Parents cough up thousands decorating their kids’ dorms even as total college costs hit six figures a year

College move-in used to mean twin XL sheets, a shower caddy, and maybe a few posters taped to a cinder-block wall. For some families, that’s no longer going to cut it. 

Parents are shelling out thousands of dollars to turn their kids’ temporary dorm rooms into carefully designed spaces, complete with custom headboards, wallpaper, matching bedding, and professionally installed decor. The trend has spawned an entire dorm-design industry and a steady stream of elaborate room reveals on TikTok and Instagram. 

And it’s happening as the price of simply getting through college gates reaches a striking new threshold, with the annual sticker price at dozens of  U.S. colleges and universities now nearing or exceeding $100,000 a year, according to a CNBC analysis. That includes tuition, fees, room and board, books, transportation, and other expenses.

The extra spending isn’t limited to th...