Create a Space

If spending so much time at home the last few years has taught us anything it is how important it is to carve out space for ourselves. Whether it is to immerse in a hobby or just have some quiet alone time, the right space, decorated in a way that inspires us, can help make things happen in our lives.

Do Your Thing

If you are just starting out on the drums or saxophone, you may need to give yourself permission to make mistakes without bumming out your family or neighbors. Hotel blackout curtains not only block light, they dampen sound, and they work not only on windows, but over doors. Here function meets funk; drapery has long been a staple in music venues and salons. Luxurious velvet blackout curtains can help you embrace your inner rock-and-roll icon or exquisite classical genius . . . while also being polite to those around you.

But if you’re a stitcher, artist, or other creator you’ll need more light to see the details. Your makerspace, even if Marie Kondo-ed, is likely busy with your tools and creations. Plain sheers will keep the focus on your work and keep light floating. Shades are a great option for rooms with changing light: let them up when the light is helpful; pull them down when it’s causing glare. A well-designed creative space with rugs, comfortable furniture, inspiring images claims the room and honors your work in a way that a corner of the dining room table can’t.

If, perhaps you are a reader/writer/thinker, like Virginia Woolf, the originator of “a room of one’s own,” you’ll want your space to reflect your mind and inspire you. To let our brains wander, our environment needs style and fabrics that support our true selves. Do you see yourself rooted in the classics? How about a solid color that speaks to your heart? Are you a dreamer? Florals may be your thing. And if you’re a maverick, bold prints are the perfect way to adorn your window to the world.

Rest a While

The best way to be productive is to carve time out for rest and rejuvenation. Light levels play an important role in our energy. Sometimes we need some sun to lift our spirits, and sometimes darkness lets us power down. In a spa space where we can indulge ourselves while taking care of our bodies, we need some light to make sure we don’t mix up our body lotion with our shampoo. Light filtering shades offer privacy and some light while staying out of the way of bathroom fixtures.

Many of us practice yoga or meditation anywhere in the house we can—at the foot of the bed or the one open space in the living room. But creating a dedicated environment, free of clutter can help our practice. Some prefer an airy space with simple, white textiles. Others may take the need for calm a step further by blocking light and sound for the ultimate disengagement.

And, if a dedicated room for your heart’s desire is not an option, a curtain works as a room divider to separate your heart’s-desire space from a common area. A fabric that ties the design of the two spaces together will not only look great but will help remind that you all the parts of yourself, even the parts that benefit from their own space, are really part of your home.