Best Room Contest
The deadline to enter this year’s Best Room Contest has passed. Finalists will be announced in early April.
Each year, University Housing hosts a competition to find the best-decorated room in the University Residence Halls. Show off your room for a chance to win prizes, have your room professionally photographed, and earn the title of the best room on campus, picked from hundreds of entries!

Prizes

- If your entry adheres to the rules and eligibility, you and your roommates (if any) will be eligible to pick up a free Wisconsin Bucky Badger t-shirt from the University Book Store.
- Each resident of one finalist room from each residence hall will receive a $25 University Book Store gift card.
- Each resident of one grand prize winner room chosen from the finalists by Housing student employees will win a $300 University Book Store gift card and a $250 IKEA gift card.
Note: prizes provided by the University Book Store and IKEA, not UW–Madison. T-shirts can be picked up starting Monday, April 6 by showing a valid photo ID at the University Book Store’s State Street location.
Rules & Eligibility
University Housing’s Best Room Contest is open to undergraduate residents living in all residence halls.
- Late entries (those submitted after March 8, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.) will be disqualified
- Pictures of your room must have enough light that your room is clearly visible from a wide angle
- A picture of you and any of your roommates must be included with one of the pictures uploaded
- Rooms will be selected as finalists by University Housing staff based on cleanliness, creativity, best use of space, and individuality
- If living in a double/triple/quad occupancy room, ALL roommates must agree to enter the contest
- Entries that display a violation of the University Residence Halls contract or Student Housing Handbook will be disqualified
- By entering the contest, participants agree to the use of their photographs and name to be used by University Housing in electronic/print publications, social media, promotional videos, and other multimedia
- Finalists will be contacted by University Housing regarding a brief professional photo shoot in their room for judging and promotional purposes
- Social media interactions will not be factored into the selection of the grand prize-winning room
- Grand prize winners will need to complete paperwork to receive their prize and may need to report the prize on their tax forms
- Prizes are provided by the University Book Store and IKEA, not UW–Madison
- This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or other social media; you are providing your information to the UW–Madison Division of University Housing
2025 Winner
Slichter
Avery & Katie









We wanted to show Badger colors with a pink accent.
2025 Finalists
Adams
Steven




Barnard
Christina




Bradley
Katelyn & Bella




Chadbourne
Noah & Carlos




Cole
Emily & Emallie




Dejope
Siiri, Maggie, Brooke, & Kelsie




Jorns
Rex & Aiden




Kronshage
Kathryn & Eliza




Leopold
Mason




Merit
Lindsey & Kasia




Ogg
Kendall, Abby, & Aubrey




Phillips
Paige-Elizabeth




Sellery
Avery & Ellie




Slichter
Avery & Katie




Smith
Michelle & Natalee




Sullivan
Claire & Sophie




Tripp
Andrea




Waters
Oliva & Anne




Witte
Madison & Hazel




Previous Winners









We both grew up as Badger fans, so we figured this was the only time in our lives we could really embrace decorating a room with all things WISCONSIN! We wanted to make it pretty and feminine, so we decided to go with a red and pink color scheme, with personalized artwork and monogrammed blankets. We love how it turned out and hope you do too!









We wanted a cozy, down-to-earth vibe that made guests feel like they were walking into a mini-apartment. Being avid botany enthusiasts, we wanted to liven our space with an assortment of plants. We wanted a clean, boho aesthetic that also honored both of our individual interests and styles. The colors that best fit this vision included corals, oranges, pinks, blues, and of course greens. This artistic convergence of ideas is perhaps best exemplified in the rug that covers the entire floor, able to be exposed by the placement of our beds that creates a living space. We had so much fun accessorizing our spaces with our own personal touches that made our new place like our home away from home.









We wanted our room to say “sophisticated glam,” so we used lots of navy blue and bluish pink.









When we found out we’d be living together, we immediately took to Pinterest. We knew we’d be in desperate need of a space that would be both comfortable and motivational at the same time. By combining our favorite colors, fluffy styles, and each other, we’ve created a space everyone in Ogg loves. We’ve also become advocates for our own room layout. We find it’s the best way to set up an Ogg room — where both beds and a futon are able to face a TV. We couldn’t be any happier with our room and we love this chance to share it with even more people!










































