How to Make Your Bedroom Your Sanctuary

With my whole family spending so much time at home, I definitely need my own little space

to relax, do my own thing, and have a break from my family. Being a homebody means that my bedroom and dorm need to be a very calming and cozy environment, so I've gotten pretty good at accomplishing that. And since all of us will be spending a little more time at home for the next few months, I wanted to share with you all how I've turned my bedroom into my temple.

1. Keep your room tidy

Now, I'm definitely not the cleanest person in the world, but as I've gotten older and spent more time in my room, I've realized that having an at least somewhat tidy room can lift your entire mood. So, pick up your clothes off the floor, don't leave dirty dishes in your room, and make your bed every morning. I promise it'll help make your room feel more homey.

2. Choose decor that makes you happy not just stuff that "looks good"

When I am decorating, I try to always make my decorations personal, and important. I choose items that display pictures of my friends and family (my photo grid, collage wall, canvas photos), items that reflect my favorite parts of life (U of R banner, plants, letter board with happy quote, my favorite stuffed animals, souvenirs from vacations), and then a few items that accent the atmosphere I'm looking for (moon mirror, artwork).

3. Purge clutter

We all have a limited amount of space, which means that sometimes we have to let go of the old in order to make room for the new. As an avid shopper, I try to go through my closet and dresser every few months to avoid overflow, and I would encourage you to do that same. I also am a firm believer that if an item does not bring you joy or serve a purpose, it should not be in your space. This means if the knitting project your great aunt gave you last Christmas doesn't serve a purpose or bring you joy, it's time to put it in storage or say goodbye.

4. Ambient lighting

I almost never have my overhead light on. It's too harsh in my opinion, and is not calming at all. I do love to have natural light in my room however, so I almost always have my shades open. I even have my desk right up to the window so I can soak up the sun. Once the sun goes down though, I still like to have soft lighting in my room, so I have a salt lamp, string lights, and a little bedside light that helps keep the atmosphere calming.

5. Good smells

This one is very important to me. Having a specific smell to my room makes it feel even more like a little getaway. I have a plug-in from Bath and Body Works and they always have sales on their refills so I usually get a year's worth of refills for about $25. I always pick a scent for spring, summer, fall, and winter and then usually one more wildcard scent. I also love using candles in my room. They smell good, they provide mood lighting, and are just calming to be around. My favorite candles are either from Yankee candle or Tuscany Candle from Wegmans! Tuscany candles are actually a new find for me. You can get a 14 oz candle for $10 (about 1/3 of the price of Yankee candle), and they smell amazing! Definitely recommend checking them out the next time you're at Weggies.

6. Self-care items

I love having little goodies in my room that I can keep all to myself. I have a little basket in my room that has my coziest throw blankets, a few snacks, and chocolate. If I'm having a rough time it's nice to have that basket of comfort right in my room. I, of course, also have my favorite books, my face masks, and my comfiest clothes. All my creature comforts in the same space.

7. Make sure you have boundaries

If you are trying to cultivate your own space, it's very important that you are in control of it. I request that my family always ask before entering or hanging out in my room (even my dog needs to be invited). This is something small, but having a say in who can enter your space can be very helpful in making your room feel like your own.

I hope you found this helpful, and thanks for reading!

Love, Maddy