“A woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction.” -Virginia Woolf
I may not be a woman who is writing fiction, but I am a woman who works a full time job and has life obligations and I am also a woman who needs a space to call her own. Currently we live in a one bedroom apartment and while it is a larger one bedroom apartment at 918 sq ft, that still means that a lot of the living space is shared. But no matter where I may call home I will always carve out a space to call my own and for our new apartment when we moved back in February I chose a corner of our bedroom to be my personal sanctuary. I created a space that I could retreat to whenever I needed time to myself to enjoy the things I like to do.
I am also a person who very much enjoys alone time and likes to tuck away into a cozy space to enjoy quiet time. I retreat to my cozy corner every evening after dinner and many times on the weekend too. I wanted to share the elements of how I created this cozy corner as well as how I spend my time there.
the elements of my cozy corner
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An Oversized Chair with a Throw Blanket
One element that I always implement into my personal space is an oversized chair. I want a chair big enough where I can curl up and read a book or even take a nap. I sit in a computer chair on most days, so I wanted a place where I could cozy up with plenty of room for me, a pillow, a throw blanket, a hot drink and a hobby all at the same time.
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Side Table or Tea Table
I got lucky and purchased this little tea table at an antique store a couple of years ago and now it sits by my oversized chair. The compact design of the table helps to keep it tucked away so that it does not need to take up more space in the bedroom. I was also able to purchase a wicker tray that I set on top to give the table more space which comes in handy when I want to do an evening tea time.
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A Multi-Purpose Ottoman
I knew that I would want an ottoman so that I could prop my feet up when I wanted to stretch out, but I also wanted one that I could store things in too. I found this ottoman on Amazon that fit both of those tasks as well as a third task in that the lid can be turned over and can be used as a small table which is nice to provide extra room to place things.
What I Store in the Ottoman:
-Seasonal To-Be Read Books
-Coloring Books & Markers
-IPad & Kindle
-Seasonal Puzzle(s)
-Magazines
-Pens, Highlighters & Bookmarks
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A Puzzle Board
One of my favorite hobbies is listening to some cozy music and putting together a seasonal jigsaw puzzle. This is one of my favorite simple pleasures that I can easily spend hours doing. Sometimes I even make myself a snack of popcorn mixed with sweet treats. I knew that I would need something that I could use to put a puzzle together, but it needed to be something that I could also store, so that is why I purchased a puzzle board on Amazon. I can also take my board into the living room or anywhere where I want to do a puzzle. Storage is easy too as I simply store it under our bed when I am not working on it to keep it out of the way.
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small pleasantries
Luxury is in the small details that we incorporate into the different areas of our lives, and a cozy corner is no exception. I am always thinking of small pleasantries that I can incorporate into my space to make it a more beautiful place to be and some of the small details that I bring into it currently are things like pretty coasters, scented candles, seasonal decor and various trays.
how i spend my time in my cozy corner
All of the elements incorporated into my cozy corner is meant to serve one purpose, for me to have a place to enjoy my favorite things. While my space may be small, functionally it is quite large in how it is utilized. No matter what I may be in the mood for I know that my cozy corner will be there to provide a sanctuary where I can be at peace by myself to enjoy the simple pleasures that I have cultivated for myself. Here are just some of the ways that I spend time in my cozy corner.
- Reading. Whether a magazine, cozy romance, a Francophile read or a non-fiction of interest…no matter the type of book my cozy corner is always a favorite spot to curl up and read.
- Putting together a jigsaw puzzle. I’ll put on my cozy playlist on Spotify, make an enjoyable snack and get lost for hours in a beautiful picture coming together.
- Coloring. I am no artist myself and I cannot draw or paint, but I can color and enjoy the beauty of a cozy picture coming to life.
- Watch a movie, netflix, youtube or anything else. I can set up the laptop and curl up in my chair to enjoy watching something that is on my list.
- Evening tea time. I love creating a beautiful tea tray of a small pot of tea, a teacup and saucer, a sweet treat and relaxing with some reading material. It’s the perfect way to ease into the evening.
- Watching the sunset or rain. The most wonderful delight of my cozy corner is the floor-to-ceiling windows where I get to watch nature and all of its beautiful splendor.
- Blogging. For me it’s the best place to feel inspired and to be able to write out posts each week here on the blog. I will often make a drink of some kind, put on some jazz in the background and create posts that I have been so fully enjoying putting together these past few months.
No matter what kind of home we find ourselves in at any given time, creating a spot that is uniquely ours to enjoy is a form of self care that does not get the credit that it deserves. Take some time to create a cozy corner of your own and bring in the things that you enjoy and find the time to indulge the simple pleasures of life in your own sanctuary, no matter the size or place.
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