Interior Design Archives - Page 3 of 3

Why We’re Moving Away from the Student Living of Yesterday

A 20 Year Evolution in Student Housing

Why Student Housing Has Changed

Over the past 20 years, student housing interior design has changed dramatically to accommodate the evolving needs and desires of new residents. Today’s student living environments stand in stark contrast to the institutional-style cells that passed for housing years ago. There are many reasons why this needed change is transforming the landscape of student housing interior design, and developers, owners, and apartment managers need to act now to embrace the change if they have hopes of attracting and retaining residents.

When Did Students Get So… Needy?

While some might attribute the sudden change in student living to the coronavirus pandemic of 2020, student housing design has been at the forefront of many property owners’ minds long before COVID-19 was ever a concern. In 2013, college campuses opened their doors to an entirely new population of students known as Generation Z. Born and raised in a society heavily influenced by mobile devices and modern technology, Gen Z students are used to having their needs prioritized.

As technology continues to dominate everyday life, tomorrow’s students will only come to expect more from their college living experience. Properties that fail to adapt to these changing needs will ultimately fall short of their leasing objectives.

What Do Today’s Students Expect from Their Living Experience?

So, what exactly do these students expect from their living environment? The answer to that question is a little different for each property; however, there are a few general rules of thumb that property managers should keep in mind when revamping their student housing interiors.

Amenities Are Everything

First and foremost, students expect access to a broad range of amenities. This doesn’t just include things like on-site laundry facilities and fitness centers: Properties need to expand their reach to include more high-end amenities that speak to residents’ unique surroundings. Such amenities might include:

Resort-style Pools
Dog Parks
Luxury Finishes
Private Bathrooms & Bedrooms
High-speed Internet
Indoor-outdoor Living Areas
Game Rooms
Full Kitchens

When choosing which amenities to include in your student housing property, it’s important to take stock of the local competition. Find out what other properties are offering residents that your apartment is currently lacking to easily fill the void and attract new students.

The Social Media Factor

As we mentioned earlier, today’s students are heavily influenced by mobile devices and social media in particular. Students want to have a “cool apartment” to show off on their social media profiles like Instagram and TikTok. Status signaling is a big part of today’s student culture, so it’s important to include unique architectural aspects in your student housing design that will make it stand out more on social media. This is why many student living managers are turning to skilled interior design specialists to help reimagine their spaces and attract more residents.

How Does SouthPark Interiors Approach Student Housing Design?

For nearly 20 years, SouthPark Interiors has remained on the cutting edge of student housing interior design. We pride ourselves on delivering living spaces that withstand the test of time but are still funky, cool, and edgy while offering unique amenities and luxury finishes. Our design specialists are capable of creating one-of-a-kind student housing properties that stand out from the crowd. With our years of student housing design experience, we are eager to help you refresh your space and attract new residents to your apartment. Discover how we can help transform your student housing design by connecting with our interior design team today!

Selecting the right art for your multi-family & student housing property

Student & Multi-family Housing Style

The Importance of Art Procurement

One of the most important aspects of any student housing design or multifamily interior design project is art procurement. Not only does art selection impact the overall aesthetic of your student housing design, but it also plays an active role in how residents enjoy and experience the space. SouthPark Interiors’ design team sources and selects the art that student housing managers need to provide an unparalleled college living experience for their residents.

How Does Art Play a Role in Interior Design?

Proper art selection isn’t just important for communicating the overall vibe of your property: It’s also a critical part of bringing the entire design together. A big, bold statement piece helps pull together all the different elements of the interior space. While big and bold artwork is encouraged, it’s important to consider all the different finishes, textures, and colors used throughout the entire interior when selecting pieces to display. For instance, you might really love the bright, orange hues in a specific piece, but if the dominant color used in the rest of your design is green, this might not be the best selection to make.

Why is Art Important to Student Living?

