Interviewed by Architectural Digest Middle East, Jasper outlines his vision for student living.

11 Dorm Room Décor Ideas to Transform Your Student Space

Architectural Digest Middle East recently examined how good design can elevate student living, featuring insights from Jasper Sanders, Founder and Director of Jasper Sanders + Partners. The article, “11 Dorm Room Décor Ideas to Transform Your Student Space,” explored the ways in which small, functional rooms can become rich, layered environments that support wellbeing, focus, and self-expression.

Jasper described how, for many young people, a student room represents their first real home away from home – a place that must accommodate study, sleep, socialising, and self-care, often within just a few square metres. He reflected on the “seismic shift” students experience when adapting to independent living, managing new routines, and shaping an identity within a confined space.

He also challenged the conventional model of purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA), where the bedroom is reduced to a bed, desk, and wardrobe. While this approach may serve developer efficiency, it often overlooks the psychological and emotional dimensions of student life. “Almost every part of the student’s day plays out in this single, compact room,” Jasper noted in the article. “For students, the traditional model often fails to support the full reality of their lives.”

Drawing on the studio’s extensive experience – having completed over fifteen PBSA developments to date – Jasper Sanders + Partners are actively reimagining how small living spaces can better serve their occupants. Through ongoing research and development, the team is testing new prototypes and innovations, particularly around bespoke furniture systems that maximise flexibility and functionality. The goal is to move beyond standardisation towards a model that feels generous, adaptable, and inherently human.

In the Architectural Digest feature, Jasper discussed several elements that have the greatest impact on wellbeing in small spaces: lighting, colour, and materiality. He advocated for high-quality, tuneable LED lighting that mirrors the natural rhythm of the day – cool and bright for concentration, warm and dimmed for socialising or rest. This simple intervention, he explained, can transform the atmosphere of a standard room and support mental and physical balance.

On colour, Jasper encouraged palettes that are calm and coherent, yet flexible enough for personalisation. “Colours should be friendly but not overpowering,” he advised, suggesting tones that create a cohesive backdrop for individuality rather than compete with it. This approach, he explained, helps make even modest furnishings feel intentional and well-composed.

The article also explored the notion of multifunctionality – a theme central to the studio’s design philosophy. As Jasper commented, “The challenge is compact living, but the opportunity lies in multifunctionality. Every item must work harder.” In contemporary PBSA design, desks double as dining tables, beds serve as social spaces, and wardrobes conceal storage for everything from laundry to sports kit. When every component contributes to flexibility, the room becomes an ecosystem that responds to changing needs throughout the day.

Jasper concluded that the key to successful student environments lies in designing for autonomy – giving residents the ability to adapt their surroundings quickly and intuitively. “The student room must be a layered environment, flexing instantly between activity modes,” he said. “This gives students the ability to manage their time, possessions, and energy – offering a sense of agency during a demanding phase of life.”

The Architectural Digest Middle East feature captures a broader cultural shift in student housing, one that echoes the studio’s ongoing mission: to humanise compact living through empathy, intelligence, and design precision. In a sector long defined by efficiency, Jasper Sanders + Partners are redefining value through the quality of experience – creating spaces that are as inspiring as they are practical.

Read the full article in Architectural Digest Middle East