This article is in partnership with Target.
From the co-ed who loves to lounge to the athletic enthusiast who loves to rock a popped color, college brings out all sorts of personalities. Whether you’re The Sporty One or The Cozy One, we have the perfect solution to decorate your dorm in a way that suits your personal style. These products will help your dorm room double as a perfect place to relax between classes or kick your feet up after a workout.
xoNecole and Target have you covered with items that are sure to make for the perfect home away from home as you prepare to head back to campus.
For The Cozy One:
Room Essentials™ Twin/Twin Extra Long Box Stitch Puffer Comforter Ivory
Who says your comforter can’t bring you a little extra comfort? This item goes beyond just a cute statement piece to dress up your bed; it provides that extra oomph that may be needed after a long day of classes.
Room Essentials™ Scallop Tray
Designed to help you store those smaller items like keys more stylishly, this tray is also a great landing spot to store your e.l.f. Lip Mask or Lip Balm, because soft lips make for a soft life.
Room Essentials™ Scallop Upholstered Ottoman
Need extra seating for guests or simply want to be somewhere other than your bed or desk? This product offers seating and additional storage in a chic way. Pro Tip: Get a waffle knit robe for those lazy Sundays and store it right in here.
Room Essentials™ Scallop Desk with Drawer Natural
A quaint desk that can go in the corner of your room or wherever you please, this product may be the perfect solution for your study needs. Place a catchall dish or a scented candle on top, and you’ve got quite the cozy setting.
Room Essentials™ 16"x20" Wavy Frame White
The great thing about this frame is that you can place your favorite photo inside, something that reminds you of home in your new oasis on campus. It can also be used as a place to jot down your visions for the semester. Either way, this can serve as the spot where you get your extra push to keep going.
Room Essentials™ Pixel Rose Woven Cotton Toss Pillow
Having great decor that doubles as something that serves you well is a lost art, but not with this pillow. Not only will it make your bed look cozy, but it also serves as a soft place to land.
Room Essentials™ Corduroy Compressed Foam Dorm Chair Cream
Place this in the corner of your dorm and you’ll be able to check off your reading list in no time. This can also serve as a place to catch a quick nap, a breather, or a place to meditate between classes.
Room Essentials™ Trailing Prayer Artificial Plant
Having a busy schedule isn’t quite suitable for a plant mom, but you can still have the look and feel of greenery in your dorm with this dupe. Sometimes, just looking at plants can restore feelings of serenity and good vibes, which is why this artificial one is just as good as the real deal.
Room Essentials™ Quilted Wearable Blanket White/Tan Pattern
Rough day? No problem! Thanks to this wearable blanket, you can find comfort anywhere throughout the day, not just within the walls of your dorm. Yet, you still may find it the perfect thing to pair with the Room Essentials™ Corduroy Compressed Foam Dorm Chair Cream.
Room Essentials™ 4'x5'6" Solid Shag Accent Rug Ivory
Use this as the perfect room divider for you and your roomie. It’s soft, serene, and can help the two of you decipher your respective sides of the room without it being awkward or weird. There’s no better way to rid bad vibes than with a plush rug.
For The Sporty Prepster:
Room Essentials™ Gaming Chair Navy
Created with the avid gamer in mind, this chair will allow you to set up your system in your new dorm room while also helping you to be mindful of sharing a space with others.
Room Essentials™ Twin/Twin XL Corduroy Plaid Comforter Navy
Designed with The Sporty One in mind, this bedding gives off the perfect cool vibes.
Room Essentials™ Printed Plaid Ribbed Plush Throw (Navy/Gray/Ivory)
Keep the comfort without taking the comforter off your bed with this matching blanket that can be used while gaming, studying, or even after a long day of practice.
Room Essentials™ Pinstripe Plaid Toss Pillow Cobalt Blue
Comfort isn’t out the window just because you live a life on the move. This pillow serves as a great decorative piece, but can be used to equip you with a little piece of “feel good” between classes and practice.
Room Essentials™ 4'x5'6" Rugby Striped Accent Rug Gray/Blue
Use this as a room divider between you and your roommates, or place it at the edge of your bed for a comfortable place to sit on those days when your chairs don’t do it.
Room Essentials™ Rocking Floor Lounge Chair Striped
If the gaming chair isn’t your thing, this can be placed in the corner to help you dive into leisure reading or assignments.
Room Essentials™ 16"x20" Wavy Frame Black
Create the perfect collage of memories with the team on this frame, or make it a sign-in sheet to collect memories from all of your guests. It could even be a place for them to leave notes of inspiration to guide you through the semester and season.
Room Essentials™ Metal Rolling Locker Cabinet Blue
Perfect for additional storage without taking up too much space. This piece can be used to store your Hero Cosmetics Mighty Patch® Pimple Patches, nail clippers, or even a water bottle or shaker cup.
