Maximizing Style in a Small College Bedroom

This post is sponsored by The Home Depot, but all text, images, and opinions are all my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that keep Thou Swell running!

Project by: Kevin Francis Design

When I got the chance to makeover a college bedroom, I knew my best friend Emma’s room would be the perfect project. I visit her apartment at Auburn University often and she has a great sense of style, so we worked together easily to sort through the Back to Campus product guide to find the perfect pieces to make the most of Emma’s bedroom. When working with small spaces, it can be hard to find space to live, work, and play – but form and function come hand-in-hand for a lot of the pieces in this design. I found apartment-friendly furniture with storage and all the cutest accessories to style out the space on the Home Depot website. See the room before and check out the rest of the design below!

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BEFORE & AFTERThe bedroom benefitted so much from a simple rearrangement of the furniture! We placed the new headboard in the center of the wall, to create separate spaces for the nightstand and desk to sit. This broke up the space into sleep and work areas and helped make the bed the center of attention in the room. I placed six-cube organizer at the end of the bed, acting as a functional footboard that great storage space to the room.

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On the other side of the room, I used the corner to create a vanity area with a corner desk and storage ottoman that’s as practical as it is stylish! With a crystal lamp to illuminate this corner and double pinboards for organizing inspiration and to-do lists, these new pieces use the space carefully to create practical workspaces.

KEY TEXTILESTextiles are of utmost importance in the bedroom, from the bedding to the floor. I was thrilled to see this beautiful embroidered border bedding from Home Decorators Collection which is the perfect base for adding color with fun throw pillows. I also added a striped throw blanket in a very versatile light grey.

This area rug instantly brightened the room as soon as it was unrolled! The colors work in any space and the low pile makes it so easy to maintain. I love the Moroccan-style pattern as well. It’s important to invest in a size that will cover the space, as this will unify the room and connect all of the separate areas, bringing it all together under one rug.

FUNCTIONAL FURNITUREEvery inch counts in a college bedroom, so making sure your furniture doubles up with extra storage space is key! I found ideal pieces for a small space, like this secretary desk that unfolds to create the perfectly-sized workspace. The small footprint helps it fit into the corner without compromising any storage space which stacks above and below the desk. I even utilized the top of the desk by placing the retro microwave on the top within easy reach.

The velvet ottoman provides sneaky place to stash things out of sight. When it’s not sitting under the vanity in the corner, it can be extra seating for a friend!

Don’t skimp on size with your nightstand, because it can be another place to bring storage space to your room. This one with a chic nailhead trim adds three surfaces and space for both the table lamp and a Google Nest Hub on top, plus everyday accessories like a water bottle and sunglasses.

ALL IN THE DETAILSWhen renting an apartment or living in a dorm, it’s easy to feel like a temporary resident. Bringing in personal details and livening up the space with artwork makes such a difference when it comes to making the space feel like home. I personalized Emma’s room with accents that reflected her personality and reminded me of her favorite things, like the palm trees and rabbit framed canvas prints above her bed.

I’m so happy with how the room came out, and can’t wait to spend time here with Emma when I visit Auburn. For more inspiration, head over to Home Depot’s Back to Campus shopping guide!