Creating a Quiet Space

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

27 Feb 2009 01:13 PM

Wouldn't it be nice to have a quiet space where you could just relax and be zen? A place where kids, animals and the outside world don't come near? If you have a home of any kind, you can create that quiet space as your own personal retreat. Here are some ideas.

Pick out a quiet corner and make it your own. You might choose to turn the space under the stairs into a nook or just grab a corner of your bedroom to turn into a retreat. Another nice spot for a secret space is a large stair landing.

For furniture, choose and extra-deep chair, a plush sofa or a french chaise. You want to be able to have the flexibility to sit, lay down or seat two comfortably. Make sure to include a small table that can hold some reading material, a laptop or a drink, to make the most of your space. A trunk could serve as both a table and storage.

A zen-like calm can be had with soothing colors. Try neutrals paired with white for a clean and relaxing feel. Warm colors can be comforting, but be careful of the hue. Anything that screams out, such as bright red or orange will over-stimulate you and have you ready for action rather than relaxation.

If you can't get away from the noise of the house of the neighborhood, equip your quiet space with a white noise machine (they play other soothing sounds, such as ocean waves, too) or plug into some relaxing music with earphones and an MP3 player.

If you are short on place, consider creating a room, even temporarily, using a curtain or a screen. By sectioning off some space, you can have your retreat, but still open the main space back up again as needed.

Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, creating a home in the Home Blog, caring for little ones in the Baby Blog and now relationships in the Marriage Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here or subscribe to the blog using the subscription box on the right.

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Learn more about Mary Ann Romans

Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

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