The space you live in can affect your emotional health and well-being. Your home is more than a roof over your head – it might be your secret weapon for enhanced wellness. Personally, I am very specific about how my room looks; I need to come home to a welcoming space. For anyone looking to style their room, here’s a guide to decorating with helpful and intentional hints toward better mental health:
Theme
There are many themes you can choose from, such as indie, vintage, and soft girl. While an entirely themed room may be expensive, start small and with a minimalist plan, which will help foster well-being and mental clarity. Decide on a colour palette and choose bedsheets, duvet covers, and furniture pieces accordingly. If you get stuck, go for cooler tones to help simulate a calmer space. You can find affordable options from thrift stores and Walmart.
Greens
Incorporating plants into your space improves productivity and concentration, and reduces stress. As a student, watering a plant might not make it on your evergrowing to-do list, but a fake plant works just as well. You can find fake flowers to complement your colour palette, and Dollarama can be your go-to place on a budget.
Photos
Having pictures of people you love in your room will not only be aesthetically pleasing, but will also make you feel loved every day. I have a heart-shaped polaroid wall of everyone I love — right in front of my bed. It keeps me grounded and grateful for the love I have in my life, and reminds me that these people are rooting for me. You don’t need a polaroid camera for this — you can get customized polaroid style prints for around $1 each from London Drugs.
Frames
Depending on your living situation and the size of your room, you can add frames to your wall. They can hold family photos, a vision board, quotes you live by, artwork, or even something random that brings you joy. You can match frames with your colour palette so it’s cohesive and looks intentional instead of chaotic.
Achievements/Hobbies
If you have any hobbies such as sketching, painting, or writing poetry, you can put some of your best pieces on the wall. You can do the same if you have any medals, certificates, or trophies. Showcase the things you’re proud of, but be mindful not to overcrowd.
Neon lights
They never go out of style and luckily, modernized LEDs are budget-friendly. They not only add colour and excitement, but are also aesthetically pleasing. You can even decorate your wall with customized neon signs. And the best part? They help reduce anxiety and stress, and can uplift your mood. You can find affordable and good quality lights from Amazon.
Mirror
A mirror in your room to get ready at before you leave screams self-love. I have a “Shut up, you look pretty” sticker on my mirror for a daily reminder to help me feel confident. You can get small storage cabinets to store your getting ready essentials, like makeup, skincare, and body care. Adding a small stool or chair with a fluffy rug underneath will give you the student edition of a makeup vanity that is low-key cute.
Controlled clutter
Having loads of clutter not only looks unappealing but also overstimulates your brain, causes stress, and makes you less productive. You can get rid of the clutter by slowly donating and discarding anything you don’t use, one pile at a time. Also, there is nothing wrong with hiding the clutter you cannot eliminate. You can find affordable and spacious storage cabinets from Walmart and use over-the-door hooks from Dollar stores.
Prioritize your happiness, not trends
When you are designing your space, ask yourself if you are buying it because it makes you happy or just because it’s trending. Your answer should finalize your purchase. Trends will come and go, but it is your room and it should speak to you and reflect your personality.
Your room should be your comfort space. It is more than likely you’ll get caught up in multiple deadlines, and the rat race that can make us miss out on our day-to-day lives. You never have to spend extravagantly — look for smarter alternatives such as thrift stores. Wait for Black Friday and Boxing Day sales for bigger purchases, and only splurge occasionally and when it feels right. If you’re going to survive student life, you might as well do it in a cute room.
