Auburn University {Apartment Bedroom}

First things first: just like last year, I very carefully and thoughtfully packed for the move. A few items were instrumental in keeping move-in day smooth and stress-free:

And, let’s not underestimate the importance of muscle power! These two cuties are high school friends, teammates and now pledges in his fraternity that showed up to help us out.

I laid everything out in the garage in advance and packed by space within each room. Every bag was labeled with painter’s tape and a Sharpie. For example: bedroom – bedding; bedroom – desk; bedroom – closet; bedroom – hanging clothes. One bag held only “supplies” – tools, hanging materials, cleaning supplies, etc. Having everything sorted this way was a game-changer.

Now regardless of how well I packed, this was how it went in the car. LOL.

Apartment Living Sophomore Year

For sophomore year, John is living in an apartment right on campus. The location couldn’t be better -convenient to his fraternity, dining options, and classroom buildings, and right along the Tiger Transit line. It’s a four bed/four bath unit with a nice-sized porch, kitchen, living room, and laundry closet.

Also like last year, this was a completely collaborative project. We were able to reuse almost everything we purchased for the dorm, but since this is an unfurnished apartment, we had to provide furniture and make a few key new purchases. John wanted to see every single thing before it was ordered, and I love how much he cared about the process. The end result feels so personal to him, and it was such fun for me to work on it alongside him.

Here’s a little before and after:

Bedding & Sources

John’s room is slightly smaller than the others, and has the trickiest layout (of course!). But we made it work, and he’s really happy with how it turned out. He wanted the bed fully against the wall… and so, against the wall it went. I explained how difficult that would make changing the sheets, but that fell on deaf ears.

He loved having a headboard in the dorm, so the bed we purchased was intentional – a full-sized upholstered headboard, perfect for propping up while studying. The full-size mattress was a big upgrade from last year’s twin, and he’s thrilled.

As much as we loved last year’s rug, I had to go at the end of the year. It was completely worn out and too small for this space anyway. He chose something more neutral for sophomore year and I think it works perfectly with the space overall. The little tiger rug was from Five Below a few months ago.

Last year, our biggest dorm investment was in art, and I’m so glad we did it. We had several special pieces from my favorite artsy friend, Brandon Art Co., along with other great finds. Being able to reuse them this year was fantastic, and over the past year I couldn’t resist adding a few more to beef up his growing collection. I love that this is something he’ll carry with him from dorm, to apartment, and maybe one day to a man cave in his first home. Once all the furniture was in place, I held up each piece and John chose exactly where it would go.

Bedside Table & Lighting

The cube storage system we bought last year is back, this time doubling as a practical bedside table. It’s the perfect size for a task lamp, with plenty of storage for books, photos, and all the things he’ll inevitably collect as the year goes on.

On top sits one of my favorite details in the whole room – the Tiger Lamp I DIY’d just before the move. It’s quirky, meaningful, and such a fun nod to Auburn.

As for the window beside his bed, last year he begged me for blackout curtains and I stood firm. This year? After proving himself with a perfect GPA (among other things), I finally caved. He now has a nice big window with a lovely view… though with blackout curtains installed, I suspect his room will feel more like a vampire’s lair than a bright college bedroom.

The tower fan rounds out this area.

Desk & Study Corner

The desk was something we already had stored in the attic, and I was happy to finally start unloading pieces I’d tucked away for this very stage and phase of life. It’s a great size and fits perfectly between the closet and bathroom doors, like it was meant to be there.

His desk chair is another holdover from last year – one of those purchases I consider a solid college investment. Above the desk hangs the War Eagle neon sign, one of my favorite finds last year, and something I can see him keeping for years to come. He also chose to display his framed Sigma Chi certificate above.

Functionally, he brought back his extra-large mouse pad and we were able to reuse a number of practical items like the task lamp, surge protectors and power strips. I also re-stocked him with the essentials: Post-its, pens, pencils, highlighters, scissors, tape, stapler, hole punch, sheet protectors, a few binders, and notebooks.

This year, with a car on campus and timely Amazon delivery available, I’m not nearly as concerned about him finding what he needs. Still, I love knowing he’s set up for success from the start. (Although let’s be honest – this desk will probably see more late-night gaming than essay writing.)

Dresser & Organization Wall

The final wall in the room holds his dresser, storage towers, and a little organizational area… truly the workhorse side of the bedroom. The dresser has a special story: it was Honey’s as a child, Whit’s as a bay and has been tucked away in our attic for ages. Just like with the desk, I’m thrilled to see it pressed into use and given new life in John’s space.

John begged for a TV in his bedroom this year and how could I say no? He’s almost twenty, living in an apartment, and we actually already had the TV. All we needed to purchase was a simple stand since his lease doesn’t allow wall-mounted TVs (nails and screws for art are fine, but no TVs).

He was also determined to reuse the two wood storage towers from his dorm, so we flanked the dresser with them. It not only made sense for symmetry, but also gave him plenty of vertical storage. We added a mix of framed photos from home and treasures like the mosaic he created on our Adventures by Disney trip last summer. His Alexa is back too. Both boys use theirs daily for alarms, reminders, and even music while studying. The monogrammed valet tray, a high school graduation gift, holds his air-tagged wallet and keys.

I added a few family photos, some pins he collected and a few verses to his board. Last year when we moved him out of the dorm, he had hand written these on paper and taped them above his desk. I typed and printed them for his board, and saved the hand written versions in his memory box at home. <3

To the right of the dresser, John anchored his growing collection of Brandon Art Co. Auburn prints. They’re bold, collegiate, and such a fun reflection of his school spirit. I can see these moving with him from apartment to apartment for years to come. On the left side, he requested two very practical additions: a dry erase calendar and a pin board, both of which will (hopefully!) help him stay on top of his schedule.

That just about sums it up for the bedroom. I’ll share the bathroom, closet, and common spaces soon, but this little room holds the most meaning. Creating it with him, and for him, was such a joy. It’s a room stitched with memories, a place that feels both familiar and new. And while the goodbye never gets easier, knowing he has a space that feels warm, cozy, and entirely his made my heart rest a little easier.

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