Take a deep breath my fellow Seattleites: we have a whole lot of darkness ahead of us in these next couple months. Right now my futon is littered with blankets, a snuggie, an assortment of different sweaters for layering and smiling frog-faced slippers. I know that this will be the spot that I spend most of my post-high evenings for a while. Instead of accepting this cluttered and boring space I think it’s time for a change! What if I just made the whole apartment comfortable and made nooks for reading, cuddling or just watching the clouds on weekends? Or what about turning my futon into the ultimate machine of comfort by giving it a few upgrades? To save yourself from cabin fever I have some ideas to take your couchlocked stations to the next level.
Add a Bean Bag:
While beans bags don’t look enticing, after a 10-hour Monday shift nothing sounds better than getting high, ordering takeout and sitting in a large, stress-eating pillow. Bean bags are rollable balls of comfort that easily occupy an unused corner in an apartment. In fact, one of the most coveted spots during the PAX convention is the field of beans bags in the handheld lounge. Gamers trade Pokemon there for hours or take a quick nap before going back to the show floor, and gamers definitely know how to be comfortable. They invest in the best gaming chairs in Australia, so they are comfortable during those long gaming sessions; stoners could definitely take a few notes.
Massage Chair Pad or Heating Pad:
Who doesn’t have a back problem nowadays? From poor posture sitting at a computer to hunching over counter spaces in our own apartments, there is always something irritating our spine. Having heating pads, an electric blanket or even a pulsating massage chair would definitely help loosen up those muscles and keep me in a good mood all winter long, a full size mattress might too if you don’t have those. You can keep the Throne of Swords- I would feel like a king if I were home taking bong rips in between getting a back massage.
DIY Indoor Hammock:
I am not quite sure on the safety of building my own indoor hammock but I do enjoy a challenge. If you own your place or aren’t worried about mounting a piece of furniture from the ceiling, doorknobs or other sturdy surface hammocks are fun option. I could pretend to be a pirate sleeping below the ship deck or imagine I’m somewhere on the beach especially if add an electric blanket and a cocktail to the mix. Thankfully pinterest has hundreds of options to secure and stylize your own hammock; however, you’re on your own for getting out of it safely!
Doggie Ring Pillows:
These pillows are the best kept secret. It’s a padded inner tube to help you sit more comfortably on the floor that also serve as decor. Since these pillows are usually presents for cute dogs there are tons of silly designs out there. You can have a baker’s dozen of donut printed rings or find ones on Etsy with a more personalized touch, like the One Ring from Lord of the Rings. Stretching out on the floor is a bit easier with these pillows and having multiple ones around the house are great for guests too.
Build an Indoor Fort:
This is the ultimate mood-booster that anyone could make out of old sheets and push pins. I remember that as a kid I would prop up couch cushions and string bed sheets over them to create my own personal tent every couple weeks. Having a 600 square foot apartment means even more space to build and I would gladly cover up all of those white walls. I could turn those Amazon boxes into castle walls or set up a theater inside the fort by securing the sheets over the TV. Just because I’m an adult doesn’t mean I shouldn’t have toys or the freedom to turn my space into imaginationland. Now if only I could convince my roommate to leave it up all the time.
Alternatively, you could just treat yourself to a new, super comfy couch. If you don’t have the spare cash to spend on comfortable furniture or a lot of time to use for redecorating, that is okay. It doesn’t take much to make a space more comfortable, cheery and personal. Hanging a black velvet painting from Value Village, putting glow-in-the-dark stickers on the ceiling or draping some colored pieces of fabrics over the windows are just a few ways to make your lounge space more inviting for yourself this winter. Let us know how you customize your ‘couch’ space in the comments!