The importance of art in designing your student housing property cannot be overlooked. Art’s impact on mood and mental health has been well-documented for decades, making it a critical piece to any interior design. More than the quality of the art itself, the color palette featured in the artwork can have a major influence on things like:

Appetite
Energy
Relaxation
Focus
Creativity

Depending on what colors are dominant within the art piece, your student housing property could convey a number of subliminal messages to the residents enjoying the space. It’s important to work with an experienced interior designer who understands what colors and styles of art evoke the specific emotions you’re hoping that your residents will feel while living in your property.

What Type of Art is Popular for Student Housing Apartments?

While there are many studies that show what the general response to certain colors may be, art is very much subjective. What might have a positive response from one group of students may not be as well-received by others. It all depends on what the general aesthetic is for the rest of your design; however, there are certain considerations you can make that will make the art procurement process easier.

What Things Should Be Considered When Selecting Art?

Before you begin selecting pieces for your property, take time to consider the following:

Trends: Take a tour of some other student housing in the area to see what’s trending locally and what residents already know they like.
Murals: Rather than choosing an art piece, you might want to consider commissioning a mural for your student living area instead.
Locals: Finding local artists that speak to your surroundings is a great way to add a unique focal point to your space and tie your property back to the community.
Colors: Consider the color palette used throughout your space and use this as inspiration when searching for art to complete the aesthetic.

How Can SouthPark Interiors Help with Student Housing Art Procurement?

Choosing the right art for your property starts with selecting an experienced interior design team that can guide you through the procurement process. SouthPark Interiors has provided the art procurement services that student housing and multi-family property managers need to make the right impression on future and current residents. You will also want to find a design team with connections. SouthPark Interiors has access to hundreds of different art vendors. This access is provides you with a near limitless supply of different pieces. Allow our team to help you select the art that communicates your unique aesthetic by connecting with our interior designers for a consultation today!

Must-have trends for today’s student living

Today’s student is excited to be back on campus after spending time learning remotely for the past year, but has different expectations for what they are looking for in their next off-campus apartment. Students want to live in a community that reflects their social and cultural values and has the amenities and technology they need to study and connect with friends. Incorporating a few of these trends into your student housing communities is a great way to stand out from your competitors and be the place students want to live this school year and for years to come.

Here are a few of the top student housing trends that students are looking for in for 2021.

State-of-the-art technology

Today’s students are more tech-savvy than ever. After spending over a year on Zoom, many students have gotten accustomed to online learning and many will elect to continue taking virtual classes even after schools return to campus. Even those attending in-person will still use streaming platforms such as Zoom and FaceTime for group projects, study sessions and just connecting with friends who live elsewhere.

Students expect to live in a place with high speed internet so they can attend their online meetings without skipping a beat. They also are looking for places to study with upgraded technology and amenities to support these platforms, including streaming and screen sharing capabilities, as well as private sound-reducing pods or rooms to collaborate with their peers. Outside of their studies, students are also drawn to smart technology and apps in their apartment units that can control lighting, thermostats, and the entry to their units for added security.

Dynamic community spaces

Beyond just their studies, college students are hoping to build new friendships and memories that will last a lifetime. Designated community spaces are important for residents to gather with their peers and also for property staff to have areas to host property events. Additionally, they seek communities that have both indoor and outdoor amenity areas that are designed for both organic and planned gatherings.

More privacy

Traditionally, college students lived and gathered with multiple roommates and peers. However, in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, today’s student prefers the option to have more space and privacy. Instead of multiple large, open gathering spaces, today’s student prefers to have both the option to gather in a large open space and the option to study or lounge in a private area away from the crowds of people. Students today also prefer living spaces with fewer roommates or even studio apartments. Providing these options for students is crucial to leasing out your apartment units.

Alternative Transportation

Fewer students are choosing to bring cars to campus as they are opting to use public transportation, bikes or ride share services when they can’t easily walk to the grocery store, a friend’s apartment, or a restaurant. Because of this shift in transportation preferences, students need spaces to store, repair, or charge their bicycles, e-bikes, and electric scooters.