Room Essentials™ 2pk Magnetic Lidded Boxes Blue
There’s no such thing as too much storage in a dorm room, where extra space is always necessary. These lidded boxes can be used to store additional clothing items or for everyday items like Versed™ Dew Point Moisturizing Gel-Cream, e.l.f. Wow Brow Gel or Clear Brow & Lash Mascara, or Native Deodorant.
Room Essentials™ Channeled Barrel Back Office Chair Green
Who says you can’t have comfort and style while knocking out assignments throughout the semester? Moreover, the color of this uniquely designed chair brings a sense of peace by just looking at it, adding to the much-needed comfort to make your dorm the perfect oasis.
Featured image courtesy
RELATED
Kayla Nicole says she wore a dress that was once worn by Braxton herself for the Halloween costume. “It’s not a secret Toni is more on the petite side. I’m obsessed with all 5’2” of her,” she tells xoNecole via email. “But I’m 5’10'' and not missing any meals, honey, so to my surprise, when I got the dress and it actually fit, I knew it was destiny.”
The episode was the perfect way for the multihyphenate to take control of her own narrative. By addressing the viral moment on her own platform, she was able to stir the conversation and keep the focus on her adoration for Braxton, an artist she says she grew up listening to and who still makes her most-played playlist every year. Elsewhere, she likely would’ve received questions about whether or not the costume was a subliminal aimed at her ex-boyfriend and his pop star fiancée. “I think that people will try to project their own narratives, right?” she said, hinting at this in the episode. “But, for me personally – I think it’s very important to say this in this moment – I’m not in the business of tearing other women down. I’m in the business of celebrating them.”
Kayla Nicole is among xoNecole’s It Girl 100 Class of 2025, powered by SheaMoisture, recognized in the Viral Voices category for her work in media and the trends she sets on our timelines, all while prioritizing her own mental and physical health. As she puts it: “Yes, I’m curating conversations on my podcast The Pre-Game, and cultivating community with my wellness brand Tribe Therepē.”
Despite being the frequent topic of conversation online, Kayla Nicole says she’s learning to take advantage of her growing social media platform without becoming consumed by it. “I refuse to let the internet consume me. It’s supposed to be a resource and tool for connection, so if it becomes anything beyond that I will log out,” she says.
On The Pre-Game, which launched earlier this year, she has positioned herself as listeners “homegirl.” “There’s definitely a delicate dance between being genuine and oversharing, and I’ve had to learn that the hard way. Now I share from a place of reflection, not reaction,” she says. “If it can help someone feel seen or less alone, I’ll talk about it within reason. But I’ve certainly learned to protect parts of my life that I cherish most. I share what serves connection but doesn’t cost me peace.
"I refuse to let the internet consume me. It’s supposed to be a resource and tool for connection, so if it becomes anything beyond that I will log out."
Credit: Malcolm Roberson
Throughout each episode, she sips a cocktail and addresses trending topics (even when they involve herself). It’s a platform the Pepperdine University alumnus has been preparing to have since she graduated with a degree in broadcast journalism, with a concentration in political science.
“I just knew I was going to end up on a local news network at the head anchor table, breaking high speed chases, and tossing it to the weather girl,” she says. Instead, she ended up working as an assistant at TMZ before covering sports as a freelance reporter. (She’s said she didn’t work for ESPN, despite previous reports saying otherwise.) The Pre-Game combines her love for pop culture and sports in a way that once felt inaccessible to her in traditional media.
She’s not just a podcaster, though. When she’s not behind the mic, taking acting classes or making her New York Fashion Week debut, Kayla Nicole is also busy elevating her wellness brand Tribe Therepē, where she shares her workouts and the workout equipment that helps her look chic while staying fit. She says the brand will add apparel to its line up in early 2026.
“Tribe Therepē has evolved into exactly what I have always envisioned. A community of women who care about being fit not just for the aesthetic, but for their mental and emotional well-being too. It’s grounded. It’s feminine. It’s strong,” she says. “And honestly, it's a reflection of where I am in my life right now. I feel so damn good - mentally, emotionally, and physically. And I am grateful to be in a space where I can pour that love and light back into the community that continues to pour into me.”
Tap into the full It Girl 100 Class of 2025 and meet all the women changing game this year and beyond. See the full list here.
Featured image by Malcolm Roberson
Meanwhile, frankincense and myrrh originate from the Middle East and Africa (you know, like the Bible does — some folks need to be reminded of that—eh hem — Trumpers) and ginger? It too helps with indigestion (which can definitely creep up at Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner tables); plus, it’s a key ingredient for ginger snaps and gingerbread houses. So, as you can see, holiday-themed scents have a rhyme and reason to them.
