Part I: Decorating “Mama’s Buffalos” APT.
Farmhouse, minimalist, and a little boho style all came together to create a beautiful functional space they love!
In Part I, I’m sharing how we transformed Dylan’s bedroom and ensuite bathroom into a clean, masculine, minimalist retreat—on a budget and under a tight summer timeline.
How This Project Came About
When my younger son graduated high school this past spring and announced he was joining his older brother at SUNY Buffalo, I felt all the expected mom feelings… excitement, pride, nostalgia. But when the boys told me they were getting an apartment with Tyler’s longtime girlfriend Emma—and that it was pre-furnished but completely undecorated—my creative brain lit up like a Christmas tree.
What started as “Maybe I’ll help you pick out a few things” quickly turned into the graduation gift: a full, top-to-bottom college apartment makeover. I decided I wanted to make it a gift for all three of them… and also for me, because I had way too much fun designing this space.
All summer long, the four of us traded screenshots, Amazon links, inspiration rooms, and AI mockups I created using the photos they sent me of the empty apartment. Piece by piece, I virtually laid out every room—right down to the wall art placements, tabletop styling, bedding layers, and entryway details.
And then, in the weeks leading up to move-in…
Mama went shopping.
A Few of the Faves:
Shop All the Buffalo Bedroom Finds Here
Let’s just say that as we approach the holidays, I feel especially aligned with the Grinch’s monologue:
“…packages, boxes, and bags!”
My porch looked like a distribution center. At Home and Hobby Lobby saw me way too often. And as the pieces started piling up in my foyer, I began sorting everything into piles by room—because I wanted move-in day to be totally seamless for the kids.
I even asked them (gently… okay, maybe not so gently) to bring only what they needed for the one night in before I arrived. Everything else stayed in the garage so I could start with a truly blank slate.
Decorating “zone one” for the college apartment makeover was Dylan’s room. It was his graduation gift, after all.
Dylan’s Bedroom and Bath— A Clean, Masculine, Music-Focused Retreat
Technically the gift started with Dylan and his room, so I wanted it to feel really personal and really him. Dylan has always trusted me when it comes to designing his spaces (“Mom, just make it look good”), but he did give me two important requests:
- He wanted a minimalist, masculine vibe.
- He wanted his instruments displayed—especially the cello.
This room was a bit of a puzzle. The keyboard, the cello, a bed, a nightstand, a chair, a desk, and storage… all in a layout with angles and alcoves that could easily get cluttered. It was definitely a challenge. But, I think it turned out really well.
📌 Pin this for later!
The fact that he loves it is my favorite part ❤️
After: Simple, but intentional and welcoming…and, most importantly, Dylan
Throughout the design, I stuck to a grounding palette of deep green mixed with neutrals, using clean, unfussy lines and only décor that added meaning or warmth. He’s my tidy kid, so the room needed to feel calm and intentional—nothing staged or overdone.
Design highlights:
- Dark green comforter + textured neutrals to soften it
- Simple, masculine wall art from Hobby Lobby
- Minimal bedside styling with warm wood + black metals
- A light rug to brighten the room and define the space
- His cello displayed visibly but not overpowering the room
- Keyboard tucked just right so it’s accessible but not intrusive
Ultimately, this room ended up feeling like Dylan in décor form: clean, classic, musical, and uncluttered.
Shop All the Buffalo Bedroom Finds Here
Decor Faves:
Onto the Ensuite Bath…
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🫧Turning a Basic Bathroom into a Minimalist Retreat 🛁
Dylan isn’t someone who wants a lot of “stuff,” so the bathroom needed to stay practical and calm. I focused on a few elevated details—textured towels, matte black accents, and soft neutral décor—to make the space feel pulled together without overwhelming the small footprint.
Check back soon for College Apartment Makeover: Part II
This came out great! Love it. Thanks for the links!