Every Woman Needs a Space of Her Own

Darling, you deserve to have a space of your own. Every woman has private thoughts that swirl through her mind. I use the word swirl because most thoughts last but minutes or seconds. Thoughts can eventually turn into wonderful happenings. They are ideas and snapshots of your mental vision. The perfect place to entertain your thoughts is in a private space of your own. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a sanctuary to call your own? I have just completed mine.

Not All Is Lost in Elsewhere

Do you recall when I named the world, Elsewhere? It was during COVID. Well, in my mind, Elsewhere, is still here depriving us of the peaceful lifestyle we once knew as American citizens.

When our outer and inner world is in disarray, for one reason or another, the human spirit looks for ways to overcome adversity. At least my mind does, because my mind cannot handle constant turmoil. Therefore, I look for ways to calm my thoughts because the human spirit needs a positive quality of life in order to survive.

Choose a Positive Emotional Landscape

Finding a passion to engage in is fulfilling, and finding a mantra to speak to daily takes you away from the world’s problems and one’s personal problems.

My mantra is the word hope. The word hope is not a passive word. It makes a woman want to move forward into a positive landscape.

Do you have a mantra? If you don’t have one, simply think of a word that moves you into a positive emotional landscape.

Come take a tour of my new space!

 

A Space of Your Own is a Positive Landscape

And, speaking of a positive landscape, a woman can partially find this by designing a space of her own within her home. Since COVID and my ultimate concierge’s illness, I have been doing just that.

Many of you have acquired new interests or renewed old dreams that you were able to turn into reality. You have found joy in expanding your horizons.

I know a man who built a greenhouse. He bought the parts on Amazon. He always dreamed of building a greenhouse but was too busy. I saw his photos as he went through the stages of creating a space of his own. Now he is realizing his dream.

I know a woman who purchased an easel, watercolors, and brushes and signed up for an art course. She then decided she wanted a space of her own in the small home she shared with her husband. Two projects brought her contentment, a sense of personal pride, and fulfillment.

Finding Friends While Creating a Space of My Own

Beginning during COVID, and lasting through my husband’s illness, I decided to put my creative juices to work. I started with updating our storage spaces. California Closets came to my rescue and surprise, surprise, besides newfound and updated storage spaces, a new friend also entered my life. Allyson, the designer. Fast forward two years—when I needed something for my new cabinet, a project she was not involved with—and she came to the rescue by having the pulls driven to my condo ahead of the company’s due date.

Introducing: A Room of My Own

In this Sunday Story, I want to introduce you to ‘a room of my own’ and also give you a few ideas how you can take a small area within a room and make it a space of your own.

I have learned little tricks of the trade over the years of my life.  I think of myself as a woman who is:  Not young. Not old.  I am timeless.

Timeless means many things but in this Sunday Story it means to take your wealth of information and passions and turn them into a project(s) you have dreamed about doing. Never let your age or fears deprive you from climbing your ladder to fulfill a personal dream.

You Are The Creator of Your Dream

I have designed a space of my own. It wraps its arms around me and I feel like I am in a cocoon; safe and secure from the world. I find peace in the silence. I feel joyful that it is mine.

What makes your space special is that you are the designer, the creator. Your space, niche, or room represents and reflects your personal style. Remember, your style is your biography... a composite of your inner and outer beauty.

It is a marvelous feeling to occupy a private space where you can delight in having your keepsakes, conquer your to-do’s, run a business, make loving phone calls to family and private calls to girlfriends, read a novel, wrap presents, or start a journal. It is a place to make plans, solve problems, and create dreams. It is yours.

If you are looking for a great journal to use, I recommend this beautiful one on Amazon.

Let’s Carve Out Some Ideas Together

Your space does not have to be a room, it can be a tiny nook. How about a closet? How about a space with a screen in front of it in a large room? What’s important is that it’s your space where you can think and daydream and grow.

When I was newly married we lived in a small apartment. One day, I had an idea to make a space within our small living room my own. I decided I would visit a resale shop. My hope was to find a beautiful folding French screen to blend in with the décor in our living room. It took many weeks of exploring, but when I found her I fell in love and placed her in sunlit corner of our living room apartment.

In another antique shop, I discovered a small French desk with drawers. I also found a small French chair. I placed them behind the screen. I created my little space in the area where there was  a window that faced south that enlarged my tiny personal space. With my creativity and desire, I created a sunny room with a view! At all times I had fresh flowers on my desk along with my favorite keepsakes.

With so little space, I had no choice but to keep it neat. When I had company, I folded the screen to allow my desk and chair to become part of the living room. This was one of my favorite spaces. I wish I had a photo.

Turn a Closet into an Office

One of my closest friends converted a tiny closet into a room of her own. She lives in a huge condo in L.A. but chose this type of design because it is her style. It has a built-in desk that goes the length of the closet with several different sized drawers, shelves above adorned with family photos, keepsakes, books, a small TV, and piped-in music. It is only meant for one person. I could barely squeeze in with her! But it worked for her. She made a closet into a world of its own during Elsewhere.

