Create Your Personal Home Sanctuary

Envision an Inviting Space.

First, decide what you want to do in your sanctuary. Will your activities involve reading, listening to music, watching movies? This will determine where you locate your spot, near sound systems, the TV or special lighting. Place it away from the flow of traffic to nearby rooms. Your sanctuary doesn't need to take up much space to be effective.

The central point will be your ideal chair. It needs to be comfortable of course, but also ergonomically sound. Maybe you already have a favorite chair, but if it's not ergonomic, you're missing an opportunity to get back benefits while you relax. Sitting in the wrong kind of chair could compress your vertebrae irreparably. You'll also need an ottoman if your chair has no footrest. My choices for extraordinary seating are an Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman or a Perfect chair , for the ideal combination of outstanding design, plus comfort beyond belief. This might also be an ideal place for a massage recliner, click here for my recommendations.

Also consider a table to keep your needs within reach or a cabinet with a drawer to store items you'll be using.

Lighting is critical to create the environment you're looking for. Select floor or table lighting and place it carefully, to avoid shadows or glare. Superior full or wide-spectrum lighting is available to keep you alert longer (some lights even help reduce effects of Season Affective Disorder). Bulbs that are perfect for reading Include the Lumiram (increases black and white contrast) and GE Reveal (filters out yellows). Or select a 3-way soft light which will meet lighting needs with choices from sharp to soothing. Stay away from capsule light and other halogen products because they are too white.

Make your sanctuary the place you escape the rat race, reserve time for yourself and relax. For me, I find that total silence, when the house is completely empty, is the most relaxing time. But since that isn't always a possibility, noise reduction earphones and calming environmental or neutral white noise recordings might work for you. Keep your spot off the beaten path. And, of course it's up to you to commit to use it regularly.