(Photo by Norbert Levajsics on Unsplash)

By Natalie Rodriguez, Pittsburgh Magazine

The transition into college can be stressful, but decorating a dorm shouldn’t have to be.

Every year, thousands of eager freshmen move into residence halls armed with their own personal style and needs. Hoping to make their new spaces feel like home, students typically create lists and vision boards — and fill up their shopping carts — with decorative items.

But dorm decorating isn’t what it used to be.

Far from the once ubiquitous spartan college interiors featuring a basic wooden headboard and a few posters on the cinderblock walls, many of today’s students are choosing to do up their home away from home with lavish matching bedding, window dressings and elegant accessories.

In fact, if you look up “dorm decor ideas” online, thousands of search results pop up.

In particular, incoming freshmen are flocking to apps such as TikTok and Instagram for decorating advice. On TikTok, the hashtag #dormdecor has over 28,600 posts. The videos cover a range of topics that include everything from dorm shopping lists to must-have amenities such as neon signs, custom shelving and decorative art pieces.

(For more of the story, visit Pittsburgh Magazine.)

Natalie Rodriguez is a student at Duquesne University and one of 10 Pittsburgh Media Partnership summer interns.