When I set out to create a welcoming dorm room for my daughter’s freshman year at the University of Alabama, I wanted to style a space that felt like home. This milestone moment is often filled with a lot of emotion. To ensure a smooth transition, I designed this coastal-inspired, boho-chic room to be an inviting and peaceful place to begin the next chapter of her life.

Photos by: Evin Photography

My first tip? Start with an inspiration piece to influence your color palette. My daughter and I found these coastal, watercolor art prints on Etsy for under $6, then sent those images to Smallwood Home to be framed. The three most prominent colors — ivory, blush and hints of aqua — inspired the overall mood of the room.

My signature style always involves a mixture of textured whites and neutrals to create a space filled with light and comfort. Here, I filled a tufted dot duvet cover with a medium-warmth down insert to create a welcoming spot to curl up. A tasseled, white throw blanket was layered at the end of the bed for a stylish look that also serves a purpose on cooler nights.

Whether you’re styling an over-the-top dorm space or plan to keep it simple, a headboard really transforms the look of the room and makes it feel more put-together. I ordered this upholstered, stick-on headboard from Room 422, but you can find faux headboards from a variety of online retailers. Peel-and-stick strips allow students to safely adhere these to the wall behind their bed. Alternatively, you can just rest the headboard on the back of the bed frame.