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Decide what type of retreat space you want and then what you need.
听If you want a place for reading, bring in a good reading light and a chair you can curl up in. If you just need to chill, skip the bright light and install a dimmer switch, clear a small space for headphones and turn on your favorite music. 鈥淟et the space support your needs,鈥� says Pat Sendejas, an interior designer in Thousand Oaks, California.
Make it yours.
听No one sits in that chair but you鈥攖his is Mom鈥檚 special place. For a touch of privacy (and to reinforce the message), partition it with an attractive, inexpensive screen. You can choose a pretty font on your computer and print a small sign, 鈥淢om鈥檚 Corner,鈥� to place nearby. Bring in a small table and a few of your cherished possessions. 鈥淢ake it a personal shrine for your well-being,鈥� says Leslie Levine, author of Will This Place Ever Feel Like 网曝门? (McGraw-Hill). 鈥淵our grandmother鈥檚 handbag, a few childhood remembrances鈥攆ill it with your textures鈥攐bjects that hold meaning just for you."
Set the mood.
听A cozy chenille throw will warm you on a chilly afternoon. Or enjoy the soothing effect of water with a small table fountain. Candles, too, are known for their calming effect, especially scented candles. In cooler months, try a in a homey fragrance like . When spring approaches, switch to a light nature scent such as Angel Whispers庐.
Be still.
听Just relax and sit quietly for a little while. 鈥淥ne peaceful person can have a profound effect on a household,鈥� says Victoria Moran, author of Shelter for the Spirit: Create Your Own Haven in a Hectic World (HarperCollins). Your tranquility, she says, can radiate into the home and 鈥渞emove tension from the atmosphere the way a good air cleaner deals with tobacco smoke.鈥�
Spiff it up!
听Keep your retreat space clean and uncluttered, and you鈥檒l enjoy your time there much more. 鈥淐luttered rooms interfere with our ability to treasure the moment,鈥� Moran says. Make your private place a pile-free zone. The things you use there鈥攂ooks, writing supplies鈥攕hould have their own pretty basket or ottoman where you tuck them away when you鈥檙e finished. Embrace simplicity in your space, she advises. 鈥淎 simplified home feels friendlier.鈥�
Feel a connection to your space.
听Use it in ways you don鈥檛 use the rest of the house. Make it your place for journaling or writing personal letters鈥攆or sketching, meditating or whatever you do to relax. Reinforce the connection by stocking your sanctuary with a small tin of your favorite hard candy or some other treat that you enjoy only there.
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