Head for a nook or a cubby
Carving out a little alone time is a bit of a struggle right now, but it’s not an impossible task
SOCIAL isolation has meant different things to different people. For some living on their own, it has meant barely seeing anyone from morning till night.
But for families managing home schooling, working from home and avoiding going out, it can feel like you never get a break.
No matter how much you love each other, after weeks together, it’s starting to wear thin. But you don’t necessarily need a spare room with a closed door to enjoy some time out.
With a little thought, the space you seek – and the sanity it offers – may be right under your nose.
1. Carve it out
It may feel like you need a lot of space to find some time for yourself at home, but that’s not necessarily true.
No matter how tight the site, there’s always room for a little nook just big enough for one or two people.
Whether you borrow space from another room, as architect and builder Clinton Cole from C+C Architectural Workshop did when designing this small seat next to the outdoor laundry, or you use the empty space under the stairs, the same basic rules apply.
Keep the seating flexible, so that it can be used for multiple purposes, and allow for access to good natural light wherever possible to make it feel more inviting and easier to keep clean.
The best nooks are always a little out of harm’s way to prevent people stepping on each other, although not necessarily out of sight.
More: cplusc.com.au
2. By the bay
Bay windows were a common sight in grand old homes but they’ve been enjoying a comeback in recent years as houses begin to shrink and designers and architects look to create smaller moments for quieter activities.
Place them at the end of a hallway, in the bedroom, or, as interior designer Stewart Horton has done here, as part of a study space.
Perfect for reading, drawing or any other activity where good light and peace and quiet are required, the best bay windows are well padded with the option for back support for extended use. Use the space underneath for storage, ideally for related activities like card games, puzzles, books or crafts.
While you’ll get the best use from a bench seat set into a bay window, there are possibilities for retro fitting along a bare wall. Just keep in mind that the quietest spots often work the best. More: hortonandco.com.au
3. Kids rule
All this homeschooling has put a strain on many family relationships.
If the kids are driving you a little mad at this point, you’re not alone. But rather than look for a place to hide yourself away in the house, creating a place the kids can call their own might be the best solution for your sanity.
Whether it’s something temporary like a teepee, or a more permanent structure like this Discovery Nature Play Hideaway from Plum Play, they offer a safe space for play.
With active and passive spaces for climbing, imaginative play or reading, a covered cubby space will keep younger children entertained for hours, or at least long enough to help you find your happy place again.
For primary school-aged children, this might be the time to let them loose with the tools to create their own cubby house.
Even some old blankets or sheets hung from a tree branch or swing set can make a surprisingly appealing hidey hole.
More: plumplay.com.au