Noella is the assistant editor for Apartment Therapy’s News and Culture section. You can find her words in Scalawag Magazine, Healthline, them, Uproxx, Harper’s Bazaar, Teen Vogue. In her free time, she enjoys roller skating and listening to Solange.
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Over the past few months, thousands of college-bound students have likely browsed Pinterest for aesthetic dorm room inspiration, picked out their new twin XL bedding, and shoved their most cherished belongings and necessities into cars, moving boxes, and suitcases. As the excitement to move into their college dorm or apartment grew, many likely imagined how they would decorate and organize their new space — without a care or thought to the “what if” of a plan gone awry.
I should know: When I was getting ready to move to my first off-campus apartment, I imagined the space would be organized and feature plenty of storage, coordinated decorations, houseplants, and efficient appliances. I dreamed about taking bubble baths in the tub, a fridge full of fresh produce, and flowers every week for the coffee table. Of course, the reality of my situation was different from my fantasies of it, in ways Pinterest and Instagram could have never prepared me.
In Athens, Georgia, which is home to many of the University of Georgia’s 39,000 students during the school year, a significant portion of the real estate market is focused on college kids looking for off-campus housing. Yet by the time my roommates and I started looking for an apartment at the end of February for the following fall, it was already late in the game and the real estate scene had been picked over. Eventually, we heard about an apartment complex a mile from campus with one unit left. We called, toured, and signed for the last unit all in one day.
In a city where rent often climbs as high as $1,000 a month per person for off-campus student housing, it can be difficult to find a deal, and reasonably affordable housing often is reflected in the amenities. We got what we paid for: appliances from the late ‘80s, yellowing paint on walls that had been patched one too many times, and a beat-up beige carpet spotted with mysterious stains. Though we were lucky enough to have an in-unit washing machine, it was tiny and broken; a piece inside would come off and occasionally rip our clothes. Our heating and air broke frequently, and our toilets were the opposite of water-saving. The kitchen sink also leaked frequently, rendering the storage space underneath it useless.
Even though we knew the apartment wouldn’t be luxurious, it was hard for me to have an accurate image of how it would look and feel. In many movies and television shows, even cheap apartments and even college dorm rooms are decorated down to the pencil cups. While these images from pop culture are fantasy, they contribute to the idea that living spaces should be “perfect” — even if the person living there is on a budget or only there for a short amount of time.
My ideas on flawless living spaces didn’t just stem from pop culture, however: Social media is also to blame, resulting in thousands of images of pristine and color-coordinated dorm rooms, often at a parent’s expense. As Vox noted in August, consumers are expected to spend an estimated $6.8 billion on dorm decor this year, and the algorithms that prioritize idealized living spaces don’t help the impulse to contribute to that. My roommate Gianna said social media influencers used to make her feel like her space had to be “perfect and cohesive.” Another one of my roommates, Ella, said she doesn’t like the trendy look of minimalist rooms with white walls; she’d rather have a space that’s personal, colorful, and cozy, even if that means certain items clash.
We moved into our apartment in August, and given that we hadn’t been in Athens since classes went online in March, decorating was the least of our concerns. We were just excited to get out of our hometowns and see each other again. Though we each contributed furniture, appliances, and decor to the space, we never put pressure on ourselves to achieve a look meant for filming TikTok hauls or get-ready-with-me videos. But as we put our things together, we realized that we all lean towards maximalism and we’re all sentimental. We keep birthday decorations up for months, and random bits and bobbles cover almost every surface. McDonald’s Happy Meal toys, paper mache figurines, an obscene amount of candles, and Christmas lights decorate our home. Our gallery wall of notes from friends, Polaroids, and albums from Athens bands represents friends, memories, and the experiences we’ve had.
As a college student, a lot of my income goes directly to utilities, food, and gas. If I have any left over, that extra spending money goes towards clothes or entertainment, and I hardly ever have the money to invest in new home decor that isn’t from the thrift store. I also know right now is not the time in my life to splurge on any big-ticket furniture item, especially given that I’ll move who knows how many times over the next few years. The sectional in my living has been through hell and back, and any rug we invest in is destined to get something spilled all over it. For now, the wobbly, bar-height kitchen table and a short IKEA bench for a TV stand more than fit our needs.
When we signed the lease for our apartment in February 2020, we didn’t know the apartment would serve as our home, classroom, office, movie theater, restaurant, bar, you name it. And even though our apartment doesn’t feature a lot of storage, we have a lot of seemingly unnecessary things that have helped us through the pandemic. We spent nights gathered around the television, snacking on popcorn from our carnival-style popcorn machine, and mornings have been defined by the ding of our toaster oven, the screech of our blender, the beeping of our coffee maker, and the hissing of our espresso machine. While these appliances left us with little counter space, they offer us extra comfort (not to mention almost anything we could imagine for breakfast).
Maybe when I’m older I’ll want an apartment that reflects my maturity, with color-coordinating accents and details that look like a set designer placed them there. But right now, an effortlessly decorated, spotlessly clean apartment would be nearly impossible to achieve, and also unauthentic to my life. Sometimes I read the wrong pages for class, my planner gets disorganized, or I forget to show up for a Zoom meeting. My life isn’t perfect, and my home doesn’t have to be, either. My apartment reflects the stage of life I’m in — it’s a little confusing, definitely chaotic, but also just a lot of fun.
In July, my roommates and I said goodbye to my first apartment and moved into a renovated unit in the same complex — one with appliances from the 21st century, hardwood floors, tiled showers, and ceiling fans in our bedrooms. While these improvements undoubtedly elevate our space, as did the furniture my brother gave me when he moved into a smaller place over the summer, it was an unspoken rule that we would stay true to our roots by proudly displaying all of our sillier decorations. It’s far from perfect, and sometimes cluttered and chaotic, but it works for us. Most importantly, it’s home.
