Parents Pour Thousands into Luxury Dorm Makeovers as College Bills Near $100,000
Families are spending thousands to outfit college dorms with custom furniture and décor while tuition and fees at many schools approach six figures.
An emerging dorm-design industry is prompting parents to spend thousands on bespoke college-room makeovers, featuring items such as custom headboards, wallpaper, matching bedding and even remote-controlled chandeliers. This spending surge arrives as one outlet's analysis reports that the sticker price for attending many U.S. colleges now tops $100,000 per year, encompassing tuition, fees, housing, books and other costs. The National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics forecast a record $103.5 billion in back-to-school expenditures this year, with $14 billion earmarked for dorm and apartment furnishings.
Entrepreneurs like Shelly Gates of Mary Margaret Designs, who began decorating after posting her daughter’s dorm photos in 2020, now handle dozens of projects, some costing up to $20,000. Students such as incoming James Madison University freshman Henley Bedwell argue that a comfortable dorm is essential for the nine-month academic year. Analysts note that the trend is most common at large public universities in the South, where lower tuition and merit aid leave families with extra budget for décor.
Why it matters
It shows how rising college costs are reshaping family spending habits and spawning a new luxury market for student housing.
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