The days when you could just move into your student house, hang up a mass-produced poster and be done with it are over.
These days, it’s all about matching bedding, custom artwork, and even hiring interior designers to ensure the aesthetic is ideal for both freshman roommates.
Southern students, including Kansas City Chiefs heiress Ava Hunt, are showing off their transformed dorm rooms on TikTok, turning simple rooms into ideal mini-apartments for just two semesters.
Not everyone has a decorator on staff. Some college girls are creative and go shopping on Amazon and HomeGoods for bargains.
FEMAIL spoke to one of the most sought-after designers for incoming students to find out how they transform their small living spaces.
Eden Bowen Montgomery, 25, graduated from the University of Mississippi in 2021 and started Essentials with Eden
Eden quickly became the go-to designer for incoming students at Ole Miss and Mississippi State, famous for her preppy and feminine designs, as seen above
Eden told DailyMail.com: ‘We use queen size bedding to cover the bed frames properly and to reuse over the years’
Eden’s followers are loving her before and after photos. She explained about this one: ‘We delivered the items — the girls and moms installed them perfectly’
Jaci Osment shared a video showing off her freshman room at the University of Mississippi.
The dorm tour revealed lighted makeup mirrors, matching bedding, framed artwork above the bed, and an elegant white couch with throw pillows—a far cry from the worn leather futon found in most college dorms.
In the comments, the Southern beauty queen explained that much of what she bought was affordable. She purchased the posters on Etsy and had them framed at the craft store Hobby Lobby.
Jaci bought the rug at Target, the couch at Amazon, and the standing mirror at Walmart. She didn’t swap out the furniture, since most freshmen can’t move it out of their dorm rooms, and instead found ways to camouflage the large wooden furniture.
The handy student simply covered most of the bulky pieces with white fabric.
Commentators were impressed with the elaborate room, with one raving: ‘This is so beautiful. I’m 47 and I want my room to look like this.’
Student at the University of Alabama Meredith Harwell also went viral after she gave followers a tour of their dorm room on TikTok.
Meredith showed off pink bedding, disco ball pillows, and custom neon name signs above her and her roommate’s matching beds. Both young women had matching makeup stations with pink toile, which was actually a LoveShackFancy beanbag cover placed on the desk.
In 2024, Essentials With Eden served customers in 43 different states as they offer delivery and installation services in Mississippi and also ship items nationwide
Eden collaborated with these Mississippi State roommates to install custom artwork and ice blue velvet quilts, showing the stunning before and after transformation
Both roommates usually split the costs right down the middle, although some roommates buy most of the furniture and accessories to reuse in their apartment the following year, while the other only buys her bedding
Eden usually starts with a consultation with both the housemates and their mothers to make sure everyone is on the same page
University of Alabama student Meredith Harwell went viral after she gave followers a TikTok tour of her dorm room, showing off pink bedding, disco ball pillows and custom neon name signs
The student bought her disco ball pillows at Target and hid the drawers containing her clothes under the bed.
Meanwhile, freshmen at the University of Alabama Bre Morris was one of the first new students in 2024 to give a tour of the dormitory in August, much to the delight of her followers.
Bre, who went viral with her Bama Rush outfits, showed off her transformation from a bare dorm room to a bright pink bedroom with a cozy rug and a makeup table.
Eden Bowen Montgomery25, graduated from the University of Mississippi in 2021 and started Essentials with Eden, where she has become the go-to designer for incoming students at Ole Miss and State of Mississippi.
In 2024 her company will Essential with Eden has worked with customers in 43 different states, as they offer delivery and installation services in Mississippi and also ship items nationwide.
Eden works with most of her clients starting in their freshman year of college, encouraging them to choose quality items that will last them for the next four years, even if they move off campus and into a dorm or apartment.
And speaking about how they carry out the complete transformation, Eden told DailyMail.com: ‘We use queen size bedding to cover the bed frames really well and to reuse for years to come.’
Jaci Osment shared a video showing off her freshman dorm room at the University of Mississippi
University of Alabama freshman Bre Morris was one of the first freshmen to tour the dorm in 2024, much to the delight of her followers
Her team uses custom-made desk and bed skirts to soften the dorm’s dark brown furniture.
Eden usually starts with a consultation with both the housemates and their mothers.
“Most girls come up with ideas for their rooms, so we don’t really see a problem with matching aesthetics,” Eden said.
‘We work with all budgets and do our best to accommodate everyone.’
Typically, both roommates split the cost in half, although some roommates buy most of the furniture and accessories to reuse in their apartment the following year, while the other only buys her bedding.
Eden’s company provides complete room furnishing services, where the team designs and even decorates the room.
This option is especially useful for students who fly in, so they don’t have to worry about bringing all of their belongings with them for moving day.