Ep. 467: Dorm Room Design 101 with Lauren DeLoach

Ep. 467: Dorm Room Design 101 with Lauren DeLoach

From How to Decorate by Ballard Designs

May 26, 2026 · 49 min

About this episode

Lauren DeLoach returns to share expert tips on designing a freshman dorm room.

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…

People in this episode

Hosts: Caroline, Taryn, Liz

Guest: Lauren DeLoach

Topics covered

  • dorm room design
  • interior design
  • college living
  • decorating tips
  • home decor

Keywords

  • dorm decorating
  • cinderblock walls
  • Alien Tape
  • IKEA bags
  • college dorm design

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Ballard Designs

Places: Ole Miss

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