When it comes to things like sleeping, I find that doing so in a bed is often the best option for me. Extra points if that bed is in a room, and double that if the room is set aside for that bed, for sleeping. I like to call such spaces "bedrooms," but feel free to call them whatever you want. The subject is still making its first splashes in the worlds of rooms and sleeps, so there isn't quite an official consensus on the name just yet.
I have the privilege of sleeping in a bedded room, so I can personally vouch for their inspired appeal. I recognize that sleep, in and of itself, is already such a rare privilege these days, a luxury. To Sleep on a large, plush cloth slate in a room dedicated to such nocturnal activities is to dabble on another level of luxury altogether. My point in this post is not to elicit envy or showcase my glistening, opulent lifestyle. I'm not here to demand your high praise, nor am I interested in it. My objective here is selfless, I assure you, though I would understand if, in reading this, you start to harbor resentment. I would have too, back in my sleepless, roomless days of yore.
As I mentioned, my reasoning behind this post is considerably altruistic. More than anything, I feel I must share with the world some of the brilliant luminosity sleeping in a room with a bed has ushered into my life. It won't physically transport you into my room with its bed to partake in sleep's splendor, no, but I hope that it can transport you mentally, at least. Spiritually.
My wish is to give you an idea of what it might be like to experience the joys of sleep inside a dedicated bedroom.
The following are photographs of the bedded room I inhabit. I've taken the initiative to decorate the space in such a way to generate feelings of bliss, comfort, serenity, and inspiration, as one might find in a standard, non-sleeping room.
Without further ado:
But in all seriousness, I've worked hard to create a special space to wind down in. My bedroom is my sanctuary, plain and simple, and it felt selfish of me to keep it all to myself. I know that sounds self-important and, quite frankly, a little dumb, but spending the time to curate my space was an essential tool during my year-long bout of self-repair. After moving home from a turbulently emotional, mentally exhausting year on my own that, for a plethora of reasons, almost o b l i t e r a t e d me, finding something to keep me even slightly distracted was crucial while I faced some of the hardest truths I'd encounter about my self-esteem, identity, and emotional health. Designing my bedroom to feel like a big, bright, colorful, dreamy, and uber compassionate hug wasn't the perfect escape. However, it helped more than I would have thought or could have imagined.
This is, I suppose, largely because it offered me a chance to reflect the best parts of myself in its decoration. That isn't to equate my value to material goods. What I mean is that in re-designing my old bedroom, I was able to showcase my intuitive, natural talent for visual expression in a way that was deeply personal and specific. Arranging my room just so was an exercise of environmental control that I'd otherwise been unaware of. By manipulating the walls, furniture, and decor of my bedroom to my precise tastes, I forged a calming, welcoming, and inspiring energy. Beyond just looking nice, the changes I made gave me a sense of belonging, of attachment to something physical, something beautiful. I spent my year away from home in a constant haze of anxiety, detachment, and isolation. Strangely enough, I was able to ease a lot of that through the design process. Transforming my space into something soothing put back into my own hands the power to steer my emotional well-being, helping me realize I can implement some of that personal control elsewhere in other my life.
Now, I'm not trying to argue that redesigning your bedroom is a fix for your anxiety, your depression, or any other mental health issues you may be facing. It wasn't for me by any means. This is all I'm saying: changing your environment, if you can, in whatever way you are able, can go a long way. For me, being able to convey a sense of beauty and inspiration in my living quarters worked, but how this concept unfolds will look wildly different for each of you. While you can't achieve complete control of you or your life, making an effort to improve what you can change could give you the assurance you need to fight back.
But I'm getting carried away. This was supposed to be about the pictures... I meant this post as a cute li'l display of the work I've done in my bedroom. So take a minute, peek back through the slideshow, allow the photos (and words) to inspire you, and then go out and make a change. You'll be relieved (and dazzled!) by how sparkly it will make you feel.
