I liked the dorms at Caltech - mostly in the halls, but also some rooms all sort of murals. Here are some: http://alumnus.caltech.edu/~dzobel/walls/AlleyWallArt.htm
I like some of the old Harvard rooms which appear to have wallpaper. I remember lots of rooms that looked like the 1973 picture: http://harvardmagazine.com/2002/09/dorm-decor.html
I saw this and thought of this thread. This lake development had an open house event featuring designer-created bunkrooms.
http://secondshelters.com/2016/08/31/bunk-rooms-in-long-cove-on-cedar-creek-lake/
@Nrdsb4 Those are some great rooms.
Those are great and it does beg the question - how come no one is designing rooms well to accommodate people and use storage wisely? For example - the built in bunk beds with ladder going up. You could then put shelves below or built-ins in the rest of the room that would really use the space wisely. Or pre-build a lofted bed with storage below instead of all those jerry-rigged (jury-rigged? I’ve seen it both ways) lofted beds which seem precarious and unsafe.
The freestanding wardrobes are not tall enough to hang dresses in. Even in rooms with newer furniture.
What happens with all of those furnishings at the end of the year? The headboards and pillows could be recovered with different fabric for next year. How much of that stuff goes straight to the bin on move-out day?
For those of you who think the style of dress at SEC schools matches the style of decorating shown in these pictures you are incorrect. The costume of choice for many of these young women is norts and an oversize T shirt. It’s hard to tell from the photos as many of them are sitting on their beds.
I think the point about the style of dress was that if you then go to sorority pictures / videos from those schools, the aesthetic is different from what you might find if you go to sorority pictures / videos from northern schools. In the south, you are apt to see more makeup, more Lilly Pulitzer style, sundresses (even at football games), and shots in pools / beaches; in the north, you are apt to see less makeup, more sweatshirts and jeans, and outdoor activities that aren’t at pools / beaches (because obviously the school year doesn’t overlap with pool / beach season). No value judgments, just observations.
And we did this all, complete with links, in the Alabama sorority video thread some time ago, so no need to rehash 
It also makes me wonder why the Container Store doesn’t set up kiosks or outposts in student centers to sell some of their best organizing things - over the door shoe holders, high shelves to install over a door, etc. Seems everyone just does that catch-as-catch-can. If Starbucks and Apple figured it out, why not them?
Or pop-up stores on move-in day.
@Nrdsb4 those bunk rooms are terrific. They are a great use of space and aesthetically pleasing. Too bad more dorms aren’t set up that way!
@MaterS I could never picture in my head what the “norts” look was. Then I saw a YouTube video of 2016 Bid Day from University of Arkansas. The Panhellenic representative in the video was quite well-spoken and vivacious, but I couldn’t stop thinking, “why isn’t she wearing any pants/shorts?” She looked like she just wore a t-shirt to bed and went to Bid Day without getting dressed. It looks like a comfy way to dress, though, and I’m sure I would dress that way if I was still in college (but with yoga pants on cold days, lol).
I had to look up norts. I thought it was a typo. Turns out it’s the ubiquitous nike shorts I see everywhere here. It’s like a uniform for teenage girls.
I will NEVER get that “norts” look. Ever.
I started a new thread because the larger article isn’t focused primarily on living arrangements, but the new Lassonde Studio Lofts at the University of Utah, while very cool (and clearly trying to attract women into STEM subjects), doesn’t seem terribly efficient if keeping costs down is any kind of priority.
http://nyti.ms/2b4RvPa
http://lassonde.utah.edu/studios/
Is it okay for university housing to be extravagant if the ultimate goals are noble (“scientific innovation”) but not when it’s purely based in vanity? I don’t find the line of demarcation all that clear.
Some of the newer dorms being built these days are as over the top as the room decorations. The problem with fancy dorms IMO is that either schools charge a different housing rate based on dorm selection, and hence, dorms further separate students by socioeconomic status, or if the rate is constant, the fancy dorms drive up costs for everyone. I think you can achieve a well designed, aesthetically pleasing and functional space without all the frills. But I guess those frills attract students.
Lots of stuff beyond furnishings get tossed into the bin or abandoned on campus at the end of each year on many college campuses, especially those with a critical mass of upper/upper-middle class students.
For instance, at the end of each academic year or summer term at Columbia U, friends who are Columbia Students, alums, live in the area, and yours truly found many barely used dorm fridges, computers, electronics, etc abandoned around the campus or in “recycling bins”.
Frugal Columbia students, friends, and yours truly managed to “rescue” many such items and thus, avoid having to spend money to purchase said items for ourselves or to donate to neighbors/friends in need. 
One other issue cited by older adults when I was in college and that I’ve seen with some college classmates/recent graduate colleagues who lived in very nicely appointed dorms is that they had a much larger adjustment to make once they’ve graduated and find the first apartment they could afford on their salary/parents are willing to subsidize are far less glamorous than what they’ve grown accustomed to from growing up upper/upper-middle class and then living in a nicely appointed dorm.
Heck, see it with recent graduate friends in the NYC area who find their first/first few post-college apartments are exceedingly spartan or in worn condition AND small AND they’re struggling to make rent even with generous parental subsidies.
And their apartments were miles better than the first post-college apartment I rented in the JP area of Boston.
When upper/upper-middle class older relatives visited, some actually felt I could spend a bit more for a less “dumpy” apartment/location. They quieted down pretty quick when I said they’re free to volunteer their own money for that end if they were so inclined. 
I thoughts “norts” was a typo!
tOSU did have a Bed Bath and Beyond pop-up store outside of the main student center on move in day. From the looks of it they were doing a very brisk business - we bought the last doorstop they had.
Love the bunk rooms that are featured in the article!
At my kiddos school students resell, hand down and give away anything they won’t need for the next year. My older child gave some of her things to their “hall mom” the gal that cleans and maintains their hall bathrooms. Additionally the school has Goodwill bring large trucks to accept items, particularly from seniors moving on. The school is a four year residential campus.
A friend’s daughter just started at Columbia College in Chicago. I was blown away by her dorm! http://students.colum.edu/residence-life/Housing_Options/Dwight.php