CREATE SPACE FOR SILENCE

ESCAPING TECHNOLOGY IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE SO MAKE A PLACE FOR YOUR FAMILY TO RECONNECT WITHOUT SMARTPHONES OR TABLETS

The immediacy of the world in which we live means nobody can escape technology these days. It’s no wonder people have started seeking out a safe haven where they can escape from it all.

A silent space has become a priority for many.

It could be a bedroom sanctuary, a luxurious bathroom experience, a music room haven, a secluded balcony or pergola refuge.

The first step when considering this room is to establish what you’re looking for from a silent space.

Are you the only person who’s going to access it, or will you share it with the whole family? Choose a spot away from the front of the house to avoid road noise. If you have no option but to put your room near a noise source, consider planting screening trees that will absorb sound.

If you’re going for a closed door space, make sure you have a foam seal around the door to reduce outside noise and make a “do not disturb” sign.

Look for hard, glossy or shiny surfaces within the space and eliminate them.

Materials like tiles, glass and leather will bounce sound around.

Furnish the space with absorbent, soft furnishings and fabric-based items like rugs, textile wall treatments, cushions and curtains.

Think about installing dimmers on light switchers, sensors on lights, or the really luxe option: remote controls on blinds or curtains. To create a beautiful daylight glow, use sheer window coverings.

Keep strict rules. No TV, no audio, no mobile phones, no outside noise, and no non-family members. That doesn’t mean the family has to take a vow of silence upon entry.

The room might simply be a place to cut out the outside world and its distractions.