A Kitchen Desk Becomes a Space of Your Own

Many of my friends have created a niche in their kitchen. A few of my friends had to get creative. One took out cabinets, built a desk in their place, and gave herself a niche of her own. Another friend placed her desk against a wall and had a beautiful vision board made that she looks at with photos and reminders.

A Niche Is a Large Closet

If you have a very large closet, you can use it as an office, a place to relax, and an exercise room. I did this in our home in California. We built the house so I was able to tell the builder I wanted sliding glass doors leading out to a private patio. I planned an indoor and outdoor room of my own.

I wanted the room wallpapered and carpeted. I picked a paper with the background color of sherbet green and a floor covering in the same hue because I wanted the indoor room to flow with the outdoor patio and landscape. On top of the sherbet green walkover, were Asian women dressed in lavender, wearing different styles of kimonos. My shelves and drawers were lacquered in the same green. I had a treadmill installed and a small built-in TV in front of the treadmill. And, of course, sweet reader, a mirrored wall for dressing and exercising.

My patio matched my space with lavender impatiens and vibrant green boxwoods. Centered in the middle was my dwarf Olive Tree (the first tree to grow in the Holy Lands). I am overly spiritual so my little tree brought me daily joy.

On the patio I placed a wrought iron table with two chairs. It is where I often wrote. My dream was to enclose the patio with a glass roof so I could see the sky and I was going to put a chaise lounge within the enclosure. But, I wanted to move near the sea. And, still do!  That room of my own was an expression of my love of nature, beauty, and serenity. The space was a composition of my style. We sold our home in California. I hope the new owner is enjoying the space.

When Creating a Space of Your Own, Where Does One Start?

My inspiration came first. I wanted a visual memoir and a constant look to the future. I see myself as a woman who is not young. Who is not old. Who is timeless.

I decided my ultimate concierge and I did not need a guest room because our condo in the sky is attached to a hotel. In my thoughts, I began envisioning a room of my own. My goal was to achieve authentic harmony. This was the key. Once your space and its purpose is chosen, begin the quest of design and décor by discovering your authentic decorating style.

I suggest keeping a journal (I recommend this one) and recording your thoughts, some to be discarded, as you fill up page after page with your dreams for a room of your own.

The New Room of My Own

I am trying to simplify my lifestyle. Over the past year, since my husband’s illness, I have become easily annoyed with people and tasks. The truth is, I am tired. I am trying (with some success) to lessen my annoyances. One of my decisions was to disband our guest room and turn it into a room of my own.

The room is my writing room, sitting room, and an exercise room. It is still in process but it is 90 percent finished.

Firstly, I decided on a theme and color. My theme is eclectic. Every object in my room has a personal meaning including my ultimate concierge’s and my love of Africa.

I chose African wallpaper that was designed by a tribe of African women in Kenya.

I also chose a floor lamp made from Ostrich eggs because the first Africans used the ostrich egg as a canteen. And yet, my room has a modern feeling.

Include Nature and Memories in a Space of Your Own

I chose the color green, as my main color because I love nature. I mirrored a wall so I could see the reflection of the city in my once beautiful Chicago. Every accessory in the room has a personal story behind it.

My mother’s silver flower bowl filled with hearts from family and friends.

I chose to display my oldest girlfriend’s birthday gift to me—we have been friends since childhood—a money clip.

An olive tree left on our bed in Greece from the owner of the hotel because she knew I loved the tree and its meaning.

I chose to display my aunt’s vases, my favorite photo of my ultimate concierge taken in Scotland, and my favorite photo of my father.

My grandmother’s music box and my mother’s opera glasses.

My room is filled with mementos, memories, and inspiration. You can do the same, because you want your room or tiny space to bring you relaxation and joy.

I will be adding an area rug, throw pillows, and I am going to add wallpaper to the backs of my cabinet shelves and around the new television to add warmth to my room.

Oh! In my wall cabinet is a hidden twin bed for my daughter-in-law (who initiated it last week!) or a grandchild.

Get My Look

Want to decorate a space of your own with a similar style to mine? Here are some great products to get you started.

 

Food For Thought

I have given you some food for thought. Now you can go online and do research on your own. Maybe you have an attic that has light and good bones. Or maybe a space in your bedroom or bath. Maybe you can build a greenhouse and put your private space among flowers and plants. While existing in turmoil in our once glorious ‘United’ States of America you can create a lovely room of your own.

My hope is that some of you will feel inspired to take on a project. Buy a journal to write down your thoughts and dreams in your journal of how you perceive bringing  your new space to life. What could be better than doing something creative that represents the ‘you in you’, just for you. Allow your thoughts to swirl through your mind and eventually turn them into reality. Have fun!

Share how you’ve carved out your own space in the comments!

Ready to connect with other women to bond over style, home decor, travel, and friendship over 50? 

Come join my private group Women over 50: Celebrate Visibility