CITIES Amanda’s story was unfortunately misprinted in our last issue. We greatly apologize for this mistake and have reprinted it here in issue 2.
How To: Staying Home in Style Keeping your space feeling exciting and fresh is a necessity, especially now when you have to spend all your time in it.
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BY AMANDA CHRISTENSEN With the coronavirus pandemic keeping everyone at home for hours, even days, at a time, the space we live in has become an important factor in determining productivity, moods, and mindsets. For those who could never study or do homework in their bedroom, quarantine has more or less provided an opportunity to change that. Now, I’ve always been one to get restless with the set up in my bedroom, rearranging it sometimes to switch things up. This remodel includes moving my desk, changing the posters on my wall, or adding plants to my windowsill. It seems to put me in a fresher mindset—almost like it was my first day living there again, ready to take on whatever work I couldn’t complete with where my desk was beforehand. Quarantine especially has forced me to take the time to invest in the space I now do everything: working my two jobs, homework and studying, FaceTiming my friends, and sleeping. It’s like giving your space a spa treatment, leaving it pampered and fresh just for you. When it comes to room decor and keeping my space feeling like me, I always go for a new plant. There’s hundreds to choose from, whether it be a succulent, vine, or flower, and they’re generally pretty low maintenance. They also provide the benefit of taking in the carbon dioxide you breathe out and turning it into fresh oxygen, keeping the air in your space fresh and clean. I feel as though that is an especially important benefit as we endure a pandemic with an airborne virus. Plants
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can also brighten up a space with their colorful leaves and petals. My favorites at the moment are my bright red moon cactus (which looks like a prickly, red, misshapen ball on a thick green stem) and my bright green pothos plant with its big green leaves growing down like a vine. They are simple, low maintenance, and very pretty on my big windowsill. I highly recommend a new plant buddy if you’re in need of some greenery to freshen up your space. If you’re looking for a more creative or personable method of bedroom revamping, consider some wall decor. I am no artist, but I, along with many others stuck at home, picked up painting as my new in-house hobby over the past few months. I buy little canvases for a dollar or two at Target, search up inspiration on Pinterest, and paint (to the best of my ability). If I end up liking what I created, I’ll hang it up on my wall or prop it up on my desk. These little pieces make for perfect little decor around your bedroom or whatever space you spend time in. Speaking of Pinterest, mood boards representing your aesthetic or interests are a great option to spice up blank bedroom walls. This is an easy way to bring out your personality and style in a space. Another option to fill blank walls is posters, and you can find a plethora of online stores that offer a variety of them with a simple Google search. I tend to go for music artists, with my “Vote Igor” poster of Tyler the Creator, or ones that reflect things I value, like my Black Lives Matter poster.
As boring as it may seem, a simple cleaning of your space is another important method to keeping it fresh with the amount of time we are now spending at home in Zoom class and remote employment. Get a vacuum, some disinfectant wipes, a duster, and whatever else you may need. It always helps me to crack open a window and let the fresh air in, (until it starts getting too cold out), and turn some music on. I also throw my bedsheets and pillowcases in the wash when I deep clean my room—it makes my space feel even cleaner and more orderly. Whether it’s total rearrangement or simply a new plant, treating your space to little upgrades here and there will be reflected in more comfort and productivity during our pandemic-induced stayat-home requirements. Indulge in it like you would yourself, and it’ll provide a safe space to spend all the time in it you need.
NOVEMBER 16 — DECEMBER 14
