Dormie Is The Secret To Easy, Breezy Decorating

There’s nothing quite like a Southern dorm room. From their monogrammed pillow shams to carefully curated gallery walls and even the occasional chandelier, college students (and their parents) take dorm room decorating a little more seriously in this corner of the world. But if the thought of tackling a design scheme for such a space makes your head spin, rather than stir your creative juices, Dormie, a new brand out of New Orleans, may just be your saving grace.

Founded by designer Olivia Erwin Rosenthal, Dormie sells comprehensive kits formulated to make move-in day much easier—and a heck of a lot more design-forward. “I saw a gap between what was available and what students (and their parents) actually wanted: a stylish, stress-free, designer-approved dorm room,” says Rosenthal. “As an interior designer, I kept getting questions from friends about where to find good bedding, what to pack, how to pull a room together without it feeling chaotic.”

This Is The Secret To Easy, Breezy Dorm-Room Decorating

Dormie is her answer to that age-old collegiate dilemma. The site offers 30 different mood boards, each with a distinct theme and color palette, so there’s something for just about every style, from grandmillennial blues and whites to handsome plaids and leather accents. For $25, dorm dwellers can download a PDF that includes a clickable, shoppable mood board (everything comes from retail sites, rather than from trade-only sources often associated with the typically more custom—and more expensive—designer approach), as well as an interactive checklist and set-up and styling tips from Rosenthal herself.

For those who aren’t quite sure how to pinpoint their decorating preferences, there’s a style quiz to help narrow things down. And for those who want an even more personalized approach, Rosenthal also offers fully custom dorm design kits—though these will cost you a much prettier penny. 

Dorm Room Essentials Every Student Needs

But whether you opt to go the Dormie route or not, there are a couple of essentials that Rosenthal says every dorm room needs to feel more like home: Comfortable bedding and lighting. “It’s not glamorous, but it makes all the difference,” she notes. “A soft duvet, real pillows (not just decorative ones), and a cozy throw can instantly transform the space. You’re away from home for the first time; feeling rested and grounded starts with where you sleep. If you can, splurge on a good mattress topper!” And as for lighting, you’ll want to have other options besides the fluorescents that typically come with the place. “I love a good lamp with a cute shade,” she says, “and there are even darling battery-operated ones that you can use in unexpected spaces.”