J'adore le Décor

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What You Need to Know to Get a "Snatched" Dorm Room

Hey small space dwellers!  The response to the dorm room mood board and college checklist I shared last week was ah-mazing!  If you missed it, click here to get the scoop.

It's funny, although a college dorm room is probably one of the smallest "living spaces" I can think of, it never occurred to me until recently to feature one.  That got me thinking, what if I could show you a real life example of how one family helped their student create a dorm room that is totally "snatched"?  I believe I've found the perfect example.

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What Does Getting "Snatched" Mean Anyway?

For those of you who are a bit behind in your urban lingo, getting "snatched" means having something that is done to the Nth degree, with the aim of being absolutely stunning. 

Now that we've gotten that out of the way, let me introduce you to a family I met on Facebook— the Locks (SEE PHOTO BELOW)

Aren't they a handsome bunch? 

A dorm room is definitely a tricky space that comes with a unique set of challenges.  But this beautiful family from Maryland came together as a team to get freshmen student, Eryn,  settled into her new home away from home at Temple University.  Here are the details:

  • 1 Dorm Room
  • 1 Closet
  • 2 Freshman Students
  • 2 Twin sized beds
  • 3 DIY projects
  • Space Measurements: 15' x 12' (180 square feet)

Early Planning - the Key to Creating a Great Dorm Room

Early planning was the key to this awesome execution.  And Mom, Nykkey Keys' organizational skills are phenomenal. Several weeks prior to the move in date she and daughter decided on a color scheme.  Then they scoured discount stores BurlingtonRossHomeGoods and Bed, Bath and Beyond for great deals.  They also visited a store called Five Below, where most of the wall decor was purchased.  Here is the breakdown, according to Mom:

JLD:  What was your goal for this space, Nykkey? 

"My goal was to create a fun living space without breaking the budget. " says Nykkey, "which is why we ended up making some pieces ourselves; such as the vanity, headboard and nightstand.

Did you catch that the vanity, headboard and nightstand were ALL diy projects? Amazing!

JLD: How long did it take you to load in the room?

"It took me an hour to decorate. I laid out the picture placement on the floor at home and took pictures on my cell phone so when I got there I knew exactly where everything went. I was solely in charge of decorating Eryn's side of the room.

JLD: Did you have lots of help? 

Everyone in the photos above took part in the move.  "Each person was given their own task, such as putting together closet systems, stocking the bathroom, and arranging the storage underneath the bed.  But I was solely responsible for the decorating Eryn's side of the room".  

Notice that having a team and tasks organized, and assigned ahead of time, sped up the installation of the dorm room.

JLD: Many people think they need to have professional experience to attempt a makeover like this.  Please share your background. 

"Home decor is a new found passion I didn't realize I had until I recently purchased my own home.  After watching me, my daughter knew that decorating her dorm would be right up my alley.  She and her roommate decided on the color scheme and I took it from there."

JLD:  Now that you've seen the response to your work, are there any future plans for you and your newly discovered talent?

"I totally didn't expect the overwhelming response I received from people who really liked her room."  (This dorm makeover received nearly a thousand likes and numerous shares on Facebook.)  "I was asked so many questions that I'm currently in the process of creating video tutorials for all three of the pieces we made."

The entire family did a phenomenal job wouldn't you say?  All of this has inspired Nykkey to start her own YouTube channel.  Until then, please be sure to show Nykkey some love on her newly created Instagram profile @NykkeysDesigns!

Now it's your turn.  Share your thoughts on this makeover with the family in the comments below.  

*all photos taken and provided by NykkeysDesigns. 

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Merci Beaucoup!

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