Dorm living can be a novel experience and an introduction to adulthood. It is the first time students may be living in a new state, away from home, and faced with the task of figuring things out for themselves (like laundry and heating up ramen for the fourth time that day).
Television can provide a peek into the world of dorm life and provide some insight into what challenges students face, how they spend their weekends, and the balance between studying and experiencing all of college’s social and cultural aspects. This can be helpful and often comforting for students before they enter on day one, and entertaining for those who have wondered what it’s like or already been through it.
To commemorate back to school season, whatever that looks like for you, here’s a deep-dive into what TV shows get right — and wrong — about the dorm living experience.
Dorm living can teach you about yourself and the world around you. Dorm living fosters an inclusive space to have deep conversations and learn more about who you are. And by being exposed to so many people with different backgrounds and perspectives, one of the greatest aspects about dorm life is the ability to learn about yourself from others, too.
Netflix’s “Dear White People” follows a group of black students at an Ivy League college as they face racial discrimination, social injustice, and distrustful politics, among other things. Deep conversations happen in the comfort and safety of dorm rooms throughout the show, which forms a bond between the students and allows for effective action on campus.
And sometimes, your roommates can teach you the most about yourself. On Freeform’s “Greek,” freshmen roommates Rusty and Dale are total opposites. Rusty, the protagonist, wants to abandon his former “nerd” identity to ultimately become president of his fraternity. Dale, on the other hand, is more conservative and acts a member of the Purity Pledge group and the former president of University Students Against Greeks. Though they don’t always eye to eye, they learn to accept each other’s differences in their space and grow as individuals.
Roommates don’t always end up being best friends (at least at first). It’s perfectly normal to have varying dynamics and for your roommate to not be your best friend, and TV shows expose this truth well. In addition to “Greek,” there’s the seventh season of “Modern Family” when Alex Dunphy goes to college and quickly realizes her roommate Maisy’s know-it-all personality is irritating. However, their situation is a lesson that it’s okay to not be best friends with your roommate, as long as you’re respectful and civil in your shared spaces.
Similarly, in “Dawson’s Creek,” leading lady Joey is in her second month at Worthington University where she meets her roommate, Audrey, from Beverly Hills. The two originally clash due to personality differences. Sure, they become closer friends over time, but even if that didn’t happen, it’s always a relief to know that every living situation is temporary.
Resident Advisors (RAs) help you navigate strange living situations, among other things. One of the best things about dorm living is your RA, a trained peer leader, who coordinates activities for students, provides moral support, and gives advice on what classes to take and what dining rooms to avoid. Though your RAs may not be as available as the ones in the miniseries “Resident Advisors,” rest assured you will always have someone to go to for any concerns.
Friends always go to the same college and live together. Many TV shows give off the impression that childhood best friends, high school buddies, and partners go to the same college and live together in a shared space. But not everyone’s best friend ends up at the same school, or the same dorm room (blame housing algorithms for that).
TV paints a fantastical picture of friends living in the same living space in college. “Boy Meets World” made everyone believe that college is just an extension of high school with the same friends, love interests, and teachers supporting you along the way. For Cory Matthews, his girlfriend (and roomie) Topanga, brother Eric, best friend Shawn, and beloved teacher Mr. Feeny all follow him to Pennbrook University.
Seems like the 90s was following a trend, because the original gang of “Saved by the Bell” Zack Morris, Screech, and A.C. Slater continued their shenanigans at California University in the sequel “Saved by the Bell: The College Years.” The original trio had much to reminisce over and many new memories to form with other newcomers later in the series.
Truth is, the people you know best most likely don’t end up sharing the full college experience with you, and that’s okay. There are always weekend visits.
Dorm furniture is lavish and high-end. Who wouldn’t love a glamorous dorm room full of luxe furniture and large shared spaces to entertain all your college friends? This was the case for the original “Gossip Girl” crew. Though NYC is essentially their college campus, main characters Blair and Georgina share a massive dorm room in Ehrlich Residence Hall, with Blair’s best friend and maid Dorota on speed dial.
And it’s hard to forget Rory Gilmore’s dorm setup in “Gilmore Girls,” whose freshmen suite with frenemy Paris Geller includes a spacious living room, fireplace, two bedrooms, and a bathroom. Oh, and her grandmother ends up filling it with high-end furniture, too. Others are just happy to have a single bed that isn’t part of a bunk.
Murder mysteries and investigations will be part of the on-campus experience. Despite what “How to Get Away with Murder” says, as a college (or law student), you will be more likely to be reading materials, completing exams, and meeting your professors in dedicated office hours instead of at crime scenes. There will still be lots of nerves and stress, but nothing coffee and a nap can’t solve.
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However you’re college-ing this year — heading to a dorm, moving to an off-campus apartment, living at home, or learning remotely — now’s officially the time to start setting up your perfect study/living/hangout space, be it your first-ever semester or senior year. Any dorm room or bedroom, big or small (major emphasis on small), can benefit big-time from a few organizing and comfort essentials. The good news is that you don’t have to spend a fortune to set up a space that’ll work hard for you.
With the first day of classes right around the corner, you’ve probably got a lot on your to-do list, so I’m here to help in the shopping department. I headed to three popular back-to-school stores — Dormify, Bed Bath & Beyond, and The Container Store — to scope out some stylish-meets-functional college picks for every budget (because it’s no secret college is expensive enough as is). Check out some of my favorite finds below — from storage solutions to double-duty lamps to desk decor — that can see you through all your college years and beyond. Even if you’re not a student, you’ll find these small space products handy — I promise!