Going off to college can be one of the most exciting, exhilarating experiences in a young adult's life. Yet somehow between the demands of a rigorous course schedule, attempting to make new friends and adjusting to an entirely new way of life, students can easily resort to living in cluttered, unorganized spaces.

For an active college student, transforming a small room into a voguish sanctuary is often a dream deferred.

At BV Home, we asked celebrity interior designer and event planner Minoo Hersini, of Au Ciel Design Studio in New York, to share her expertise on creating a stylish yet practical college dorm room.

What are some of your top suggestions for creating a trendy yet organized area?

The first thing I would recommend, before the coordination of the room, is for the student to meet their roommate. Having a connection with your roommate will bring good karma, which will help with the organization and the direction of the room. There are a few ways to utilize the space to its best capacity to make it functional, fun and entertaining. Although most dorm rooms come with beds, I would suggest using a small modular or platform bed with drawers or a trunk space to store items in. A modular or platform bed will take up less room, allow extra storage space and make the room appear less cluttered. Another great piece of furniture to have would be a bedside table. This type of table would be ideal if placed between the two beds to be shared between roommates. Since most students use laptops, a bedside table would be fitting to hold a laptop, which would eliminate desk space.

What is the ultimate piece of furniture to store items in?

I say it is always good to have a trunk or cabinet, which is perfect to store books, CDs and DVDs in. I would also suggest using cushions to create more seating space. Cushions are also great decorative pieces and can be made out of old T-shirts, or anything of personal significance, to give it a personal touch. I also recommend using furniture that is eco-friendly and of good quality. If furniture is of good quality, it will last longer. And, most likely, the young adult will reuse the furniture past their college experience and bring it with them into their first home.

On the decorative side, how can soft colors give a room a more spacious, organized appearance?

When your room is small, it is best to use solid colors for your sheets. Bed covers can be more dramatic. You can use accent colors and prints like plaid and stripes for your cushions to give your room a modern look. I would also recommend adding a touch of décor to the wall space, such as a cork-panel frame in your choice of color. Instead of purchasing one, create your own by adding your own touches of art. This will enhance your wall space without overdoing it. When walls are clean, it makes a room appear more organized.

Do you have another suggestion on how students can avoid running into storage issues?

Don't bring every piece of clothing you own with you! Be sensible about what you bring. Most of the clothes we bring, we won't even use. Avoiding this will allow free storage space for other items.

www.Au-Ciel.com