My home is an expression of my most vulnerable self. The space I’m in rids my mind of all stress and creates, if only a single moment, an area of peace. This sense of peace stems from the knowledge that each piece I use to decorate my home garners my individuality at its best, and ensures absolute love and respect for myself. Because of this emphasis of care, when guests arrive, my home greets them, surrounding them with the warmth and comfort that should always be felt when entertained. Being true to yourself and what you surround yourself with is so important when navigating life, and doing this whether it be pursuing a passion, expressing personal fashion, or even decorating a space ensures the continuation of the path set out for yourself and secures the future that you’ve dreamed of.
Only until recently, was I able to fully express who I am and how I want to be perceived when I invite guests into my room. It may sound insignificant and something that doesn’t cause much thought that a twenty-one-year-old has finally decided to remodel her room to her aesthetic; nevertheless, I have noticed the drastic change it has had on my thoughts and feelings. I, for one, never actually liked my room, I was not the one who chose the color of the walls, who put up the picture frames, nor the one who picked the bed sheets. All were selected and put for me. At the time, I really did not mind. Years passed by and I continued to view the bedroom as the place where I go to sleep and get dressed, nothing more and nothing less.
One day, I laid in my bed taking in the sight of my so-called bedroom… and I started to feel something. That something was not pleasant; it was a complete disconnection between my room and myself. Thoughts rushed in, a self-reflection began, and I was able to conclude that this so-called “bedroom” was not mine. Before being a college student, I did not spend time relaxing or doing my homework in my bedroom; instead, I did most things in the living room. Now that I am an off-campus student, I spend most of my time in my room doing homework and I came to the realization I felt out of place. My bedroom was not “my bedroom”. I then had this sudden urge to make it mine; in the end, I did in fact mind that the bedroom did not represent me. I started to sketch my ideal room, searched for bedroom re-modeling ideas on the web to further spark my enthusiasm, creativity, and curiosity, and made a list of the materials I wanted/needed to remodel my room with Native American area rugs.
I went to the store and bought fairy lights, inspirational frames, and posters of some of my favorite shows and bands. Clichéd? Yes, but those things that I enjoy, are me. As I got home, I took down the frames from before and everything that was not me and went ahead and put up what was. I also added little extras such as a fluffy blue rug and a bookshelf where I placed the fairy lights to not only illuminate my room, but also the books that will be placed there. Now as I sit in my bed working on my homework and take a small break to stretch and relax, I gaze up and look around to the changes I have made in my room… I am pleased with what I see and no longer feel out of place as I once did before.