I’m a firm believer in surrounding yourself with things that inspire you.

A little over a year ago, I moved into the first house where I could actually make my own decorating and remodeling decisions, and all of the ideas that had been swirling around in my head since I got my first apartment could finally become reality. When confronted with the daunting task of tearing apart rooms literally wallpapered in rose-printed fabric and painted burlap — yes, it was as bad as you’re imagining — the little voice in my head kept me motivated with chants of, “You’re going to sleep in a SPACESHIP! Keep going!” More about that in a minute.

When designing my working and living space last year, I decided to take the advice I had been given years ago by a role model of mine: If you want to stay creative, surround yourself with things that inspire you. I found this to be especially true as I buried myself alive in work during my last year in design school. To be at my most creative, I needed to build myself a creativity nest. Whether it was art, collectibles, books, my dog, or even just a comfortable chair, a warm blanket, and a hot mug of something delicious — surrounding myself with things I loved gave me a spark and motivation unlike anything else.

Anyone who has read my previous posts has likely gleaned by now that I am inspired by space, the future and all things sci-fi. One of my biggest inspirations is the video game series “Mass Effect,” and its sparse, utilitarian, yet beautifully simple depiction of what the future could look like. The captain’s quarters in the game served as my main reference point. I was not delusional about how much of a facsimile of a 22nd-century spacecraft I would be able to concoct from a small bedroom in a mid-century South Minneapolis house. To be honest, it’s kind of a sad likeness (read: no likeness.) It is, however, a constant reminder of something greater than myself­ — something to aspire to. Some people hang religious and spiritual symbols above their beds and desks for inspiration. I hang up a view of earth from space.