Create Your Very Own Great Escape!

You know you’re in trouble when you find yourself thinking, Boy, has this been a long week! And then you realize it’s only Tuesday. Ideally, you’d love to escape for a few days to some exotic locale, but, let’s face it, most of us don’t have the luxury of embarking on a spur-of-the-moment vacation. What most of us do have the luxury of doing is designating one special room in our home to which we can escape for an hour or two a day—everyday, if we so desire.

Creating A Special Space

One of the simplest ways to create your own special space is to decorate a room to reflect your most passionate interest. If you’re an avid sports fan, for example, your favorite team’s colors might serve as inspiration for a paint scheme, while accessories might include team-signed balls, lamps and pillows bearing mascot images, and framed photos of players. To really show your team spirit, you might even invest in a more permanent (and expensive!) feature, such as a custom-made, inlaid floor showing off the team logo. By using a decorating theme that plays up your passions, you can turn almost any room—from home office to billiards room —into your own personal retreat.

Sometimes it isn’t décor as much as it is functionality that makes a room inviting. If, for example, you’re committed to staying healthy and fit, a fully equipped exercise room might be your idea of the ideal retreat. The ironic thing about exercise rooms is that, far too often, they see less activity than any other room in the house.

The problem, says Dave Marsic, owner of Prosource Fitness Equipment, is that “lots of people put equipment in an inconspicuous space, like a storage building.” An exercise room is much more likely to be used, says Marsic, when it’s conveniently located in a pleasant space. He emphasizes the importance of having access to a TV or music, or even a window with a nice view, “so you can lose yourself in the workout.”

Marsic also points out that you’re far more likely to stick with your workout plan if the equipment you’re using is quiet and gentle on the joints, and if it’s the proper equipment for accomplishing your personal fitness goals. By purchasing from a company that specializes in selling exercise equipment, you can get expert advice about what best suits your needs, as well as in-depth training on proper use of the equipment.

Many people dismiss the idea of setting up an exercise room, assuming the cost will be prohibitive. But, Marsic says, for less than $1000, you can set up a basic fitness room that will allow you to achieve a full body workout: dumbbells and a bench for strength training, a spin bike for cardio, and a mat for stretching. As your workout program evolves, you can add additional pieces of equipment. One that Marsic describes as “all the rage these days” is the elliptical trainer, which provides weight-bearing exercise without jarring the joints. “It’s a more-bang-for-your-buck exercise,” he says, adding, “Lots of folks new to fitness like the elliptical because it’s very easy to use.”

A Place to Release your Creative Side

If you prefer to exercise by flexing your creative muscle, a craft room will probably hold more appeal for you. Here, you can steal away for a few precious minutes (hours, if you’re lucky!) each day to lose yourself in a hobby such as sewing, scrap booking or painting. One of the most important elements in a craft room is a large work surface.

“You want a nice, clear area to spread out your projects, and you want to be able to leave your projects out and not have to put them up at the end of the day,”

says decorator Jeanette Blankenship of Interiors by Decorating Den. Some crafters purchase a secondhand table to use as a work surface, because: one, it’s usually less costly than purchasing a new table, and, two, because it’s already been “broken in,” they don’t worry about every drop of glue or paint that spatters on it!

Any craft room runs the risk of becoming overrun with visual clutter, but Blankenship says this is a problem that is easily addressed. “Closed storage is the key,” she says, “either built-ins or freestanding.” Clearly labeled baskets or colorful boxes help with storage issues, while also adding a decorative element. Alternatively, clear, plastic boxes make it easy to quickly spot supplies. Peg boards and bulletin boards are also handy organizational tools.

Other essential elements in a craft room include proper lighting (necessary not just for illuminating your work, but also for helping to create a cheery environment) and music (soothing or energizing—your choice!). If your craft room is large enough, Blankenship recommends arranging a seating area where you can relax and chat with visitors—after all, who knows when a fellow crafter might drop by?

Child's Play

Some of the same principles used for dealing with craft room clutter can be used when establishing a playroom for the kids. If they’re old enough, allow them to make the labels that will be used to identify their various storage spaces, and when it’s time to decorate, use their artwork to perk up the walls. Keep in mind that by giving the kids their own special play space, you’re buying yourself some escape time as well!

The “Man Cave”

Kids aren’t the only ones who appreciate having a special room for their playthings—men do, too. Of course, in this case, the “plaything” is usually a gargantuan television! The “man cave”—complete with comfy recliner and big-screen TV— has been a fixture in many homes for years, but, increasingly, it is being replaced by the all-out home theater. This is typically still Dad’s domain—he’s usually the family audio/videophile, and, as such, makes the decisions regarding which equipment to purchase—but it’s definitely popular for Mom and the kids, as well. The aroma of buttered popcorn wafting through the house is an effective way to let everyone know that movie night is about to begin!

Today’s home theaters are outfitted with state-of-the-art equipment that rivals that of commercial theaters and with plush seating that far exceeds that found in commercial theaters. Its little wonder, then, that most of the budget for this room gets eaten up before the actual decorating begins, notes Blankenship. Still, a little creativity goes a long way, and something as simple as framed movie posters can brighten the walls for a reasonable cost. Also, the bold use of color— contrasting oversized black recliners with red walls and carpeting, for example—can make an impressive statement.

Fun in the Sun

Some folks would argue that no movie could ever beat the never-ending show put on by Mother Nature—bees dancing around bright blooms in summer; golden leaves carpeting the earth in autumn; snow falling ever so softly in winter; and steady rains escaping from springtime clouds. For those who revel in watching this spectacular show, a sunroom is the ideal in-home retreat.

To enhance the atmosphere in a sunroom, Blankenship suggests choosing an appropriate color scheme. If the room is situated such that it’s flooded with natural light, she advises cooling things down a bit by using blues or greens. “But if it happens to be on a shady corner, then yellow is a great choice,” she says.

For many people, the word “sunroom” evokes images of a tropical, Floridian décor, but Blankenship points out that the style should actually “flow with the rest of the house.” In other words, the European accents that help define your living room should be carried through to your sunroom, as well. Wicker and rattan furnishings—both in natural colors and painted white—are popular choices for sunrooms, and if it’s been a while since you shopped for wicker, you might be surprised by the wide selection of pieces that are available—chairs, chaises, sofas, rockers, ottomans and tables. When it comes to furniture selection, comfort is, of course, of utmost importance, but another feature to keep in mind is durability, which is why Blankenship suggests going with outdoor-quality fabric that is fade resistant.

Other options to consider include tile or hardwood floors, softened with an indoor/outdoor rug, and woven wood shades to help with light control (especially important if you have a TV in the room). By backing the wood shades with blackout shades, you’ll gain additional privacy. Finally, because this is a room that celebrates nature, don’t forget to add a few plants. “Use living plants if you have a green thumb,” says Blankenship, “if not, then silk plants are okay.” The bottom line is this: it’s your personal retreat, so make it everything you want it to be!