It’s hard *not* to feel emotional these days. As we enter year three of the pandemic (need I say more?), emotions are running high. People are stressed, anxious, tired, scared, and frustrated. With everything else that’s going on in our personal lives, it can be a lot to handle. Luckily, there’s a new way to release all these feelings: emotional escape rooms.
The concept was listed on Pinterest Predicts, a report featuring the trends that Pinterests anticipates will rise in 2022. What exactly is an emotional escape room, you ask?
“An emotional escape room is a place where you can escape and be on your own,” said Marco Bizzley, a certified interior designer and a consultant at House Grail, a site offering home improvement guides and advice. “They can come in a wide variety of formats, whether it’s a place to meditate or if you need your spot to cry it out.”
Indeed, while all emotional escape rooms share an overarching goal of letting you release your feelings, they vary in their design. For instance, rage rooms, music-themed rooms, crystal rooms, tiny library rooms, and home massage rooms are all trending search terms, according to Pinterest’s report.
Whatever suits your fancy, it is key to have a space that is completely your own in your house. “Your home should be your safe haven and so it is just right for you to have your own personal space there,” said Anton Giuroiu, an architect and the founder of art and architecture site Homesthetics. “It gives you a sense of security and therefore improves your quality of life.”
So if you need a place to release your anger, consider creating a rage room where you can (safely) break things. Want to feel more zen? Think about a music-themed space to play instruments or listen to songs. If you’re like me and reading calms you, set up a tiny library or book nook.
That’s all well and good, but what if you’re limited on space? Even if you can’t dedicate an entire room to the concept, you can still find a way to emotionally escape. Take these ideas into consideration:
- Use the outdoors. An emotional escape space doesn’t necessarily have to be inside. “Make use of your garden to create an area where you can meditate,” Giuroiu suggested. “Utilize the space on your balcony or backyard to create spaces that stimulate your emotions and you’re all set!”
- Set up a temporary area. After all, emotional escape rooms don’t have to be “permanent, dedicated spaces if you have limited floor area,” Giuroiu noted. He suggested bringing in decor or storage items that you can put away when you’re not using them.
- Limit what you need. You don’t have to go over the top when designing your space. Simply “incorporate the items that help you best deal with emotions,” said Bizzley. Candles and low lighting are ideal, as are paper and crayons if you like to draw. Bizzley also recommended squishy balls, which you can throw if you’re feeling irritated (plus they don’t break anything!).
If you need a place to be alone and work through your feelings, know that setting up an emotional escape room (or area) can be a great solution. Search for inspiration, but ultimately it’s up to you to create your ideal space.
