Finding Space in Your Space
Have you ever walked into a home and felt, I could live here, imagine yourself enjoying a meal or reading a book, entertaining or just enjoying your own company? And other times thought this house is so cold.
We are spending a great deal of time these days in our home spaces inside and out our defined areas finding nests within can be good for us.
I want my home to feel that someone could walk in sit down on the couch or a chair and be comfortable.
I have my favorite spots to spend time in. One is a wingback chair with a footstool that was a gift to me from my husband when I was pregnant with our first child. At that time it was green velvet. Deep green velvet and it is very old, so old, the seat cushion has horse hair in it. It was a favorite for both of us, me for nursing and for their dad reading stories to the boys.
The chair is now grey pin stripes, and is placed in a corner of our living room, beside a large window and within a comfortable site line for the TV. I have a lovely view I can enjoy where I can see quails running on top of the fence line, watch the magpies or crows, or just enjoy the view of the trees or the hills, and hear neighbours walking by. I wiggle around in that chair, knees tucked underneath, legs stretched out on stool, or draped over the arms. It is my cozy place.
Lately my bedroom is another place I like to hang out in. The big bed and piles of cushions are a great place to retreat too. It is a comfortable room with a large window so it is nice and bright or I can draw the drapes and close out the world and bury myself in my blankets and pillows. Sometimes I want the world to take a pause and the bed is the best place to wait out the pause that never comes. Eventually I can get up and face the world again.
When my kids were younger we often read stories, or shared our own, discussed our joys and troubles on the bed. It was a safe place to be. Lots of pillows add to that comfort.
During my lifetime I have moved many times. At each home that I created it was important to me to have spaces that I could curl up into and be comfortable. Chairs, couches, lawn chairs, beds, offices, some space that I could be comfortable enough to read, ponder, talk on the phone, work, that allowed me to be comfortable and regenerate.
Children love to create spaces. Throw a blanket over chairs and you have the beginnings of a fort, add some pillows on the floor and it becomes a magical spot for a child to be whoever in that place they imagine they are. My son always wanted a secret room to let his imagination soar and regrettably the day we moved out of our family home we had lived in for 15 years I discovered a way I could of created that room for him. I hope someday he has a home with his secret room hidden behind a book shelf, piece of art, or stair case wall.
For some perhaps the bathtub is that special place. A home spa like experience with gorgeous bathtub settings surrounded by candles, special lights, sky lights or a window to a beautiful forest. I am sure many homes have been sold because of these special retreats. And those of us without those rooms can still create a wonderful space to relax. Candles, quiet or soft music, bubbles, oils, salts, soft pillows, large towels. Tranquility and water seem to go hand in hand.
In our daily lives it can be helpful to all of us, young and old to have a place to be where we can stake a claim as our spot to relax. I believe it is important to exercise, socialize, eat healthy, sleep and also to have time to relax, still our minds, or entertain ourselves. A place to go ahhhh, put your feet up and pause.
Michele B.
Contributor
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