We have a wonderful returning guest this week! Atlanta-based interior designer Lauren DeLoach is back on the podcast to share everything she learned while designing and installing her daughter's freshman dorm room at Ole Miss.
As we launch the new Ballard Designs dorm line, Lauren sits down with Caroline, Taryn, and Liz to give the ultimate masterclass in dorm decorating. She explains how she tackled awkward cinderblock walls, the secret to finding the true dimensions of a dorm room, and why "Alien Tape" is a dorm parent's best friend.
Quick Decorating & Dorm Takeaways:
Find the "Master Map": Don't just rely on the general dorm dimensions provided by the college. Lauren explains that to truly plan a layout, you need to seek out the building's "master maps" (often passed around in college parent Facebook groups). These maps will show you exactly where the architectural quirks are located in your specific room, like vertical plumbing chases and window soffits.
The Magic of Alien Tape: To soften the harsh cinder block walls, Lauren used a genius trick to hang full-wall drapery without drilling or damaging the school's property: Alien Tape! It provided enough grip to hold the drapes and create a beautiful faux-fabric wall behind the beds.
Pack in IKEA Bags: When moving a kid into college, Lauren highly recommends packing softer items in the oversized, zip-up plastic IKEA bags. They are incredibly durable, hold a massive amount of stuff, and can even be checked as luggage on a flight if you are traveling out of state.
Start with the Bed: In a dorm room, the bed is practically the only furniture you have to work with. Lauren and her daughter's roommate coordinated their space using a fresh "Spa and Sage" color palette from Ballard Designs. They started by picking a ditsy floral fabric for the headboards, and then layered the beds with the spa-colored Audrey coverlet and buffalo check duvets.
What You’ll Hear on This Episode:
00:00 Welcome & Introduction to Lauren DeLoach
01:30 Designing a freshman dorm room at Ole Miss
02:00 Starting the design with a "Spa and Sage" palette and buffalo check bedding
03:00 The importance of coordinating designs with the new roommate
04:00 Why you need the "master map" to find hidden chases and soffits
20:00 Hanging wall-to-wall drapery with Alien Tape to cover cinder blocks
28:00 Tricks for packing and moving using oversized IKEA bags
36:00 Transitioning quality dorm decor into a future college apartment
45:00 Closing thoughts & where to find Lauren's work
(Note: Timestamps are approximate based on the transcript segments provided; be sure to double-check against your final audio file!)
Also Mentioned:
Lauren DeLoach Interiors | Website
Follow Lauren on Instagram: @laurendeloachinteriors
Shop the Ballard Designs Dorm Line - ballarddesigns.com/dormcatalog
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Happy Decorating!
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