Adding amenities such as locking bike storage, charging stations, and bike repair equipment will separate your housing community from the competition, and it also shows you are adapting to the new forms of transportation that students prefer to use.

Unique Amenities

As more and more students have lived at home and choose to live off campus, your student housing apartment or dormitory will need to have unique and fun amenities to attract students. Students are looking for amenities and services that will make their lives easier. They want to live in places that not only provide now standard amenities such as outdoor grills and kitchens, laundry and dry-cleaning services, pet wash stations, fitness centers that provide classes, but unique amenity areas like video gaming centers, podcasting or recording studios, and areas for creating the perfect Instagram or TikTok.

Adding unique amenities to your space will create an environment that will set you apart from the competition and become the favorite place for students to live.

Innovative and Functional Design

College is the first time many young adults live away from their childhood home for an extended period of time, and these students are looking for spaces that feel both luxurious and familiar. Many students associate college living with unattractive and cold spaces and old unit furniture. Creating student living spaces with modern and functional furniture and vibrantly designed spaces helps make your college student feel at home in their student housing community.

How Interior Design Eases the Transition to Student Life

Tailoring your off-campus apartment design to the unique needs of incoming students helps ensure they are entering an environment that allows them to learn and grow. With each academic year that passes, a new wave of students come to experience the thrill of college life. But what the students of yesteryear required from their housing units isn’t necessarily what your new students will need to foster an effective learning environment.

Students entering the 2021 – 2022 academic year have faced many unique challenges that housing developments must consider. By incorporating strategic changes to your property’s interior design, you can provide your students with the surroundings they need to thrive in academia.

What Challenges Do Students Face in 2021?

During a year that turned many long-held institutions and traditions flatly on their head, college campuses were among the hardest hit. The COVID-19 pandemic completely transformed the way students learn and interact with one another overnight. As a result, high school graduates entering college for the first time face distinct challenges that freshmen from years past did not.

Connectivity

One of the biggest challenges that students faced during the pandemic was disparity in internet connectivity. Many schools transitioned to online “distance learning” in an effort to keep students educated despite the outbreak. However, this move to online learning failed account for the fact that some students did not have access to a strong internet connection. In some cases, students were unable to attend class altogether, causing their grades to slip.

Especially as the trend to offer more online and hybrid learning opportunities continues, student housing properties will need to ensure that both their in-unit and amenity spaces are well-connected to keep students on-track for academic success.

Isolation

Because of the move to online learning, many students reported feeling socially isolated. Depression and anxiety were at an all-time high among these age groups, and studies showed how students craved either a hybrid learning or in-person experience. While it may not be possible to hold classes 100% in-person for some universities, it’s important for student housing centers to consider how they can promote connection to community while keeping students safe and healthy.

Burnout

Since students are forced to live and learn in the same environment (at home or in their off-campus apartment), this can lead to quick burnout. Lack of motivation and exhaustion from online learning are common side effects seen among incoming 2021 freshmen. These students require a clear separation from their studies and their personal lives in order to thrive academically.

How Can Interior Design Help Ease the Transition?

Perhaps one of the most impactful changes that student housing properties can make is to their interior design. In fact, each of the challenges discussed above can be made easier by incorporating strategic changes to your student housing design.

Study Pods & Private Study Areas

In recent history, interior design trends showed a preference for Starbucks-style open workspaces for students to gather and collaborate. However, post-pandemic students will require more privacy so they can focus on their studies and feel more productive. Incorporating study pods and more private study areas is a great way to overcome the academic challenges students face in online learning. These “pods” should prioritize comfort and strong internet connectivity, providing students with a powerful yet peaceful study space.

