Everyone needs a special place they can go and relax after a hard day at work or once the kids have finally gone to bed, somewhere you can go to gather your thoughts, read a book or carry out a hobby.

1. Creating Your Own Personal Space
Everyone needs a special place they can go and relax after a hard day at work or once the kids
have finally gone to bed, somewhere you can go to gather your thoughts, read a book or carry out
a hobby. But you don’t have to spend hundreds on joining a luxury spa, you can create a personal
sanctuary right in your own home.
You should choose an area in your home where you will not be disturbed by people walking past
to go to the bathroom or going to the kitchen to get a drink. Ideally your own special little corner
should have lots of natural light, with a window looking out onto the garden or countryside.
Nowadays many houses are built around an open plan design, where the kitchen, dining area and
living room have all been combined into one large family space. While this means that the
family can more easily interact, it also means it is harder to find a space to hideaway in, away
from the noise and commotion. The area you choose could be an unused spare room, a window
seat at the end of a hallway, or a sectioned-off area of a larger room.
Once you have identified a place that will become
your own personal retreat, you should aim to make this a cosy place that reflects your character
and personality. It is a place to get away from all the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Keep it
simple and find an object that means a lot to you, such as a small writing desk, maybe an easel
for doing art work, a comfy reading chair or maybe even a favourite rug. Choose carefully what
to place in your personal space as you do not want to clutter the area. Choose furnishings that
will absorb sound so you can relax in peace and quiet; for example a plush carpet and lots of
pillows.
The idea is to place a psychological barrier between your personal retreat and the rest of the
house. You could use a moveable screen or panels or hang a curtain. Alternatively you could
place two tall bookcases in an L shape to define a corner of the room as your little nook, turning
them out if you want the appearance of solid walls in your personal space, or the other way
around if you want to use the shelves for storage for your books, plants, art supplies or other
tools of your hobby. You can even paint the back of the bookshelves or pad with soft fabric. Or
maybe you can rearrange furniture to divide off your personal area.

2. Set the ambiance with plants, candles or a small water feature. Use neutral shades and clean
lines, with just a couple of focal points. Make sure there is adequate light for reading or carrying
out your craft. You can use spotlights or wall mounted lights. But if the area is just to sit, think
and relax you may prefer softer light. Natural materials such as stone and wood add to the feeling
of relaxation. You can then add colourful accents with a throw or cushions. But remember that
this space is especially for you and so you do not have to make sure the decor matches that in the
rest of your house, the idea is to allow you to have a special area you can go to relax or be
inspired.
This is your space so decorate it with personal items, photographs, special mementos you have
collected on your travels or inspirational quotes.
Finally make it clear to others in the household that this is YOUR space and you are not to be
bothered, if needs be, put up a sign asking not to be disturbed.
For more information visit bespoke bookcases