What Dorm Rooms Looked Like the Year You Were Born
1989
Can you imagine a time before Instagram and Facebook where students stored and shared their college memories in physical photo albums? With a tapestry and Magritte poster for wall decor and a makeshift chill area by the window (complete with hammock), this Princeton dorm clearly housed a group of creatives.
1990
This Wellesley dorm was home to a Chinese refugee who decorated the walls with reminders of her world before college: an adorable panda poster, Chinese artwork, and a political sticker calling for democracy.
1991
Forget posters taped haphazardly to the wall. This 1991 dorm room in McCormick Hall at Marquette University featured wood-framed photo collages to match the desk, shelves, and bed frames.
1992
Nothing screams the ‘90s like the global obsession with sports sensation Michael Jordan - as evidenced by the fact that every inch of these Stanford dorm walls pay tribute basketball star.
1993
At Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, no surface was left undecorated. From miniature ceramic cows to funky mugs, trinkets were everywhere. Even shelf edges were occupied with personal notes on display.
1994
This is what the dorm room of a dreamer looked like in the mid-'90s: At NYU housing in the heart of the NYC, this student decorated with twinkly lights and art inspiration from Van Gogh and Picasso.
1995
In 1995, you wouldn’t find students typing up term papers on MacBooks or desktop computers. Instead, portable typewriters - like the one pictured here at Emerson College - were main fixtures in a dorm.
1996
No need for a table or a stand. This Babson College student used a desk chair to hold up his bulky TV. The decor of choice was more aspirational than design-oriented, with posters of Colin Powell, Abraham Lincoln, and the front page of a magazine entitled “Billionaires.”
1997
A dorm room in the late 1990s at Indiana University meant cramped quarters and a questionable brown shag rug. It also meant no privacy for phone calls - not when students were still using landlines.
1998
Sometimes, simplicity is the best way to maintain focus, at least according to this dorm room at Babson College featuring only the basics - two fans, a desk, a comfy chair - in deep shades of greens and blue.
1999
The sterile cinder block surroundings of a standard college dorm were immediately transformed when two different patterns of floral sheets and a care package from mom were involved.
2000
The turn of the century came with a new kind of dorm life. At Tufts University, men and women started to cohabitate at the Rainbow House - an LGBTQ-friendly coed dorm. There may have been greater inclusivity, but the massive fan in the window suggests there was still no air conditioning.
2001
Sharing a room with a stranger is certainly not easy, but having a private bathroom helps! This Gwynedd-Mercy College dorm room even had additional space for a fridge, an area rug, and a desktop computer.
2002
TV? Check. Computer? Check. Microwave? Check. This Sharp Hall dorm room at University of Delaware had all the essentials, with some surrealist art posters to boot.
2003
A little bit of wall treatment can go a long way. Colorful leis and hometown memorabilia brought some Hawaiian shine all the way to this dorm at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley.
2004
With the portable laptop computer becoming more and more popular among students in the early 2000s, having a spot to work that wasn’t a desk was also necessary. At the University of Georgia, that meant a bunk bed cocoon with a cushioned circular chair surrounded by fresh roses. I’ll take it!
2005
You’d expect the dorm room of a West Point cadet to be super organized. But who would’ve thought the storage trunks would be so stylishly timeless?
2006
For the hectic lifestyle of a college student, zen dorm decor is a good choice, especially when both sides of the space are harmonious. This dorm room in Denver, Colorado features soothing hues, lantern-style light fixtures, and a bamboo-patterned rug to complete the aesthetic.
2007
In addition to bras and fragrances, Victoria’s Secret PINK has a fun selection of dorm room decor items. Check out this PINK takeover at the University of Maryland which included a chalkboard (very on-theme!), a mascot, an assortment of pillows, and a guitar.
2008
Monochrome color schemes were a trend in the late 2000s, especially in bright shades like pink and green. From rugs to bedding to TVs, sticking to a single color was the way to go - at least in this dorm at the University of San Francisco.
2009
At Juaniata College, students slept in sleepaway camp-style bunk beds. The checkered blue, red and grey rug brought a subtle accent of color to the space - at least when it wasn’t covered in laundry and text books.
2010
There’s an obvious fashion influence in this dorm room decor at the University of Michigan. Black-and-white posters - which matched an understated bedding choice - featured designers like Lanvin and fashion icons like Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn.
2011
The online business Dormify started in 2011, making decorating easier for style-conscious students. This sample room featured pieces found through the the digital service, like an assortment of candles and photos affixed with pins on a clothing line.
2012
When both roommates showed up with Vera Bradley paisley quilted bags, it’s no surprise that their Saint Francis University dorm room had an abundance of color, pattern, and texture. The light blue ruched duvet says it all!
2013
Bohemian quilts and complementary color schemes made for a relaxed shared space in this NYU dorm room. Deep blues, green, and purples created a calming yet fun environment with plenty of personal photos displayed throughout the room.
2014
In this bedroom at Tulane University, a simple black-and-white duvet made for the perfect backdrop to playful accents like oversized stuffed animals, a pillow with the French word for love, and a neon blanket peeking out from the foot of the bed.
2015
Coordinated prints gave an elevated sense of fluidity in this Bereleky College dorm room. Plus, a quilt featuring personal memories and accomplishments meant this student could, quite literally, wrap herself up in the things that make her feel good and secure.
2016
Living in a dorm room does not mean you can’t live like a queen! This University of Mississippi student gave her space the royal treatment with a faux-fur rug, gold decorative accents, and a personalized lucite desk chair. Can I get one of those?
2017
Using a beautifully patterned tapestry as wall decor is a clever and easy way to add drama and depth to a small space. The elephant theme carried throughout this dorm room and the giant pom-pom throw pillows add a little whimsy.
2018
This dorm room incorporates fluffy gray accents in its velvety pillows, rug, and throw, which makes it super inviting and cozy.
It wasn’t the '90s if a Michael Jordan poster wasn’t involved.