Home Decor to Create a Quarantine Oasis (On a Budget)

The Backstory 

Being home for the rest of my college semester meant coming to terms with living in my childhood bedroom again. Don't get me wrong, I love my home and there are so many comforts that come with it. But after two years of living a new life - my "college" life - in a totally different environment, it felt strangely unfamiliar to come back to my old room. Maybe it's a product of the fact that I so carefully designed my dorm/sorority house room, but living in my old bedroom felt like I was living with a relic of a past version of myself. Everything from the pictures on the walls to the books on my bookshelf dated back to my high school years or earlier; my room was like a time capsule. Two extremely important years of my life - years of immeasurable change - were unrepresented. Living in my room made a strange situation feel even stranger.

With social distancing, my room quickly became the place where I spent the majority of my time. I needed to turn my room into space where I felt comfortable and calm; a quarantine oasis. Here's what I did, and my tips if you want to do so as well (without breaking the bank!). 

1. Photo Refresh

In my room at college, I have tons of photos of myself and my closest friends. I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to go back to my dorm and partially move out,  which meant I was able to bring a lot of those home. If you're in a similar situation - hang those pictures up! If not, print some out and DIY it. A brand new photo collage refreshed my space, and makes me smile every time I look up and see photos of my friends and me pre-pandemic. 

2. Mood Board

Hello, we all know I'm mood board obsessed. What better way to encapsulate who you are right now than with some gorgeous, inspiring mood-boarding? I set up my bulletin board above my desk and refreshed it with new images. Spend an afternoon cutting out magazine pictures or scrolling through Pinterest and make your own (or take a look at any of the #MoodBoardMonday posts on the blog for some inspo).

3. Candles

In college, I started having candles in my room. It's become so calming for me and an essential part of the ambiance of my work/study space. When I moved back home, I treated myself to two candles for my new room: the Capri Blue Volcano candle (which smells amazing and looks gorgeous) and a Philadelphia Homesick Candle. I love my Homesick candle and would definitely suggest it to any college students missing their campus. 

4. Let There Be Lights

I brought home my fairy lights from college and they have made such a huge difference in transforming my space. Basic, I know, but trust me -- nothing quite adds to a calming ambiance like some fairy lights. If you don't already own some, you can get sets on Amazon that can easily span half a room for the ~$10 range. Treat yourself! And bring them back to campus when we move back next fall (knock on wood!).

5. Find Comfort

Next up on my dream "oasis" wishlist is a white faux fur throw. It's undeniable that an ultra-soft blanket or set of pillows adds so much to a room in terms of style and comfort. Target, Amazon, and Wayfair are great places to find inexpensive but super soft options that will match your design aesthetic.

6. Music 

Anyone who knows me knows that I can't live without my Spotify. Every season in my life gets its own soundtrack (I have over 40 playlists... maybe that's a little excessive but here we are!). I made a specific playlist I call - unsurprisingly - Oasis. I've filled it with songs that I love playing as upbeat background music. I find that a specific playlist for my space really helps put me in a positive mindset.

These are my tips for how to create your own quarantine oasis. Wishing you all health and happiness! What have you been doing to refresh your space?

xo,