Community Spaces

While privacy is important as these students require a place where they can focus and catch up academically, it’s also imperative that they have places where they can work together. Consider incorporating intimate yet flexible community spaces in your student housing design where students can interact one-on-one. Providing small-scale community spaces will help students overcome feelings of isolation while still adhering to Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) guidelines around social distancing. Making a space flexible and multi-use gives operators the ability to use the space in different ways as the needs of their residents change.

Work & Play

One of the biggest interior design changes that student housing properties should make is finding ways to clearly define which areas are for work and which are for play. Especially with increased reports of academic burnout due to at-home learning, helping students separate their studies from their personal lives through strategic design will go a long way in propelling their academic success.

SouthPark Interiors for Your Student Housing Design

Student housing apartments seeking to revamp their interior design ahead of the 2021 – 2022 academic year will benefit from working with a team of skilled professionals. At SouthPark Interiors, our designers have helped transform off-campus properties throughout the United States for nearly 20 years. We understand the unique challenges that incoming freshmen and new students face, and we have the interior design expertise to help you provide a space for your students to grow and thrive. Start strategically designing your student housing projects today by scheduling a consultation with our interior design team!

How Lead Designer Emily Marriner Approaches Student Housing Interior Design

Getting the most out of your student housing design means finding an interior design professional that’s capable of providing the personalized service you need. No two student ho using properties are exactly the same: From design and functionality to amenities and layout, each student housing property should speak to the individual needs and preferences of the unique student residents they serve.

Meet Emily Hiott, Our Student Housing Interior Design Expert

One of our leading interior designers is Emily Marriner (Hiott), our in-house student housing expert. Earning her B.S. in Interior Design from Appalachian State, Emily has nearly a decade of experience working solely in the student housing design space and is also a NCIDQ Certified Designer.

Her keen eye for detail and deep understanding of the student housing market allows her to develop stunning designs that don’t just look beautiful, but that also drive better leasing success.

What Do Students Want from College Living?

With nearly 10 years’ experience in the space, Emily knows a thing or two about what students want from their housing and — more importantly — why they want it. The following are just some of the most important student housing interior design trends she’s seen emerge over the years:

High-Speed Internet: So much of today’s college experience lives online, even if students live on-campus. For this reason, fast, reliable Wi-Fi is an absolute must-have for any student housing property hoping to have a glimmer of success with the number of leases they secure.
Communal Spaces: Large, communal living spaces are a great way to foster student bonding. Especially on the heels of such a socially isolating year following the 2020 pandemic, offering more opportunities for meaningful socialization is a top priority for student housing design.
Indoor/Outdoor Experiences: While we’re on the subject of being cooped up for a year, today’s students are also seeking more opportunities to reconnect with nature. Incorporating blended indoor-outdoor spaces in your student housing design is a great way to achieve this, such as an accordion door leading from your indoor fitness center to an outdoor yoga studio. Students need a space that feels as much like home as possible while also providing them with the tools necessary for academic success.
Upgraded Finishes: Today’s residents have a more refined palette, expect to enjoy a higher quality of living, and are looking to be “wow-ed” by their complex’s amenities. From quartz countertops and stainless-steel appliances to walk-in closets and recessed lighting, residents are looking for a luxe living experience unlike the college housing properties of yesteryear.

Why are These Student Housing Design Elements Essential?

If you’re thinking to yourself, “Wow, these students sound needy,” that’s not an unfair assessment: The incoming generation of college freshman were born into a society that prioritizes comfort and convenience above all else. Even students who weren’t privileged enough to grow up with such amenities in their own households may wish to have them on their journey to better opportunity through the college experience. Especially in today’s era of social media status signaling, strong interior design cannot afford to be overlooked in the student housing landscape. Everyone wants an Instagram-worthy apartment, and SouthPark is here to provide those experiences to your residents first hand.

