Back when I was in college, my dorm decor aesthetic could best be described as “concrete chic”. My roommate and I made the best of what was around, namely Bed, Bath & Beyond, but resigned ourselves to the idea that only so much could be done within the bounds of our stuffy open double, whose lacquered concrete walls actively resisted posters. Not surprisingly, I was floored when I came across this article on Maximilian Sinsteden’s dorm room in New York Magazine’s Home Design issue last year. Then a senior at Drew University, Sinsteden, who clearly has an innate design talent, had interned for designer Charlotte Moss and has started his own interior design company. His transformation is proof that even the most disagreeable spaces have potential. Dorm days may be fleeting, but the need to creatively maximize small spaces is one that follows many through life, and dorm decor blogs can be great resources to that end. The slideshow of Sinsteden’s space is high on inspiration, but for more ideas check out justflewthecoop.com, where Jesse, a junior at the Memphis College of Art shares design tips, DIY ideas and apartment tours that can be carried to the dorm and beyond. –Sarah C.