My First Apartment: Design Advice for Parents and Kids
When I was accepted to Auburn University in 1989, I received a letter in the mail. I was standing in the kitchen, with my mom, and I knew it was good news because the envelope was fat. I only remember reading that I was accepted and I’m sure all the other papers got put in a drawer. With that, I missed the deadline for dorms and the only space available was an on-campus apartment. My dad was not happy, but I was thrilled! I was 17 and couldn’t wait to move in to my first place.
In 1989 there wasn’t Pinterest, social media or even websites, so I had no idea what I was walking into. We pulled in to a 1950’s style apartment complex. Back in the day, it was the housing for married and graduate students. Eventually, they converted it to the overflow student housing (aka the procrastinators). We opened the door to find old school linoleum floors, avocado green vinyl furniture and cinder block walls. I literally cried!
Mom to the rescue. We headed to Walmart and bought bedsheets in the prettiest floral pattern, along with rolls and rolls of ribbon. She whipped up slipcovers in no time and there was no evidence of that ugly vinyl. Then, we started hanging posters on the wall and covered the ugly floors with rugs. I was so proud of that little apartment and I wish I had photos.
Fast forward to last year. My son transferred to FSU and found an unfurnished apartment. It was built in the 50’s and looked almost identical to my first apartment at Auburn. Here’s a photo of the model apartment we toured so you get a full picture. We had a budget and he insisted on a one bedroom, so this was the result.
Now, most college apartments are fully furnished so I’m going to focus on ways to personalize those for your student or young adult. Rugs are one of the best ways to make a big impact in a room. Here is one I ordered for my son’s apartment and it comes in lots of colors. A room size is less than $200.00 and the quality is great. Having a rug with no pile (like this one) keeps the dust down and makes it super easy to clean. If the bedroom is a hard surface flooring, then you will need a rug in there, too. Here is one I have in my guest bedroom, again it comes in many colors. It’s a short term solution until I find the right one.
Shower curtains are the best way to transform a drab bathroom. Add a rug and towels for a pulled together look. Target is a great source and here are some of my favorites. For towels, I recommend tan or gray. From my own personal experience, bleach can’t even touch a college boy’s white towels. Each image has a link.
The final way to personalize a college apartment is with bedding. Most of the time, the bedroom is their own personal sanctuary and they will spend a lot of time in bed. This mattress pad is a splurge but I swear by it. It will turn the most rock hard mattress into a dream. Be sure to add a foam topper as well. I have the same advice for the sheets as the towels, go with gray, beige or some other light color.
For bedding, I recommend a print vs. something solid. A print will hide a multitude of sins as I can bet that it won’t be washed on a regular basis. It also brings in a lot of personality. Duvet covers are easy to take off when it’s time to do laundry. Some of my favorite sources are Anthropology, West Elm, CB2, Amazon and Target. All the ones pictured below coordinate with the shower curtains I featured. Each one has a link.
The insert all depends on where you live. We bought a lightweight one from Ikea and my son has used his for years. If you can use sheets that compliment the duvet, then you don’t have to worry with shams.
Finally, look for pieces that serve more than one purpose. A desk as a night stand. Ottoman or bench that opens with storage. I also love nesting tables and floor lamps for small spaces.
If you’re sending someone off this fall, I wish you all the best. If you’re doing it for the first time, I promise it gets better. Our nest has officially been empty for three years. Thankfully, my bird comes back every week for a hot meal and to do his laundry. BUT he dropped a bomb a few months ago saying he was going to join the Marines after graduation. I’m still trying to come to terms with that news.