A quiet place to perch.
This post may contain Amazon or other affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
With Thanksgiving behind us and the rush of Christmas shopping and preparations ahead, take a little time to find your sanctuary—a little time to find a quiet place to perch.
We gotta step back and chill. Sometimes it means we need to create that special place in our house for just that purpose. I was reminded of this recently while on a trip with Princess Cruises when my sister and I visited The Sanctuary. It was just that: a place to perch for a while, to read, enjoy a healthy fruit drink, or just be still and think.
The Sanctuary reminded me of writing sometime ago about creating a sanctuary or as I like to call it “a quiet place to perch” in our own homes.
Soon after we moved into our current home few years ago I knew I wanted to set up a sitting area in our bedroom. That’s what they’re called you know, “sitting areas,” for sitting. Not standing, or dancing, or exercising. For sitting. A peaceful retreat for reading a book. A comfy spot to talk to my sister on the phone. A quiet place to perch.
I found this chair at a local home furnishings outlet, marked down an additional 40%. The mahogany side table was a steal at $45 found at a yard sale.
chair + side table + lamp = instant sitting area
I think it’s important to have an area in your home (especially if you have young kids) that’s an escape from the hectic, the noise, the screens (and the screams)–the many distractions that surround us everyday, because we all just can’t take off at the drop of a hat for vacation. That would be nice but not a reality for most of us.
Truth be told, I don’t take advantage of our sitting area like I should. A good deal of the time it holds the pillows from our bed, or a pile of whatever waiting to be gone through. But every now and then when things get piled up, not just on the chair but on my mind, the time comes to clear away the clutter and find the sitting place, neaten things up and re-create the escape. It beckons for a visit when it’s clean and neat.
I’d encourage you to find a space for a quiet spot to sit. You don’t have to spend a bunch on a chair. I still use a chair I found at a junk place for $40 years ago in another part of our home. Keep your eyes open for deals. I’ve even been known to use a thin bedspread, creatively pinned and tucked, to cover a chair that doesn’t necessarily match the decor of a room. A side table could easily be a trunk, a stack of old wooden boxes, or even a stool. I think you’ll find a mini respite well worth the investment. Let me know if you have any other creative ideas for creating a sitting area in your home. I’m always looking for new ways to do things.
Will you join me and try to be intentional about taking some time to just be still, quiet, and get away from it all each week? I think we all will be glad if we do. And our minds will thank us.
Updated. This was originally published September 7, 2011.
(Princess Cruises paid for my trip and expenses. As always, all opinions are my own.)
I’d sure like to sit in that chair a spell. Can I come over?
so, so important – clearing your mind helps the creativity to flow as well as restoring your soul . ..
Oh how I need a quiet place to perch. Badly. I’m going to work on that.
Thought of you at a guitar exhibit at the science center yesterday 🙂
That’s a sweet spot. I’ve always wanted an area to sit and quietly read and scribble down notes. Right now there’s no where to have that place except in the family room. You’ve given me incentive to find a way to carve out a spot just for this purpose.
I love that concept. I could use something like that in my life!
Probably exactly what I needed yesterday when I was struggling with the point of life. Although I had spent a considerable amount of time sitting on my front porch swing reading in the days prior (I love to get alone time out there with the dog and fans and just sit and read). My other favorite place is up on our 3rd floor in our “man room”, well it doubles as the guest area and man room, mostly the man room since we don’t have guests as often as we need quite time. There is a window seat up there and I love to sit and sometimes just stare out the window at the clouds. Either way I completely agree that a good sitting area is ever so important. I love yours, the only thing I’d need is a foot stool (I am short, if you remember, my legs being my shortest part).
That looks like the most welcoming chair. We have a similar comfy chair in our bedroom, but we need to add a side table to make a true sitting area.
I love this spot! I love the guitar being close at hand, too. I bet some mighty fine tunes come from perching there for a bit! Love it.
I LOVE this. I totally agree, I think it is so important to have a space all your own in your home. I really love that chair.
Excellent advice. 🙂
This is a wonderful idea. Funny timing too, because I uncluttered my chair today and sat on it!
I need one of those, but we’re so limited on space. Maybe in our next house.
My sitting area is what used to be my daughter’s bedroom. A comfy chair, an ottoman and a TV. No computer anywhere close by. I recall how upset she was that I changed ‘her’ room to ‘my’ room; I suppose I was expected to keep a shrine forever but she’s gotten over it and I love it!
I definitely need to invest in a quiet place to just “be.”
Amen!
What a cozy spot you have. I have lots of large books and old textbooks that do not get used often. Stacking those has created a nice “side table” where I can set my drink or light a candle. Best of all – completely free!
OH I love your quiet spot. I’ll be over in a sec, keep it warm for me?
Thanks for the reminder – I need to sit more often. Love your sitting space!
Love this. I just came across your site and I love it already. Funny, I just came back from a vacation to the mainland (I live in Hawaii,) and last week I wrote a post about my “favorite things” to return to. Though I had to cut it when I had TOO many favorite things listed, my “sitting chair” was in my original list. I love my place. I use it every morning and any evening I can. (Though mine too gets piled with “stuff” often. :)) Great thoughts. see you soon.
I need a place. NEED. I thought I had made my own space until I sat down one day on top of a Lego Star Wars ship. Only then did I realize nothing is my own..at least for a few more years 😉