**Sergeant Spruces Up Barracks for Fellow Soldiers at Fort Bliss**
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At Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, Army Sergeant Briyana Taylor has turned her passion for interior design into a meaningful endeavour, breathing new life into the living quarters of her fellow soldiers. Over the last few years, her innovative makeovers have transformed bland barracks into personalised havens, proving beneficial for both mental health and overall morale.
Taylor, who hails from New Jersey, initially struggled to establish friendships upon her arrival at Fort Bliss in December 2020. To combat feelings of isolation, she devoted her time to revamping her own living space. “I would just stay in my room and decorate,” she explains. The standard dormitory furniture lacked any personal flair, so she set out to replace it with items that reflected her individual style.
The transformation included a new queen-sized bed with a sleek black metal frame, complemented by a matching dresser, nightstand, and full-length mirrors. Taylor also installed floor-to-ceiling taupe curtains and enhanced the atmosphere with faux plants and decorative wall art. To radically change the look of the room, she cleverly used contact paper on the existing tiles to simulate hardwood flooring, completing the design with an area rug for comfort.
The impact of her hard work did not go unnoticed. During a room inspection in 2023, her commanding officer, Xavier Ramos, expressed admiration for her aesthetic achievements, recognising her efforts with an Army Achievement Medal. This recognition sparked curiosity among her comrades, leading many to visit her room out of interest and admiration for her skills.
Inspired by a fellow soldier, Taylor decided to share her makeover journey on TikTok, posting a notable before-and-after video that quickly went viral, amassing nearly 12 million views. “What the Army gave me vs what I made,” she captioned the post, marking the beginning of her side business in interior design.
With a master’s degree in education on the horizon, Taylor’s services have attracted a plethora of clients hoping to elevate their living environments. “I really do the rooms just to help with soldiers’ mental health and just to improve their daily living,” she states, emphasising the mental toll that being away from home can take, especially among those who hold strong familial ties. Recent data from the Defense Health Agency indicates that mental health conditions among active-duty personnel have surged nearly 40% from 2019 to 2023.
What began as a voluntary task has now evolved into a flourishing venture, with Taylor charging around £240 per client, not including the cost of materials. Many clients provide her with inspiration, while others, such as Army Specialist Hayden Walker, entrust her with complete creative control. Walker recalls discovering her TikTok page shortly after arriving at Fort Bliss in 2024, prompting him to reach out for her assistance.
“I knew she was going to do something good,” Walker reflected, adding that once Taylor completed his room, he felt an overwhelming sense of pride in his space. “The standard barracks rooms are kind of ugly,” he said, noting how this refreshing makeover encouraged him to spend more time in his living quarters. “You couldn’t even get me out of my room; I was just so comfortable and cozy.”
Despite the modification costs reaching nearly £320, Walker emphasised the value of the work. “She got me a whole bunch of pictures, a mirror, some decorations, blackout curtains, and a rug,” he noted, deeming the expenditure well worth it.
Taylor prides herself on operating within her clients’ budgets, often sourcing materials from thrift stores and discount retailers such as Marshalls, HomeGoods, and Ross. Her commitment to finding affordable options allows her to provide stylish transformations without breaking the bank.
The most gratifying aspect of her initiative, she reveals, is the positive feedback she receives from soldiers who have benefited from her work. Many have expressed that the revamped rooms have significantly improved their mental health. Taylor remarks, “For me to decorate and give them a room they could come back to and just decompress from all the stresses of the military, I think helps a lot.”
In a military environment where mental wellness is becoming increasingly paramount, Taylor’s efforts highlight the importance of creating spaces that foster comfort and positivity. As she continues to balance her commitments to her military service and her passion for design, Taylor stands as a testament to the impact of creativity in nurturing a supportive community.