Reports have shown that an increasing number of young people in Singapore are seeking their own place to live in. For those who can’t or don’t, having a space at home to call and make their own can have a deep cultural and emotional significance. Here, four Gen Z creatives lets us into their personal sanctuaries.
How long have you called this space your room?
“Since I was born. There were a few years when I was studying overseas but, besides that, I’ve never moved houses. The rest of the household is made up of my mum and dad, and a few pets including a bunny, dog, hamster, as well as terrapins which live in my bathtub. It’s quite funny to see how people react whenever I tell them this.”
Describe your room.
“It’s a pretty space in which I hoard items that are dear to me. I’ve had a lot of the trinkets on the wall – from photos with friends to keychains – since I was young, and some of the prints are by artists who inspire me. Others are just things that represent good memories. I didn’t set out to create a particular feel or aesthetic, and have just been decorating it in ways that make me feel happy… Perhaps my room will go in a different direction in future as I reflect on the progression of my creative journey, which will be interesting for me.”
How does your room represent you?
“I tend to gravitate towards a cutesy yet arty sort of aesthetic, but I also enjoy abstract art – both influences can be seen in the creative direction of the projects I do in school. I also enjoy fashion and the maximalist nature of Harajuku street style.”
And how does it influence your creative endeavours?
“I see my room as a relaxation space in which I indulge in hobbies such as crocheting and sewing – both of which have resulted in a small DIY trinket business that I run with friends (check it out via the Instagram account @18222sj). The maximalist style of my room has definitely translated into my work, inspiring how I draw or the colours that I use. My room is a space where I feel like I can freely express myself.”
How much time do you spend in your room?
“During the school semester, the whole day if I’ve no classes, and during the holidays, I make it a point to stay in for a few days so I can work on my hobbies.”
What are some of the most important items in your room?
“I’m really into Japanese fashion and have a 1995 edition of (the now-defunct, seminal street style magazine) Fruits. I also really treasure the art books I’ve collected over the years, some which have been signed by the respective artists, but I really can’t single out anything because everything in my room has a place in my heart that comforts me.”
Complete this sentence: My room is…
“My comfort place. I think that one’s room is somewhere in which one should be able to express himself or herself freely… It should be a space that’s free of judgement as everyone has their preferences and ideals, and being able to e
Tell us more about your room.
“I live under the same roof with six other family members, including our helper, and moved into this room that I call my own about three years ago. If anyone were to take one glance around the space, one would immediately know my favourite films, bands, books and hobbies. They’re displayed everywhere – from the walls and shelves to the books piled up on the floor. As someone who writes and is constantly cooped up in the room, it’s important to me that my space is vibrant yet organised and clean. My room is often a reflection of my mental state, so it’s difficult to be productive when it’s cluttered.”
What’s the funniest or most memorable comment you’ve heard about your room?
“I would say the most memorable comments came from friends who live in nice, big houses, but don’t spend a whole lot of time in them because they don’t feel safe there. They often come to my room and describe it as their safe haven, even jokingly calling it their own room because of how much time they spend in it.”
How does your room influence your creative endeavours?
“I spend all my time writing in my room partly because I’m a homebody, but also because my room is my creative sanctuary. These activities often involve brainstorming ideas on what to write, penning first drafts, perfecting these drafts and creating social media posts. For me, personally, writing doesn’t require as much creativity as it does mulling over how to string words together. It’s therefore not as important to me that my space fuels creativity, but rather provides comfort. As long as I feel comfortable and safe, the writing flows naturally.”
How much time do you spend in your room?
“Practically every single day unless I have to leave for school, but I come home straight after.”
What are some of the most important items in your room?
“A Polaroid taken in 2001 of my brother, my godbrother and me as toddlers, blowing out candles on a cake. It’s precious because the photo can never be recreated and there were no digital copies at the time so I really only have that Polaroid as a memento.”
What’s the greatest benefit to having a room to call one’s own?
“Privacy, which is so underrated these days especially when there is such a lack of privacy in most other spaces including those online. In my room, I can look however I want and do whatever I want, without worrying about the judgement of others.”
How long have you called this space your room?
“I moved into my current house with my family some time in 2018. I used to share my room with two pet fishes – one named Yolks and the other named Phalange – but they’re both gone. In my previous home, I shared a room with my grandmother, so it’s nice to finally have my own space. She’s still part of the household, though, as she visits daily and stays from morning to night. My aunt and uncle are also regular fixtures on weekends, and it can get crowded on mahjong days.”
Describe your room.
