Making a Home

Dorm rooms at the University of Mississippi are known across the country for being extremely over-the-top and luxurious. In fact, pictures of some dorm rooms have gone viral and ended up on sites such as Pinterest and Southern Living.

These rooms are nothing short of fabulous. Students have brought in countless throw pillows, fur rugs and even chandeliers. However, these impressive transformations do not happen overnight. Students spend many months planning for these perfectly matched rooms.

As part of the first year experience, incoming freshman at the University of Mississippi are required to live in the dorms. Freshmen call home to one of 15 residence halls on the Oxford campus.

Sophomore Corbin Spencer reminisces about her freshman dorm experience with her roommate Laurel Lee.

“Planning our colors, picking out furniture, and shopping for accessories was such a fun experience and a way for Laurel and I to grow even closer. My favorite part of the room was the gold, shaggy rug between our beds because it was a focal point and so incredibly soft!”

Traditional dorm rooms are the option that the majority of freshmen choose and include separate buildings for male and female students. There are three different options available to incoming freshmen when choosing the style of their dorm room — traditional, contemporary and the residential colleges.

“I wanted our dorm room to be a place that felt inviting, comforting and reflected our personalities. Instead of coming home to a small, bland room the size of a shoebox each day after class, I felt as if I came back to a smaller version of home.” said Lee.

Students like Spencer and Lee at the University of Mississippi have taken it upon themselves to turn drab, boring dorm rooms into spaces that reflect their style and make them feel at home.