Beautiful juicy green!
Sometimes my bedroom is perfectly arranged, everything in place, the rug vacuumed one way and the windows thoroughly Windexed. This is about three times a year, after which things exponentially deteriorate into a feral cave. But on those days when I can leave my door open without shame and when my closet is color-coded, my room is much nicer. It feels more calming, and is much more attractive.
So what to do with a room that’s dull and dreary? Spice it up, of course!
Do’s:
– Paint the walls a color that speaks to you and makes you happy. I believe that color is therapeutic, so choose a shade that you can stand to look at constantly and is soothing to your eyes. If that color is a vivid scarlet, go for it. If it’s simple white, go for it! It’s your room and it should carry your personality.
– Bring in elements of what you love. Whether this involves dedicating half the wall to your collection of porcelain dolls or just picking out a delightful marshmallowy comforter to snuggle with, take time to think about things you enjoy and like to be around and incorporate them.
– Embrace unorthodox décor. One of my friends screwed bolts into her wall and hung a hammock; it’s the only place she sleeps, and she loves it madly. My own dream is to paint a mural on all my walls and ceiling with streaks of glitter all over it. Things that you won’t see in a magazine can still work beautifully and uniquely.
Don’ts:
-Avoid things that are going to annoy you after a few days. Don’t haul in five palm trees in a bid for a jungle-like atmosphere if you know the daily watering just isn’t going to happen. Similarly, avoid five-inch shag carpeting if the upkeep is impossible.
-Be practical, to a point. Sweeping acres of space can be mod and sleek, but if you have no place to keep the things you use every day, it’s no good. I keep a bedside table, even though it doesn’t quite flow with my room, because I need somewhere to put my incense burner, books, alarm clock, etc. You have to be able to get to your necessities without digging through your closet.
– Above all, think carefully about drastic changes. Make sure you love it before spending the money on new paint/curtains/chairs/whatever.
– Don’t get hung up on cleaning, if you’re naturally a bit messy. I don’t advocate dirt, but clutter can be cozy. The Victorians would have been aghast at a room without knick-knacks everywhere; they viewed them as an extension of personality.
Things I recommend: Rich vanilla air fresheners. Stringing twinkle lights on everything. Scattering beanbag chairs all about. Setting books you love on a shelf in place of honor. Lots of pictures of friends and loved ones. A bed for your pet. Piling mattresses to boost your bed up high. Intricate oriental-style carpets. Dangling things from the ceiling. A vase full of fresh flowers. Strange antique doorknobs.
Please Feed the Bears. 