Create Your Own Cozy Tea Corner

One of the greatest gifts we give ourselves as tea lovers is time. Time to savor a cup of healthy, rejuvenating tea. Time to share a cup of tea with a friend, catching up and discussing what is most meaningful to us. Time to find and try a delicious new seasonal tea blend. Time to seek out new teacup patterns and colors to add to tea ware collections. Time to JUST BE…..with a cup of tea. You might ask how we can make our tea time even more special? It very well could be by considering the surroundings where we enjoy drinking tea, what else (if anything) we do in that space, and how creating a cozy tea corner can enhance our tea lifestyle entirely. Here are three inspirational tea space blueprints to get your creative juices flowing, over a cup of your favorite tea!

All Things Considered for the Artist in You

Whether you have a large home with plenty of room for your dream tea corner (and all of your ideas are doable) or you have a smaller, more humble corner or nook area, there are wonderful ways to incorporate your hobbies into the area for you to design and enjoy. Here is an idea which you can adapt to any hobby or pastime that you enjoy, with a tea and painting area as an example:

1. Choose the location for your combo tea and art hobby nook. Focus on seating and piece(s) to double for tea serving as well as an art space. Make room for easel for painting (even if it is a tabletop easel), sketch books, painting or other art supplies.
2. Determine what furniture and hobby supplies you will be using there for both tea and art. Consider a roll top desk, old-fashioned or modern to suit your style, which has plenty of room for holding art supplies as well as being a great tea serving piece, or look around your other living areas to come up with a table and chairs to repurpose your current belongings.
3. As far a defining the space, use a style that matches your other areas, or think outside of the box and come up with a completely new personal statement that incorporates your love of tea and your hobby. Bring in new colors and add artwork and tea décor. Showcase your teaware collection. Maybe you’re an aspiring impressionist. Your design could include a framed print of The Cup of Tea painted by Mary Cassatt. Another great impressionist choice is Renoir’s Strawberries and a Tea Cup, colorful and dreamy. You may be fond of Folk Art, Contemporary or Art Deco. Enjoy searching for art and décor in your favorite style. Consider painting your own artwork creations to display in your tea and hobby area. Pulling colors from a painting, fill in with decorations as well as everything you’ll need for your own artwork, and tea drinking pleasures.

A Relaxing Space for Quiet Reflection and Reading

If you’re looking for a personal space to relax, chill, sip and read, your choices are many. You don’t need a huge area, just a corner of your living room which is already furnished with a cozy sofa or oversized chair can become a great tea and relaxation space with just a few additions. Any corner of your living space will become your sanctuary of sipping and reading, and getting some much needed self-care time.

1. Find a small table from another room, or pick one up at an estate sale. This can become a combo space for tea and your favorite books (including crossword puzzles, word searches and Sudoku) especially if you choose a piece of furniture with some storage.
2. Have a music source (phone, tablet, or MP3 player) for the power of soothing sound.
3. Feature some of your favorite tea décor, a candle, houseplants, a vase with flowers and other items (new or used) that speak to your aesthetic.
4. Add a few shelves and display your favorite tea cups along with some vintage hardbound books for the look of yesteryear.
5. For a touch of whimsy, finish up with pictures that defines the space and brings touches of soft color.

A Small Kitchen Tea Space Combining Form and Function

No corner or nook? No problem. So many kitchens could use extra prep and serving space, so why not combine them with a tea space? The opportunities to create a small tea drinking area are as vast as your imagination, so get creative over a cup of tea.

1. Look around the kitchen to determine where you have wall space (or a corner) to add a small teacart that combines form and function. There are so many choices to fit with your personal style.
2. Try a kitchen island tea cart to extend your work space. Top with your electric teapot, a tea assortment box and your favorite tea cups, and you have a space that is multifunctional.
3. There is always room for a small cart with drawers for storage as well as small chairs that conveniently next into the cart for additional space saving. Look for a tea cart with wheels/casters for convenient moving.
4. Consider setting up your tea space near a window so you can expand your gaze while enjoying your morning, afternoon or evening tea.
5. No window? No problem. Place a wall art window view landscape print to visually extend the space and add color and interest.
6. Add floating shelves for tea cups and accent items that define the tea house theme. Look for clear glass hanging vases for plant cuttings to bring the outdoors in

Focus on the following guidelines and add a spot of your own crea-TEAvity:

1. Set a budget, and remember repurposing and rearranging is a big plus financially.
2. Consider which activities (in addition to drinking tea) you will do in the space.
3. Determine how the space fits in with your family and friends who have tea with you.
4. Choose a theme and color scheme that bring you joy.
5. Decorate the space, evaluate and rearrange as needed.
6. Bring nature indoors with a living cold hardy tea plant. Pick leaves, dry and steep!
7. Add fun tea-related touches, accents and accessories for both form and function.

So whether it’s a cozy corner, little nook, section of wall space or a dedicated area within a larger living space featuring new or repurposed furniture and decorations, your cozy tea corner is all about YOU. Integrate your hobbies, passions and practices of wellbeing into a space you can call your own. Now is the perfect time to start planning, designing, coordinating and purchasing just the right pieces, combining both form and function. Creating a tea area where you can relax and enjoy solo time or visit with family and friends adds charm as well as a special presence to your home, apartment, condo or townhouse. It says a lot about you and what you enjoy in life. Have Fun Creating Your Cozy Tea Corner!