Parents Are Paying $20,000 for Dorm Room Makeovers. Have They Gone Too Far?

Over-the-top dorms are on the rise, especially in schools where social media reigns supreme. People’s Alex Apatoff wants the madness to stop.

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Flash back to 2004: I’m shopping for my first college dorm at a Bed Bath & Beyond, and I’m getting increasingly angsty as my mother denies me the slightly more expensive shower caddy ($11.99!) of my choice.

Flash forward to 2025: Parents of college-bound teens are writing $20,000 checks—but not for tuition. That’s the price some consultants and interior designers are charging to execute viral dorm makeovers taking over TikTok.