STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO CREATE A CREATIVE SPACE
the importance of having a space of your own
I think especially now in the midst of a pandemic, it’s important to stimulate our minds, self-reflect, and keep being creative. Although I would consider myself a “multi-creative,” even I have found it difficult to stay on track without a mundane routine to wake up to every day and the ability to go anywhere I want to create. At the same time, I feel incredibly grateful to have this unique opportunity to be free to create each day for myself without the routine of having to work a 9-5 job. The creative freedom of waking up and being able to decide exactly how I want to spend my day is liberating. With the majority of people now working from home and coming up with new, innovative ways to create content, I have acknowledged the importance of having a work space of my own that I can go to for work, creating, experimenting, and contemplating. After spending many hours stuck inside, I looked around my spare room with blank walls and an empty desk and realized that I had extremely neglected one of the most important spaces in my home - a creative work space.
Instead of slipping my photos into books and forgetting about them, or finding loose papers with poems written on them stashed in purses, or keeping my guitar in a case in a closet, I can now put these lost things into one space that will not only organize it for me but also stimulate my creativity. This beats writing a song hunched over in my bed or styling clothes by looking into my small bathroom mirror.
Without further adieu, here is my step-by-step guide to create a creative space.
1. FIND YOUR NOOK
Whether you have an entire room to work witth, a small nook in your bedroom, or simply a corner in your office - make sure you designate this space for YOU and only you. This is a space for you to get away from everything else to meditate, reflect, create, work, and grow.
2. COLOR YOUR WORLD
Close your eyes and think of the color that makes you the happiest. Maybe it’s a peaceful blue, a powerful red, or a regal purple - whatever it is, use it. If you believe in color psychology, you can use different colors to stimulate different moods. For example, yellow is commonly used for energy and blue is commonly used for serenity. Regardless, using colors that you LOVE are bound to make you feel more inspired in your space!
3. FLORA
Bring some plants into your space! Being stuck inside all month made me want to go outside more than anything - so why not bring some of that outside inside? Adding greenery to your home is currently trending and I’m here for the trend. Real plants can actually increase oxygen levels in your space, however there’s nothing wrong with adding faux plants either - they’re certainly much easier to care for.
4. ADD SOME ART
Art can easily brighten up any room. Giving your space a few pieces of art will be much more stimulating than staring blankly at a white wall. This is where you can get really out of the box and creative. Create a collage on your wall out of magazine pages, paint something on a piece of canvas and put it up, or buy some of your favorite prints!
If you’re interested in unique, affordable prints, check out Desenio.
5. LAYERS + LEVELS
Don’t expect to finish your space all at once. Build it up overtime with new pieces that fit into it - similar to your wardrobe. Layer your space like you would layer your body during the winter. Continually try out new pieces in the space until it feels just right. Use different levels to add depth - stacking books, adding shelving with plants and decor, adding in antique finds. Add whatever would make this space original and undeniably you.
The environment you’re in has been proven to influence your mood and mental health.
Why not make this space a place that can allow you to be your happiest, most creative self?