Same But Different

We are a week into total lockdown here in Santiago, and I find myself already looking for a way to spice up my space. I’m a change junkie meaning I don’t like having the same thing all the time, whether that is the type of tea I drink, the haircut I have, or the way my home is set up. I’m always looking for small ways to change it up. Nowadays, with my apartment being an office/dog park/restaurant/movie theatre/spa, I need to keep it evolving to match what is going in life. Below are my go-to ideas for free - yes, totally free - ways to change up your home too.

• Clean with gratitude

• Reorganize

• Change up the furniture

• Dress up

• Details, details, details

• Recognize the moment

Clean with gratitude

First and for most, give your space a good clean. Making your bed and fluffing the pillows will leave you feeling good in your bedroom but really dusting, vacuuming, and even getting the dust boards will leave you feeling great. There is a reason that that concept of ‘spring cleaning’ exists. After being locked up all winter, the idea of a spring cleaning involved opening windows, letting the whole house breathe, and really cleaning the space that we had been cooped up in. Why wait till spring (we are in fall here in Santiago)? In my opinion, nothing is more timely. The second part of this is crucial, clean with gratitude. It can be effortless to fall into the trap of “Oh my gosh, I have so much stuff!” While that may be true, it’s also important to remember how fortunate you are to have all that stuff to start. Take this as a moment to stop and appreciate all you have. Sometimes shifting perspective, albeit mentally, can change your feelings towards your space.

Reorganize

After the cleaning comes the organization or reorganization. As humans, we are naturally designed to notice differences in our surroundings. I have found that the simple act of switching up items' locations can make a space feel new. New containers (taken from the recycling), new places for things, and even new photos around the home give my eyes something new and different to lock in on. It activates that part of your brain that lights up at stores because you are looking at new things. I have a simple black ribbon that is strung up on my wall, and I use clothespins to hang photos, drawings, origami, and other items that have special meaning to me. When I travel, I keep an entire folder of these sorts of things and switch them out from time to time. The minor changes in your line of sight can make the most significant difference.

Change up the furniture.

I love this one. Even if that space is on the floor, sitting in a new area brings a new perspective. There is a moment in the movie Because I Said So where the mom, Diane Keaton, is talking on the phone with her daughter, Mandy Moore. During the conversation, the camera switches back and forth to show them both moving furniture to change up their homes, only to return it all to exactly where it started. The simple act of moving a chair to a different corner can give you that new perspective, whether it is a permanent or temporary change.

Dress up

I have a confession to make… I own a robe. I’m not talking about the traditional cotton robe you can snag at Target; I mean a robe. It is emerald green trimmed in black feathers, and it is extra. This is my robe I use only when I am feeling down and need a pick me up. The act of putting on a fancy robe or any nice outfit can impact how you experience a space. When I put on that robe, I feel in control of so much more than I am. I feel strong. No one can deny dressing differently can make you feel different. Whether you own an over-the-top robe or have a pair of significant heels, put those on and celebrate yourself. Walk around your space and tell me you don’t feel different.

Details, details, details

“When making experiences, attention to detail matters,” as Richard Branson once said. He should know! When we are examining our own spaces, the details are equally important. What music are you listening to? Different music styles conjure up all kinds of memories and moods for me. Classical makes me want to focus - it’s what I’m listening to now, actually - while country music makes me want to call my family, and Queen makes me want to practice my karaoke routine. Changing the music in your space can change the whole vibe. Burning a candle or having a scent in your area also causes you to experience it differently. When I burn a balsam candle I know, it’s time to go into work mode, whereas when I burn a rose candle, I know it’s relaxation time. It’s a small detail that can go a long way.

Recognize the moment

I know I can’t be the only person living in an office/dog park/restaurant/movie theatre/spa. Nowadays, we need our homes to be everything, but they aren’t everything all at once. This is where I try to adhere to the advice to recognize the moment and what you need your space for and only at the moment. It is easy to play with Bourbon and then do a training session with him in my living room/kitchen space to look at the floor and think, “Look at this floor. It is so dirty!” When in reality, it is precisely what I need now, an area for him to run around in. Better yet is my dining table. At any point of the day, I could be typing there, painting, eating, or watching a movie. The question I ask myself when I feel the negative comments coming up in my mind is, “Is this space working for what I need it for right now?” Right now, I have vegetables covering half my dining room table, paper towels stacked up to the ceiling in another corner, and Bourbon’s toys very literally everywhere. Still, my space is doing precisely what I need it for right now. It is sheltering us and keeping us safe during these weird times.

Change is a good thing. Change is something we all crave on our levels. Whether that is a change in clothing style, a change in flavors of foods, or a change in scenery. Change is inevitable, and it’s a chance to grow, adapt, and ultimately overcome.