Tying this all in together — several years ago, I penned an article for the platform entitled, “Are You Ready To Have Some Very Merry ‘Christmas Sex’?” Well, in the spirit of revisiting some of that content, with a bit of a twist, I decided to broach some traditional holiday scents from the perspective of which ones will do your libido a ton of good from now through New Year’s Eve (check out “Make This Your Best NYE. For Sex. EVER.”).
Are you ready to check some of them out, so that, whether it’s via a candle, a diffuser, some essential oil, or some DIY body cream (check out “How To Incorporate All Five Senses To Have The Best Sex Ever”), you can bring some extra festive ambiance into your own boudoir? Excellent.
1. Vanilla
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When it comes to holiday desserts, you’re going to be hard-pressed to find recipes that don’t include vanilla — and that alone explains why it is considered to be a traditional holiday scent. As far as your libido goes, vanilla is absolutely considered to be an aphrodisiac — partly because its sweet scent is considered to be very sensual. Some studies even reveal that vanillin (the active ingredient in vanilla) is able to increase sexual arousal and improve erectile dysfunction in men. So, if you adore the smell, here is more incentive to use it.
2. Frankincense
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Although, typically, when people think about frankincense (and myrrh), it’s in the context of the gifts that the wise men brought Christ after he was born; it’s a part of the biblical Christmas story. However, frankincense goes much deeper than that. Sexually, since it has an earthy and spicy scent, some people like to use it to meditate (check out “What Exactly Is 'Orgasmic Meditation'?”). Also, since it has the ability to put you in a better mood, soothe and soften your skin and maintain your oral health — with the help of frankincense, every touch and kiss can be that much…sexier.
3. Cinnamon
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I already gave cinnamon a shout-out in the intro. Personally, I’ve been a fan of it, in the sex department, for a long time now (check out “12 ‘Sex Condiments’ That Can Make Coitus Even More...Delicious”). When it’s in oil form, it can be very sweet to the taste while sending a warm sensation throughout the body — which is why the giver and receiver of oral sex can benefit from its usage. Beyond that, cinnamon helps to increase blood flow to your genital region, elevate sexual desire and, some studies say that it can even help improve fertility. Beautiful.
4. Peppermint
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If there’s a signature candy for the holiday season, it’s probably a candy cane — which automatically puts peppermint in the running for being an official holiday scent. Pretty much, in any form, it’s got your sex life’s back because it’s hailed as being a sexual stimulant; in part, because its smell is so invigorating. Plus, it helps to (eh hem) ease headaches, it gives you more energy and it can definitely help to freshen your breath. Also, that minty sensation? The same thing that I said about cinnamon can apply to peppermint too (if you catch my drift).
5. Ginger
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Whether it’s in a meal or in your bedroom, ginger is going to produce results that are hella spicy. On the sex tip, science has praised ginger for being able to increase sexual arousal, improve blood circulation (which intensifies orgasms) and strengthen fertility for many years. Scent-wise, I find it to be one that both men and women enjoy because it is both woodsy and sweet. So, if you’ve got some massage oil in mind, adding some ginger is a way to please you both.
6. Pomegranate
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September through December is the time of year when pomegranates are considered to be in season. And, as someone who is a Rosh Hashanah observer, I have a personal adoration for them because I am aware of the various things that they symbolize in Hebrew culture including the fact that they are a fruit that represents love and fertility. So yeah, they would absolutely be an aphrodisiac — one that is perfect for this time of the year. While consuming it helps to boost testosterone levels in both men and women, the floral bittersweet smell that it produces can help to reduce stress while promoting relaxation (like most floral scents do) — and the more relaxed you are, the easier it is to climax.
7. Nutmeg
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Another signature seasoning during the holiday season is nutmeg. It’s perfect in Thanksgiving sweet potato (or pumpkin) pie and Christmas morning French toast. And yes, it can also make your sex life better. If you consume it, it can intensify your libido and, overall, its warm-meets-spicy-meets-sweet smell is so inviting that it is considered to be a pretty seductive scent.
8. Cloves
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I ain’t got not one lie to tell you — if you’ve got a toothache, put some clove oil on that bad boy and send me a Christmas present for putting you on game. Aside from that, as I round all of this out, cloves are another holiday scent that can do wonders for your sex life. For men, it has the ability to significantly increase sexual arousal and improve stamina and endurance. For men and women alike, it also has a reputation for strengthening sexual desire. And for women solely? Well, if you want an all-natural way to increase natural lubrication down below — the scent and and feel (in DILUTED oil form) can make that happen. It can make the holidays especially special…if you know what I mean.
Ah yes — the atmosphere of the holidays and what it can do.
Take it all in! Scent ‘n whatever stimulating that comes with it! #wink
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Featured image by Giphy