Have you been staring at the boring walls of your room and wanting to make them as cool as you are? Do you like fun projects that take your mind off your never-ending USHAP notes?  Here are a few tips to help redo your room and create your own little oasis and escape into a place that is just for you!

1. If you’re going to paint your room, it takes more than magic to get color on your walls. Here are a few steps you might want to follow:

Step 1: you should start by deciding on the color. According to the Huffington Post, the most relaxing color is a cool blue. There are many shades of blue, so it’s okay to buy a few (maybe 4) and test them out.

Step 2: Painting is 85% prep and 15% actual work. Make sure you get a drop cloth, speckling brush to cover up random holes in the walls, a roller that is adequate to the type of wall texture you have, and a painting dish.

Wear a painting outfit that you won’t mind getting dirty.

2. Personalizing: With the stress of school weighing us down, it’s nice to surround ourselves with things that make us happy and smile. It’s also a perfect way to remind yourself not to get too preoccupied with the future, because you have already had some amazing and successful times. Have a soccer award or a favorite book? Display it. Memories are to be revisited and appreciated, not stored away in a box in a dusty attic.

3. Again, surround yourself with things that make you feel good.

4. Mirrors are a great way to make your room feel bigger. This also allows your room to feel more airy and bright by reflecting the light from the window.

5. Your desk or work space is very important. Personally, I like a very long desk so that I can spread my things out.  Your workspace should be unique to your working habits and how you like to organize your things. Since you’ll be spending much of your time doing work here, don’t rush into a purchase.

6. Lastly, different patterns, textures, and colors can add more umpf to your space.

7. Where to find Groovy stuff: The store Therapy, (with locations in Mountain View, Los Altos, and San Francisco) is not only a place for great clothes, but also eclectic home decorations. IKEA has everything you’ll ever need, and after shopping for fabulously designed and reasonably-priced bedspreads, you can indulge on ice cream and swedish meat balls in their little cafe. Home Depot or Lowes are great places to get painting supplies or other construction tools. Have fun shopping!