By Lucy Wyndham
Ever wondered where writers actually do their writing? For a lot of writers, writing happens in a number of different locations such as coffee shops, parks, libraries or group writing spaces. Writing in new and different places can help to mix things up for extra inspiration and to help generate new ideas. However, setting up a writing space in the home where the majority of writing will occur is essential. This is where most writers will produce the greater part of their work, free from distraction and in the midst of home comforts and conveniences. Setting up an inspiring and relaxed home writing space is an important part of the process, and this article will look at how you can create the perfect writing spot in your home.
Choosing your writing space
If you don’t have a spare room in your home such as a study, then you will need to get creative by turning a little nook or a corner of one of the main rooms into a writing space. The key consideration when deciding on which space to use is finding somewhere that will be peaceful and quiet the majority of the time. With this in mind, converting the corner of your bedroom into a writing space could be a good idea as you are less likely to get disturbed. However, some people don’t like writing in the same place that they sleep, preferring to separate the two. In this case, you could consider another main room such as the kitchen, living or dining room, or a conservatory if you are lucky enough to have one!
Choose a bright spot
Ideally you should choose a space with ample light. Choosing a space by a window or in a south facing room in the house is preferable. This will help to keep you alert, refreshed and awake, or even get part of your vitamin D fix while writing! Dotting plants around your writing space will also help to boost mood and improve the air quality in the room, helping to keep things fresh and salubrious. Writing in a room that is affected by damp or mould is not a good idea, research shows that this can adversely affect both health and well-being.
Flash, fold out desks
There are also a range of lovely small, wall attached, fold out desks that you can buy which are compact and help to save space, perfect for an impromptu writing space in a small corner. They also allow plenty of room for your legs as there are no table legs to get in your way, thereby increasing levels of comfort and flexibility. Prioritising comfort in your space is important as you will be sitting there for long periods.
Decrease clutter
True to the saying ‘tidy house, tidy mind’, excessive clutter can be stifling. having too many objects and ornaments around that are lacking in order or organisation can burden the mind and make it more difficult to think clearly and process our thoughts. This is why it is recommended to create a more minimalistic writing space, perhaps adorned with some inspiring works of arts on the wall or a selection of your favourite ornaments.