“Kitschy, colourful, ornamental. It used to be entirely black and monochrome, but I got tired of the plain walls and all-black set-up that didn’t fit my personality, which has grown violently colourful in the past couple of years, and my room reflects that shift. Last June, I decided to transform it into more of a gallery, hanging up whatever I had on hand to decorate it. These include items sourced from little adventures, posters from art exhibitions, a Venetian mask given to me by an old man in Chinatown, letters from pen pals, doodles, artwork and trinkets… Everything reminds me of the good times I’ve had. Other stuff you’ll find in here are a lot of records, mirrors, plants, and technology gadgets that lean towards vintage. I feel like a young person with an old soul and love listening to Chinese or opera music from the 1940s – tunes like Rose, Rose, I Love You by Yao Lee – which shows my love for nostalgia. One of my favourite items is a pink CRT (cathode ray tube) TV set that still works.”
What’s the funniest or most memorable comment you’ve heard about your room?
“Someone once called me an artistic karang guni in reference to the main wall in my room and it’s a compliment that I hold dear to my heart.”
How does your room influence your creative endeavours?
“I really like making art (see her kaleidoscopic illustrations with an Expressionist bent on her Instagram account @kerrschy) and create, I would say, 87 per cent of my art in my room. As it is a small space, it has to be both practical and pretty. I’ve quite a lot of storage space for art supplies – four big Toyogo boxes that fit under my bed for the various mediums that I use when creating works related to fashion, mixed media and fabric, for example. It’s wonderful because I hate having to run out of my room to fetch materials. My room is also a great source of inspiration because most of the items on the wall are from my favourite films or by my favourite artists, displayed alongside my own work. Looking around to see all the things that I’ve accumulated keeps me motivated. You know of the bagworm moth, which makes a cocoon out of stuff it collects? I feel like a bagworm moth some days – surrounded by all my trinkets. It’s a lovely feeling.”
How do you keep your room clean?
“I’m something of a germaphobe so my cleaning is rather meticulous. I remove every item, wipe off dust, then sanitise before placing it back. I do this about once a week or whenever I have time. I do a deep clean every couple of months when I get down and scrub the floor – the full works, which can take up to six hours, but it’s always worth it.”
What are some of the most important items in your room?
“My record player is one – there’s nothing better to start the day with than a good tune and there is something strangely exhilarating about putting the needle down on the vinyl. I like used records because they have a history and make me wonder who’s loved them before. Some of my plants are also very precious to me, in particular the Ficus elastica that sits on the top shelf of my plant rack. It belonged to a former teacher who had passed away earlier this year, so having it is like keeping a small part of him alive and I do my best to make sure it grows well.”
Tell us more about your room.
“This has been my room ever since I was a girl. When I was redecorating it in November 2020, the look I was going for was that of a maximalist fun house – I am a sucker for anything bright, colourful and nostalgic, which also shows in the clothes I design or remodel for Fuwari Shop. I took a lot of inspiration from Pinterest and wanted every corner of my room to have a splash of colour. I also made sure that most of the furniture is – like the pieces on Fuwari Shop – second-hand, procuring most of them off Carousell then upcycling them myself. Sustainability is something I’m passionate about because I grew up in a household with four other women – my mother and three sisters. We bought a lot of clothes and had the mindset of the Kardashians: wear once and never again. A lot of these ‘old’ clothes got thrown away and I came to realise it was really wasteful and thus decided to upcycle them. This was how I started on my sustainability journey.”
What’s the funniest or most memorable comment you’ve heard about your room?
“I posted a photo of my room on Reddit and someone commented that it looks kinky. I don’t know how the guy formed that opinion. If anything, my room looks like a children’s playroom.”
How does your room influence your creative endeavours?
“I’ve an interest in upcycling quirky clothes with a ’90s or Y2K vibe, with many of the resulting creations sold on Fuwari Shop. All of that magic happens in this very room!”
How much time do you spend in your room?
“At least 13 hours a day.”
How do you keep your room clean?
“I clean it usually once a week during the weekends and it takes me about 30 minutes each time. I vacuum the floor and rugs, then mop the floor and wipe the dust off my belongings, table as well as mirrors – have to keep them clean for selfies.”
What are some of the most important items in your room?
“My bedside table, which I got second-hand off Carousell. I stumbled upon it when searching for a pink bedside table and its unique design immediately caught my eye. It looks like something out of (the whimsical ’90s kids television series) Blue’s Clues except that it’s in pink. I absolutely adore the big doorknob design at the front.”
What’s the greatest benefit to having a room to call one’s own?
“Having my own room has allowed me to be myself. This is fundamental in my progression as a creative because when I am in my element, I am the most productive and feel the safest and most comfortable.”
Complete this sentence: My room is…
“My brainchild.”
Photography Athirah Annissa Art Direction & Styling Damian Huang Grooming Sarah Tan
A version of this article first appeared in the August 2022 Home Edition of FEMALE