SN decor: Musician transforms room into inspirational mecca

Filled with instruments and album covers, Ian Garlock’s room in his house on Beal Street is a music-inspired trip.

The telecommunication, information studies and media junior let The State News into his eccentric and eclectic bedroom, which doubles as his office, to tell us how important it is to follow your own rules when decorating your room.

The State News How would you describe your room?

Ian Garlock I would describe it as loud and colorful when you come into the room, because it’s a house that’s rented out, it’s just pretty much all white walls. So my goal is to get rid of all the white space, so it’s interesting to look at because you spend most of your time in your room. It was more of, I just don’t want to be bored out of my mind when I’m studying.

SN Where did you get your inspiration for your decorations?

IG It’s music stuff and then we go to the poster stores and just basically if I like it, if it’s interesting to me, I just put it on (the walls). It’s so random and colorful that you don’t really need to match a theme or anything. Everything is kind of different, but it all goes together because it’s all crazy. There’s no set thing that I did, I just added a bunch of stuff. It’s going to be annoying to clean it all out at the end of the year, but it’s fun.

SN How would you describe the hanging piece of fabric that divides your room?

IG It’s a bigger room, so I just wanted to section it off and I don’t really know anything about that. I was back home, and randomly my mom said ‘Hey, do you want to go to the fabric store?’ And I have never ever been to a fabric store and I said ‘I guess that would work out.’ It’s sort of a closet (on that side of the room) because my closet is really small. It’s kind of interesting, I guess.

SN How did you come up with the idea to drape a tapestry over your ceiling lamp?

IG Before, when my light was still working, it was really bright so I put that over it so it would dim the light a little bit. It was instinct, I guess, I just thought of it, it kind of works out.

SN Is it a fire hazard?

IG Well, it’s not now because I don’t use that light, but I guess it probably would be. I took it down when we got inspected, but I put it back up there. But the light’s not really working on there, so I think it should be fine.

SN What’s your favorite part of your room?

IG The Chad Johnson Fathead because it’s a microcosm of what I want the room to be. He does random stuff and does a lot of crazy antics, so I try to have that philosophy in life, but it definitely qualifies for the room as well. Plus I have to wake up and stare at him every day.

SN Why do you have keyboards and turntables in your room?

IG I want to be a music producer, so I figured you need to at least look like you know how to play instruments and stuff. I took a few piano lessons, so it’s mostly using it to put stuff together. Then I like to DJ on the side, but I also use that with the music I make, too. Music is the main thing I like to do. I was happy that I randomly drew this bigger room, because I wouldn’t be able to fit it into a lot of the other rooms in the house.

SN Is it hard to sleep here when your instruments are near?

IG It’s weird because a lot of times I will come up with an idea right before I fall asleep. I sit (at the keyboards) for hours and not really come up with anything, and I’ll go to bed. Then I’ll just be laying there, then I’ll just think of something because your mind’s relaxed. But then that way it makes it a lot easier to just get right back up and do it, so actually it’s kind of cool.

SN What advice would you give someone who was having trouble decorating their room?

IG I just say whatever you like. It seems simple enough, but really whatever you like, then if you like that everything doesn’t have to go together necessarily. If you like it, you have to live in it, you really don’t have to impress anyone else because you’re spending the most time there.

If you have a feature-worthy house, dorm or apartment, e-mail a description to features@statenews.com.

Published on Monday, October 6, 2008