Breathing in new life into an old room

I’ve lived in the same house for the past 4 1/2 years. The entire time, the four beige walls of my bedroom were my companions while I slept. I’m a firm believer of changing one’s environment to reflect one’s personality, but at the same time, the idea of forfeiting my security deposit kept me confined with a bedroom that didn’t feel like my own.

Since it’s a new year, a change is necessary. After traveling to Europe and Santa Fe, a new spark of inspiration struck. Many of the places I’ve been to were so colorful and full of life, and I didn’t want to go back home. That inspiration stuck with me, and I fantasized of painting my bedroom a bold, jewel-toned teal. It’s like taking some of my travels back home with me in a spiritual way.

The effects of last year are still sinking in. I’ve spent all of last month slowly going through my belongings, one section at a time. Like everyone else who watched the Netflix special, “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo,” I’ve been KonMari-ing my life. This means saying goodbye to things that no longer serve me.

And so it begins…

So, I went to Lowe’s, got some paint samples, and began to lay new ground by painting my bedroom a beautiful shade of teal.

It always takes longer than expected

Painting a 10×10-foot room is more expensive than I had expected. The costs came to about $50 total, and that was for a gallon of paint ($25) and a roll of painting tape ($9), as well as a painting starter kit ($15) that included a brush, a pan, and a roller. (And don’t forget the sales tax!) Thank goodness there was already some leftover drop cloth from a previous paint job I did back in 2013. The painting tape I used was Frog Tape, instead of the blue painter’s tape. It’s more effective in keeping paint from seeping underneath the tape, so lines are cleaner.

Painting a room that small is also more time-consuming than I had anticipated–I thought it could be done in a day. Because it’s the winter, the paint takes longer to dry in cold weather. It also took three coats for the walls to be evenly colored. Maneuvering the furniture around was like a puzzle, and at one point, everything was blocking the door! So, I had to finish the walls, so that I could get out.

Does it spark joy?

I deep-cleaned the floor, both of my closets, and filled up only two trash bags with clothes and other things that no longer sparked joy. The KonMari method involves putting all of your clothes in a big pile on the bed, and whatever sparks joy gets to stay. If it doesn’t, it goes into a trash bag. An important step in the process is to thank the item of clothing that no longer serves you. It is a way of having closure with the item.

The same can apply for other things in life, such as painful memories, friendships that have failed, and things that no longer carry a significant meaning. I made it a point to embrace them, thank them for their purpose, and let it go. Holding on takes so much more energy, which could be directed towards more creative endeavors.

It’s time to move on

I rearranged the furniture back to where it belongs, and then it was time to clean everything up and put it all away. My roommate lent me her smudge stick. While I’m not religious and am skeptical of the “woo-woo,” it doesn’t mean I’m not open to all of it. So, I slowly and mindfully saged my bedroom, clear with intentions to snuff out whatever lingering bad energy was left. That’s what matters more: setting intentions.

After everything was in its right place, I looked around my newly painted teal bedroom. The feeling is reminiscent to falling in love. It’s the perfect time to have created a new setting, as the halfway point between winter and spring has passed. It’s time for new beginnings.

Two years ago, I was heavy into planning that life-changing trip around the world, as an effort to jump-start a stagnated life. Then, I survived the trying test of last year. Now I am pulling out even more old roots to sow new seeds, in order to once again grow something amazing.

This year is already full of new beginnings. There’s new work with a new team, I’m making new art for a show, and now I have a new teal bedroom. It was snowing in Seattle while I painted, but our magnolia tree has grown tight little buds… A reminder that spring always comes.