Fall in Love with Staying Home
For many people, the advent of quarantine, strict advisories against travel, and the reduction of most types of public social activity has meant a drastic and difficult lifestyle change. But as someone who has been a proponent of the stay-at-home lifestyle for many years before the government decided to steal my ideas, I’m here to tell you it doesn’t have to be so bad.
I believe the key to embracing your time at home is creating a space that makes you genuinely happy; to preach Marie Kondo’s famous ideology, a place that “sparks joy.” It makes sense, if you think about it. If you’ve designed a space to serve your specific needs with pieces that bring you joy, why wouldn’t you want to be there? The question is: how do you do this? Well, after years of practicing not leaving my house unless absolutely necessary, I’ve learned a few things that might help you out. Admittedly, a downside of my vigorous commitment to this homebody philosophy is that I have dangerously low levels of vitamin D, but at least my throw pillow game is fire!
On that note, I’m starting with pillows. And I’m not talking about your standard shams here. I mean those decorative pillows that make you absolutely swoon. The kind you never get tired of looking at, the kind that makes you believe in a higher power, and the kind that makes any piece of furniture it’s on feel special. I know what you’re thinking. “Pillows like that don’t exist!” Or “I’ve never felt that way about a pillow!” Until now. For inexpensive options, Target has a massive selection. They also have seasonally thematic ones (autumnal cable knits, wintry white faux furs, you get the picture) so you can rotate them out with the weather and you’ll never get bored. For high end pillows, there’s nothing like abc Carpet & Home. They are definitely investment pieces, but when you don’t leave home you save a lot of money!
I’ve probably gotten more emotional support from blankets than I have from any actual person. They’re soft, comforting, and warm. And they necessarily imply enjoyable homey activities. Seeing a nice blanket on your couch could change the course of your whole day. All the sudden you’re thinking of you, Netflix, and that blanket on a Friday night. Throw in some snacks and I think I’ve made my point. Here are some super cozy choices:
When you’re at home a lot, potentially alone, there is something to be said about having another living thing in your space. If you can’t have a pet, I recommend getting some flowers (or some kind of cactus thing if that’s more your speed). These were actually a housewarming gift from my aunt, but you don’t have to wait for someone else to buy you a bouquet. Getting yourself some flowers is an act of ~self care~ and we could all use some more of that.
As much as I firmly believe in the universal joy that everything I’ve just mentioned above can bring, I also know that what makes a person happy to have in their home will be different for everyone. We all have different needs and tastes, and the most important part of making your home a place you love being in is customizing it according to your own lifestyle. Here are a few, mostly organizational things in my apartment that I always look forward to seeing or using. Some are really little but make the biggest difference in my everyday life. These cable holders stick to any surface, so I don’t have to waste the minimal energy I have left picking up my charging cords when they fall. The hanging jewelry holder and mail holder are honestly just eye candy for my walls. And maybe because it reminds me of Winnie the Pooh, this honeycomb utensil holder brings a bit of youthfulness and optimism to my space.
I hope some of the things I’ve included here have made staying home seem at least slightly more enjoyable, but if online shopping for home decor doesn’t do it for you, just remember you should feel good about yourself for staying in anyways because you’re doing your part for the health and safety of your community.
Featured image via.
