comfort
things
the
of
Ways and means to mark your territory
Hendrik Armchair in
Climbing Chevy by Tori
Murphy, £1,200; Granite
scatter cushion, £45,
sofa.com»T
here are times when it’s just great to be tangled up on the
sofa watching TV with one, or several, loved ones. Or to
prop yourself up by the kettle with a cup of tea as other
household members mill around and share anecdotes from
their day. But at other times this can feel like too much
social activity altogether. These are times when you’re
itching to finish reading a book uninterrupted, get back to a craft
project or perhaps you work from home and have business to attend to.
Any of these activities needs a designated area that is exclusively
yours. The kitchen table
with all its comings and
goings and constant
interruptions will not do.
An entire room, à la
Virginia Woolf’s famous
maxim (“A woman must
have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction”), is the
ideal, but not all of us are blessed with one. If a spare room is at your
disposal, you’ll have the advantage of being able to shut the door: a clear
signal to others to keep out if ever there was one. They don’t know you
are actually snoozing on the spare bed rather than finishing a chapter.
Those not blessed with an entire room must carve out a space
elsewhere. A corner of the living room can be commandeered as a
reading corner. Overlooked areas like under the stairs, the landing, or
the garage all have potential for a spot of household land-grabbing. So
does the bedroom which, after all, isn’t used for most of the day.
Once you have claimed your spot, customise it so that it suits your
specific needs. If you work from home, natural light will be essential to
keep your mood buoyant, so put your desk near a window. Furnish your
reading corner with your choice of armchair, side table, f loor lamp and
throw. Houseplants and cushions also help to stake your claim. Then,
the only thing left to do is to occupy your space as often as possible.“Overlooked areas have
potential for a spot
of land-grabbing”
CHOOSE THE RIGHT LIGHT
Sitting in your own pool of light creates a
boundary. This, it says, is my area where I do
my things. A floor lamp positioned directly
over a chair in a corner of the room creates a
reading nook. An Anglepoise directed at a
desk sends a subliminal ‘I’m busy’ message.SIT IN A COMFORTABLE CHAIR
Essential, whether an enveloping armchair to
curl up in with a book, or a proper office chair.
Make sure everyone knows it’s your chair and
your chair alone, like Martin’s in Frasier.HAVE A SIDE TABLE AT THE READY
A table beside you is necessary to put
your things on. These might include a radio,
a vase filled with your favourite flowers and,
obviously, a mug of tea.KEEP A BLANKET HANDY
Nothing says: ‘I’m enjoying some down time’
like a throw tucked around your legs or
across your shoulders.WELCOME PETS
You might not feel the need for human
company, but a pet will always be welcome.
A cat purring beside a computer as you type,
or a dog lying across your feet as you listen to
the radio, provides exactly the amount of
interaction and affection required.MAKE A SPACE
YOUR OWNThere are certain things in your home that are like old
friends: they always cheer you up. We feel the love for
somewhere quiet to sit and thinkNEST (^) | HOW WE LIVE
Words: CLARE GOGERTY
A SPACE OF
YOUR OWN