How an Augusta University Senior Made Her Room “the Ultimate Hangout Spot” (with Her Freshman Year Furniture!)

Raegan Johnson’s (@Raegananiyahh on Tiktok, @raegananiyahh on Instagram, @raegananiyahh on YouTube) room is gold, pink, and coquette all over. The Augusta University senior and her roommate set out to make their space as comfortable and inviting as possible, while also incorporating their unique styles. 

“We share the goal of creating a space that feels like home — not just for us, but for anyone who stops by,” she says. I’d say Raegan achieved everything she intended to, thanks to her furry pillows, pink accents, and soft bedding.

How’d you end up in this space? This space was assigned to me by my university’s housing office.

Now that you’ve made the space your own, what specifically do you love about it? At first, I thought it looked quite old and a bit uninviting compared to other campus housing I had seen. However, what I’ve come to appreciate is that even if the space isn’t aesthetically pleasing at first, you have the power to make it your own. I truly believe that it’s what you do with a space that makes it feel like home.

What’s your space best known for? This year, my roommate and I really want our space to be the ultimate hangout spot for us and our friends. We’ve focused on making it cozy, inviting, and full of personality so that everyone feels comfortable and welcome.

Define your personal home style: My personal decor style has evolved over the past three years in college, with each year reflecting a different theme. This year I’m leaning into a pink, girly coquette aesthetic — I’ve been absolutely obsessed with all things bow-inspired!

What’s your favorite element of your space? My favorite thing about my space is the wallpaper; it really sets the tone and creates the exact vibe I was going for. It adds so much personality and makes the room feel uniquely mine.

What’s your proudest DIY or product hack? One of the things I love most about the wallpaper is how it creates the illusion that the entire wall is fully covered; it looks so natural, like it was always meant to be there. Another thing I’m really proud of is that I didn’t spend a ton on decor. I reused items from my freshman year, as I’ve stuck with a similar theme of pink, white, and gold, and I also had a few extra things left over from last year. The rest of my pieces came from budget-friendly places like Amazon, T.J. Maxx, and Ross, which helped me pull everything together without breaking the bank.

In an effort to remove the stigma associated with talking about money in college, we’re asking students to share how they plan and budget for their space.

How much does your housing cost per semester? Around $4,000.

Do you have anyone helping to fund your housing? Financial aid and scholarships.

Do you pay for your living expenses? Yes

How do you earn your income? Work study and side hustle.

How much did it cost to decorate your space? Around $300.

Do you have anyone helping to fund your decor? No.

What was your best budget find for this space? My gold mirror from Walmart, which was $8.

What was your biggest splurge for this space? The wallpaper (3 rolls for $102).

What was your biggest challenge in decorating your space? The biggest challenge I face pretty much every year is dealing with the uncertainty of how everything will come together. I always have tons of inspiration, ideas, and a clear aesthetic in mind, so I tend to buy decor pieces to match that vision but I get overwhelmed that it won’t turn out the way I imagined. It’s a bit of a creative gamble each time! To work through it, I try to trust the process, stay flexible, and remind myself that creating a space I love doesn’t have to be perfect right away; it just has to feel like me.

What’s your best tip for optimizing a small space? One of my favorite small-space tips is using multi-functional storage, like decorative bins, under-bed storage, and over-the-door organizers. They help keep everything tidy without sacrificing style. I also swear by organizing things by category and giving everything a “home” so it’s easier to stay clutter-free. For cleaning, I try to stick to a quick weekly routine. Nothing major — just little touch-ups to keep things fresh and manageable. It really makes a difference in how calm and put-together the space feels!

This submission’s responses were edited for length and clarity.

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