max it’s not that serious

Not all college students see interior design the same way. For Max, a second year student, interior design is far from a creative outlet. Perhaps a bedroom can be a place for rest and nothing more?

“I feel pretty indifferent about my room. I sleep here, that’s about it.” With nothing on the walls and limited decor, it is clear Max does not share Ellie’s eclectic and sentimental approach. But he does not realize that his lack of purposeful expression is an expression within itself: you don’t need to carefully curate a specific design aesthetic in order to tell visitors something about yourself through your room. Above his bed is a series of post it notes, with messages ranging from “ Kick the Sheets” to “Fugg You” to “You R the SMALLEST BIRD.” Below them, an empty corndog box, which without him realizing gives a big insight into his personality, however you want to interpret that. His desk may lack the trinkets found in other spaces, but in their place is a series of protein powders, a pirate’s hat, and some school books. All of which create a bigger picture into who Max is and what is important to him. While design may not be something he prioritizes, it is impossible for a bedroom to be unexpressive.

Q: How would you describe your personal style?

A: I’d say pretty relaxed, comfortable. I don’t take my room too seriously.

Q: How did you decide what to put in this room? Was that something you thought about?

A: I initially put “kick the sheets” above my bed, telling myself to wake up and start the day. I think it was a Tik Tok trend. And now whenever my friend comes by he adds a note above my bed and it’s become this weird collection that kind of stuck. The rest of the things in my room are just little trinkets, like the cowboy hat and the glasses, just little mementos I’ve collected at school.

Q: Why did you never decide to hang up a poster or anything on your walls?

A: It’s something I’ve thought about, but I don’t think I’ve ever had a poster in a room before. I’ve had a couple ideas but I never pulled the trigger. It’s hard to find something to commit to. To put something big on the wall it would have to be something I really want to see every day. But this is fine as it is, I like my room like this.

Q: Do you spend a lot of time here?

A: Not a ton of time. Usually 11pm to 6am and then I’m out of here. I do all of my work in the library, so I’m pretty much just here to sleep.

Q: Has your room ever been representative of your personality in any way, or do you not see this as the space for expression?

A: I think the cleanliness of my room is a huge part of who I am, I’m a pretty organized person and my room represents that. Besides that, I feel like my room is mainly made up of useful things, like chargers to use or hats I wear. But there’s not a ton of personality in this room.

Q: How does this space make you feel?

A: For the most part I feel pretty indifferent about it. I sleep here, that’s about it. My stuff is here but I could hypothetically pack this all up in a few bags and go home really easily. It’s no big deal.

Q: Would you say that interior design means anything to you?

A: I’d say a little bit. I want to live in a space that feels more like home. Not that my room necessarily does. It could be more homey in here but I think right now it’s a good mix of clean and comfortable and minimal.

so... what now?

Regardless of your design philosophy, your bedroom says something about you. It is inevitable. Who you design for, what you design with, if you design at all… these factors are unique to each person and can be interpreted in thousands of different ways. There are some forms of self expression that are optional: dancing, creating art, decorating your body with tattoos, but none as intimate and universal as how and where you choose to live. For some, their bedroom is a culmination of memories, a gallery of sentimentality, a peaceful alcove, a public space… For others, a room exists to serve activities: a place to sleep, an area to sit, a desk to work. Whichever way you resonate with, your room is a reflection of who you are and how you choose to see yourself. What about yourself you choose to represent is entirely up to you.