Marlee Melbert's Whimsical Room

Stepping into Marlee Melbert’s bedroom is stepping into a whimsical world. Living in a cozy cottage with some of her closest friends, she filled her room with her favorite and most meaningful objects. College housing is famously perplexing to style and make home-y, but Marlee does it with ease: bringing in homemade dried flower bouquets, antiques and wicker furniture she adores, tons of books, and as many plants as possible. We adore her living space and sat down with her to ask her about it. 

Tell me a little about yourself.

I’m Marlee Melbert, a Dallas-born lover of beauty and all things homey. My determination to master every creative outlet makes itself known in the spaces I’ve inhabited (you’ll find my plethora of acrylic paints next to my performance playbill and scattered chord sheets). I like to keep my spaces neutral, natural and strewn with sentiment.

Where did you find inspiration for your room?

My grandparents’ house was always full of wicker furniture, overflowing bookshelves and vases of fresh-picked flowers. In decorating my college room, I wanted it to be an extension of home, which for me meant making it look like my family had left their mark there. 

What is your favorite part of the room?

I am obsessed with my wicker chest. Would you believe me if I said I thrifted it? I think I could throw literally anything on top of it and it would feel like a decoration. 

What advice would you offer to anyone decorating a new space?

You know how blue jeans go with everything? That’s how plants are for a space - no matter your decorating style or color scheme, this is a situation where green always goes. Nobody can convince me plants don’t bring the extra burst of life every room needs. (PSA: it’s really hard to kill snake plants and Pothos… do with that information what you will).

What are small things people can incorporate while decorating that make their space feel less commercial and more personal and homey?

I’ve never been one to use photos to decorate - yes, they’re personal, but can be conventional. I tend to use memories: dried flowers from days I want to remember, a framed note from a dear friend, a collage of souvenir magnets on my mini fridge, pretty postcards from travels, books that have earned a place on my windowsill-shelf because of the way they made me feel, and the like. 

Written by Marlee Melbert

Edited by Ruthann Daniel

Photos by Marlee Melbert