Several college students are spending big on making their dorms more comfortable|Williams College|CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

College students, especially in southern states, are trading basic dorm setups for high-end makeovers, with costs soaring into the thousands.

Dorms or glamorous retreats
Students are expected to spend roughly $87 billion this year to make their dorm rooms appear more comfortable. The figure is a massive jump from the $48 billion they spent in 2014, per the National Retail Federation. The average student now spends around $1,365 on dorm essentials.

Some are going all out
Interior designers like Ginger Curtis and Eden Bowen Montgomery are transforming some students’ dorms for $7,000 to $10,000 per room, which is more than college fees in some cases. The tuition for in-state University of Mississippi students is $9,400.

TikTok and Instagram posts of dorm makeovers have amplified this trend, reflecting a post-COVID focus on stylish and comfortable living spaces.