Emily’s Approach to Student Housing Design

Developing stand-out student housing designs for her clients is what Emily does best. Here’s how she approaches each new student housing design request:

Studying the Market: As we mentioned before, no two student housing properties are the same. For instance, Texas’ strong agricultural influence will factor in heavily to how the space is ultimately designed. By contrast, these more western design influences may not be appreciated in a New York City setting. By studying the competition and local culture of each property location, Emily is able to design a personalized style that resonates with the prospective residents.
Finding the Void: While assessing the local competition, Emily makes it a priority to identify amenities or stylistic cues that are clearly missing from your current student housing design. Whether it’s insufficient study accommodations, an absent pool in a hot climate, or not taking advantage of available green space, identifying these missing elements can help you prioritize what features you need most in your design.
Speaking to Style: At the end of the day, your student housing property should be as much a reflection of your community’s overall vibe as it is an attraction to future residents. Emily takes the time to pinpoint the personal style preferences of each client to find unique products and features that speak to their individual aesthetic.
Making a Statement: From a regal puppy portrait to miniature men (and women) climbing the walls, finding something bold or unexpected that makes a statement in your space is a great way to stand out from the crowd. Drawing equally from your personal preferences and the local culture, Emily is highly adept at capitalizing on quirky elements that draw the right kind of attention.

If you’re looking for high-quality interior design from a student housing expert, then you need Emily Hiott as your interior design project manager. An expert at creating impactful designs that students actually want to live in, Emily is committed to offering clients a beautiful end result that’s on-time and on-budget. Schedule a student housing design consultation with Emily or another member of the SouthPark Interiors team today!

How Social Media is Influencing Student Housing Design

There are more than 3.5 billion social media users in the world today — 1 billion of which are active Instagram users. Just a short while ago, student housing properties didn’t need to concern themselves with having their interior design on constant display. Now as modern students are increasingly accustomed to luxury amenities and high end unit finishes right in the palm of their hands, apartment complexes hoping to attract new residents need to rethink their design approach.

Student housing property managers can no longer afford to overlook the stronghold of social media over their prospective residents. To remain competitive and relevant, student apartments need to update their interior design to not only incorporate stunning aesthetics, but to also provide unique amenities that today’s students have come to expect..

Social Media’s Influence on Student Housing Design

Sure, there are lots of social media users out there, but how many of them are actually influenced by what they see online? The answer to that question might surprise you: 54% of social media users browse social media to research products before making a purchasing decision — that includes apartment-hunting students.

Not only do students rely on what they see online to make purchasing decisions, but these decisions are made rapidly. According to executive VP and CEO of the International Interior Design Association, Cheryl Durst, “youth are more visually literate than their older counterparts” and “this demographic consumes their information in 15-second newsfeeds.” For this reason, designs not only need to look beautiful, but they need to make a lasting impact fast.

Ways to Make Your Student Housing Design Insta-worthy

Great design that resonates with your target residents isn’t a simple task. Not only do you need to understand what styles are on-trend, but you also need to know what students expect from their off-campus living experience. The following are just some of the interior design elements that modern day students find most important to their living environment:

Amenities: Be it a resort-style pool, outdoor yoga studio, or a rooftop karaoke bar — students want to snap pictures of places that are unique and inspiring to share with their social following.
Upgrades: “visually literate” youth are used to the finer things in life. They expect to see things like quartz countertops, walk-in closets, and new kitchen appliances when entering their soon-to-be home. They also welcome smart-tech amenities within their unit allowing them to control lighting, temperature, and door locks right from their phones.
Surprises: Statement pieces, such as custom moss signage or intricate murals by local artists, go a long way in attracting the right kind of attention from future tenants. Not only that, but eclectic designs can help your property stand out from the crowd on social media.

One of the easiest ways to achieve stellar interior design is by requesting the help of a skilled professional. The interior designers at SouthPark Interiors have nearly 20 years’ experience delivering breathtaking designs that result in more leases and happier residents. Allow our team to help make your student housing property the star of social media by requesting an interior design quote today!

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