Students Express Themselves through Decor

For many students, bedrooms reflect the unique persona and qualities of the individual. Amalia Leite ’25 said her decor represents her personality: “I like my room to be colorful. I don’t like normal lights—so all the lighting in my room is LED because I feel like I am a colorful, fun person, and my lights represent that.” Chase Stevens-Scanlan ’22 agreed, saying “I express my big personality through things in my room rather than actually being loud.” Ayelet Kaminski ’22 said, “I did most of my decorating last year, putting up posters and different magazine cutouts. For me it was a way to make my room undeniably mine, even knowing that I’ll be moving out soon. The walls of my room reflect my values, artistic sensibilities, and some of my favorite memories.”

However, rooms can also simply be a safe haven, where a person can relax and enjoy a tranquil environment. Lukas Kazemekaitis ’25 described how he decorates his room to suit his personal needs: “I like to keep my room ‘clean’ as in I keep it minimalistic and only display things that have value to me. It helps me keep my mind clear when I relax in my room, and I have LED mood lights, too.” Sabina Cherry ’25 echoed this response: “My room is bright and cozy, because I love rooms to be full of energy but at the same time to be a place where I can relax and be comfortable.”

Decoration is also capable of reflecting an individual’s culture, childhood, and hobbies. Alex Spasov ’23 said, “I decorate my room with Taylor Swift posters and car posters because I love those things and they make me happy and reflect my personality.” JJ Yang ’24 said, “My room has a lot of the toys from my childhood to remind me where I came from. My bed also faces south to adhere to the Chinese feng shui customs.”

Many individuals take pride in their achievements and feats, portraying that pride through their bedrooms. Claire Russell ’25 possesses a surplus of sports trophies that reside on her shelves, primarily from tennis and basketball. She said that “her trophies help remind her of all her achievements.” Heather Fagan ’25 also furnishes her room with trophies and medals, stating, “not only does my room hold my interests, but it displays my goals and achievements as well. It is extremely meaningful because it isn’t just the place where I sleep, but the place where I can be my truest self.”

Whether a safe haven or a reflection of self, a bedroom is often, undeniably, an important space. Pearl Miller ’22 said, “The walls in my room used to be really bare, but I started to use old college letters and cereal boxes to add color. I would make these into collages and make sure there was color there to make my room feel more alive. [I wanted] to make sure that my room wasn’t just a place I slept, but a second home, a place for me to destress and breathe.”