picking the color of a rug, thrifting art pieces for a dorm room wall or going to Target to choose a bed comforter can all make up the experience of college students decorating their new spaces.

As Pepperdine housing application season comes to an end this month, something that may be on students’ minds is how they will decorate their future dorm. Students living on campus said they find joy in decorating their bedrooms and common spaces during their time at college.

“My dorm is a home away from home,” first-year Kyla Randle said. “So being able to decorate whenever I can, add this or that piece, is a chance to be able to create that environment where I know I feel safe.”

How Students Decorate

For many students, dorms are the first place they live independently from their parents, according to Dorm Decor. Moving into a new and independent space can be as daunting as it is exciting.

“It was a mix. I was scared of like, ‘How does it work putting your whole life in a box for nine months away from home?’” Randle said. “And I was also excited too because it’s a new place.”

Key pieces of Randle’s room include her pink comforter, a collage of pictures featuring her family and friends, and pink decor on the walls and her desk.

Randle said one of her priorities was making her room a welcoming space for her friends.

“My idea was to bring joy — I see the color pink as happy and inspirational,” Randle said. “So the main thing was being able to bring people over and feel at home.”

Although using a different color palette such as blue and grey, first-year Kristin Coady also put up photos of her loved ones on her wall along with other accessories in her room at Lovernich. Between her posters, artist merchandise, hanging tote bags and photos, Coady said her room speaks to her personality.

“It [Coady’s photos] would tell people that I’m pretty sociable, I like to hang out with my friends a lot,” Coady said. “I also have some Taylor Swift albums so obviously that shows I love Taylor Swift. And I also have a poster for my sorority, so it’s a part of me too that people can recognize when they come into my room.”

Junior Chloe Norton lives in Lovernich and describes her decor style as “eclectic.” Pieces from her room come from a variety of places including flea markets, her time abroad in Buenos Aires and even artwork she made herself.

“My mom’s an interior designer, so interior design has been a part of my life my whole life,” Norton said. “Valuing your space and all that has always been something that I have taken very much to heart.”

Coady said it’s important for her to feel safe and happy in her dorm. Creat-