designing cozy corners: slow moments with @crossingani_
posted on 03.18.26
for the month of march, we're excited to feature ani - also known as @crossingani_ on instagram! she specializes in lifestyle and desk content with a keen eye for interior design. welcome, ani!
where it all began
originally, you started out as an animal crossing creator. what made you transition into the content you're doing now?
being part of an online community can be so rewarding. i made some of the best friends i’ve ever had with people i met through the animal crossing community. when the hype for the game started to die down, though, the community also stared to dim, and it was a bit sad to see something i cherished so much slowly die out… but, a few of the girls that were playing animal crossing at the time decided to start posting their gaming setups on their channels. their spaces were so inspiring and since i worked from home full time, am also a gamer, and have interior design as another hobby, having a desk setup just made so much sense! i also really loved the idea of forming part of a new online community again. so, i made the switch, and it’s been even more rewarding this time around. i’ve grown a lot, both personally and professionally, and met some amazing people too!
the hidden science of cozy spaces
picking one general aesthetic to stick to can be tricky sometimes. what would your advice be to someone looking to integrate multiple aesthetics into one space?
that’s such a good question! actually, one of the rules of good design is to blend aesthetics rather than sticking to one. your space will feel more organic, intentionally curated and it’ll give your personal style an opportunity to shine! the best way to integrate different design aesthetics is to first choose one that you really love, and decorate your space predominantly in that style. then choose a couple of other styles to mix in as accents! it’s called the 80/20 rule!- 80% of your space should be your favorite aesthetic, and 20% will be a curated collection of some other aesthetics you love. also, having a well defined color palette and repeating shapes and patterns will go a long way to keep your space feeling cohesive and harmonious!
what's one thing in your space that most people wouldn't notice, but you personally care about a lot?
i think symmetry! i am a huge perfectionist, a sucker for symmetry and the rules of good design. every item on my desk has been very thoroughly thought out, especially the placing of said items. i think most people don’t even realize how i usually decorate in triangle shapes everywhere! i really go out of my way to make sure i have that trio of one particular type of item in my styling, or at the very least an odd number grouping of them. for example, on my desk i always have 3 lamps and an odd number of wooden decor placed very intentionally to create balance and symmetry. i always space these enough apart to create an invisible triangle haha! it sounds bit crazy but, it really makes such a big difference in design. most people wouldn’t catch that though!
when you look at your setup now, what was the first thing you built the space around? was there a specific object, colour, or feeling you started with?
definitely a feeling! i always try to create a space that feels cozy, warm and calming. that’s always been my goal. i think it’s become a staple of my aesthetic. lighting is also a huge focus for how i create my space, and i try to choose items and locations that will enhance that!
have you ever added something to your setup that technically didn't match, but you kept it anyway because you loved it?
i think the one thing that doesn’t technically match my aesthetic is the lighting i use on my desk! it’s very vibrant and colorful, and the rest of my space is calm, and muted. basically, complete opposites! i’ve tried not to use colorful lighting but, i just love truly love how pretty it makes my desk look so, i’ve kept it! :)
is there an aesthetic you like online but realized you couldn't actually live in?
maximalists and dopamine decor! it’s that style of design that is very, very colorful and playful. maximalists aim to fully fill the space with all the things that make them happy no matter the color, or the quantity. i think that’s such a fun way to build a space, and i truly admire those spaces online from other creators. i actually follow a few creators who do maximalist/dopamine decor design very well and they are so talented. however, personally, i don’t think i would feel comfortable living in a maximalist home. i feel like i mostly crave spaces that feel calming, cohesive and serene which minimalism does really well. the amount of colors and items would probably be a bit too chaotic for me. that’s a personal choice for my own space! but, it’s still fun to see others style their homes like that and i live vicariously through them :)
little sources of inspiration
has your community ever inspired you to try new styles or designs you've never thought to try before?
absolutely! when i started creating content, i didn’t really know what my style was yet. i had several aesthetics i liked and styles i enjoyed, but it was not defined in any way. seeing everyone explore their own vibe really inspired me to try out new things, and over time i feel like i developed my own aesthetic. it’s definitely something i wouldn’t have achieved if it weren’t for other desk creators who are incredibly talented and are still big sources of inspiration for me :)
do you ever find that creating content inspires other areas of your life?
it really has! i think creating content has made me really learn how to pause and appreciate the little details of daily life. things i normally didn’t stop to appreciate, or consider, i do so now. like if I’m cooking myself a meal, i try to make it look aesthetically pleasing for me, not for content, and it has made life a little more whimsical in that way. i’ve also learned to be more structured and organized because content creation is basically my second job, so it’s really pushed me to plan my days better, something i definitely wasn’t doing before.
do you remember the first osume set you saw? what made you stop scrolling?
yes! i remember seeing the dalgona set for the first time and i completely fell in love with the colors and the sleek design! i bought it the minute it became available. it was my first osume set! what caught my eye was how clean and minimal the keycaps looked but, still managed to have so much personality with the cute and unique designs each set has, especially the novelty kits which are always a must have for me. i also admired how polished and professional the brand is even though it was a small business. i became a huge fan almost instantly :)
connect with the creator
you can find more of ani's content on instagram @crossingani_!
looking to integrate osume products into your setup? get inspired with some of ani's favourites
