I am excited to share how to create the perfect cozy nook to grow your inner peace and creativity. You can use a space as your own quiet oasis, perfect for stealing quiet moments and fostering inner health. And the best part: you can make it budget-friendly, and it can fit in any small corner of your home.
For years I have wanted a space that was solely mine. Somewhere relatively quiet, where I could sit and dream up new ideas, have moments of quiet reflection, sip my coffee undisturbed, and put my feet up on a cushy footrest.
As I have mentioned before, our house is relatively small, and with three boys and two adults, there just wasn’t a lot of extra space for me to claim for this purpose. Once again, with covid confining us indoors, I had time to do some rearranging and figure out just where this space could come to life.
Why Create a Nook for Yourself?
There are so many reasons why creating a quiet space for yourself is beneficial. Our lives are full of stimulation. In this electronic age packed with social media accounts, we are endlessly bombarded with information. Our brains constantly process, filter, and analyze until we literally collapse in our beds at night, completely exhausted. It is not surprising that anxiety and depression rates are rapidly rising. Studies show it is more important than ever to consciously set aside time for quiet, stillness, and reflection.
Having a quiet time to be mindful, decompress, pray, journal, or just tip your head back, close your eyes and take a deep breath can be life-giving. Just like our body signals thirst for water, it will also send signals of burnout. If we know how to pay attention, we can recognize burnout signals: muscle aches, headaches, fatigue, poor concentration, poor sleep, to name a few. With life comes stress, so we need to learn tools to maintain physical and emotional health.
Truthfully, in the past, I wasn’t always great at acknowledging my body’s signals of fatigue. I would simply keep going, causing me to become irritable, overly tired, and struggle to figure “stuff” out. But when I acknowledge I need a break, even for 10 minutes, It changes my whole perspective, rejuvenates my body and emotions.
Incorporating restful moments of solitude helps me deal with stress, makes me more able to respond with kindness, gives me time to process and make healthier decisions. I also use this quiet time to pray and process things with God. My faith is my stabilizing force, and I value quiet time with God.
There are so many proven benefits of practicing moments of stillness and meditation. Mindfulness, meditation, quiet retreats, and journaling are age-old practices going back thousands of years. Focused quiet moments allow our brains to refresh, in-turn allowing us to find a sense of stability, calm, hope, solutions, and deeper creativity.
What the Experts Have to Say
Do you need a little more convincing? While working on this post, I found a few articles that I thought offered compelling reasons for creating a quiet, cozy nook in your own home.
7 Science-Backed Reasons You Should Spend More Time Alone from Forbes.com
Why You Must Have Solitude and Time for Yourself from oprah.com
5 Benefits of Doing Daily Devotions from todaydevotional.com
Inspired Thought
I resolved to find a space where I could create this little oasis for myself. As I considered where and how to create my nook, it dawned on me, I can transform just about any small corner of the house. It didn’t need to be a whole room or take up much “real-estate” but literally could be a little corner dedicated to finding simple, quiet time.
Most spaces in people’s homes are designed with everyone’s collective needs in mind. The Kitchen, dining room, living room are all shared spaces where we do life together. I wanted a little space that I could claim and decorate just for me (no boys allowed 😆 – they have to create their own corners. Haha).
The results
I got busy and made my perfect space. Guys, It has been a game-changer. I can honestly say I use this space daily. I am in love with my tiny corner! It is all the things that speak to my own sense of comfort and refreshing. I use this space to read, journal, pray, reflect, and write. It is an intentional place I can go to seek God, find peace, remember gratitude, and express creativity.
Things to Consider When Choosing Your Space:
Here are a few tips when choosing where to place your creative corner. First, consider these things:
- Is the space in a comfortable yet quiet part of the house? (avoid major traffic areas)
- Does the space have some natural light? Sunlight has so many wonderful benefits to our minds and body. If you have the option of choosing a space that gets some lovely sunshine, this is preferable. Sunlight helps our creative process and is good for our emotional well-being.
- Is the space big enough for a comfortable chair, footrest, and small side table?
- I highly recommend making this a tech-free zone—no phones, tablets, computers, televisions.
Design
Designing your special corner is the BEST Part! You don’t need to spend a lot of money; you can pull from things already in your home or can pick them up at a thrift store. Here are the 7 steps to create your perfect restful corner.
- 1. First, decide on the space you will use.
- 2. Choose your design color scheme.
- 3. Choose at least 3-5 decorative items that make you happy. They should be things you find inviting and relaxing.
- 4. Add storage so you can keep a few items handy… books you are reading, a journal and pen for writing, earbuds for listening to music or an encouraging podcast, etc.
- 5. Get a footrest
- 6. Add lighting
- 7. Add something soft – a blanket or pillow
- 8. Consider a rug to help define your space – optional
The Creative Corner Breakdown
Your creative space should reflect your tastes and the things you find comfortable and inviting. For myself, I chose a small corner on the second floor of our home that doesn’t get much foot traffic and tends to be quieter. It also is a space that gets lots of southern light exposure. I incorporated a black and white color scheme, a favorite of mine. Because I really didn’t want to spend too much money on my little project, I hijacked a pretty gray chair and black side table from another area of the house. They just so happened to match my color scheme. For my 3-5 decorative items, I chose a few things that I find pretty:
- A chunky wood frame with a DIY black and white print I made on Canva.
- A white diffuser that I can use to make my space smell lovely and more relaxing.
- A glass vase with white hydrangea flowers to encourage thoughts of spring.
- A Black and White Peacock poster with a DIY poster hanger.
- A tan twine basket to hold my books and journals.
Don’t Forget Storage and Comfort
I stacked these black boxes for added storage that happened to match the metal nailheads of the chair. I wanted to help give my small space some definition from the larger room, so I found this gray and tan 4′ x 6′ rug on Wayfair. Knowing this would be a space where I planned to read and write, good lighting was a must, so I grabbed a floor lamp I had previously purchased from Target and added it to the space. I also added a small pillow and blanket to make my chair a little extra comfy. To top it off, I couldn’t forget a nice soft place to rest my feet, so I purchased this footrest from my local TJMAXX store.
Your Space Should Be A Reflection of You
Your corner should reflect your favorite colors and design elements. You might even consider an outdoor Creative Corner…if you do, I am totally jealous. Unfortunately, February Pennsylvania weather isn’t conducive to comfortable outdoor spaces this time of year, so I can only dream about them! You can make your space feminine, masculine, modern, bohemian, or totally eclectic. Simply choose design elements that speak to you and invite that feeling of comfort and inspiration. Make your space speak to you. It should say, “Come on, you know you want to be here.” But even more important is that your space supports the goal of rest and rejuvenation, one that helps you clear your mind, find your joy, take hold of peace, and release creativity.
Share Your Thoughts
Do you think you could benefit from a cozy nook in your home? Maybe you already have one? I would love to hear about it! Leave me a comment in the box below to share your inspiring thoughts.
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