~A guest post by Bridget Sandorford

Whether you write for pleasure or you write professionally, it's important to have a space in your home to call your own where you can write. Having your own writing space can help you to feel relaxed and inspired so you can produce your best work.

However, space may be at a premium in your home, and you may not be able to just claim a room and declare it your own. Here are a few tips for how you can make a writing space in your home regardless of the space you have:

Explore Your Options

If you have an extra room in your home, you can easily convert it into your writing space. However, most of us don't just have an extra room that we don't know what to do with. If that's the case for you, explore your other options, such as a portion of a room or even a closet space. You can carve out a corner of the living room, put up a room divider in the basement to make a separate space, or even claim part of a walk-in closet to make over.

Choose a Space with Privacy

You won't be able to get any work done if people are constantly walking into the room or making a lot of noise where you are. Therefore, you probably won't want to set up a space in your living room or kitchen (unless you live by yourself). Choose a quieter space where you will have some privacy, such as a bedroom, basement or attic space. You might even consider setting up shop in your outdoor shed or garage.

Make it Comfortable

You are going to spend many hours in your writing space, so it needs to be comfortable. Even if the space starts out cold and stark, like a garage, you can add some things to make it feel cozy and welcoming. Add a couch, a chaise, or an overstuffed chair where you can curl up with your notebook or your laptop. Put out some large pillows, add some mood lighting, and add a fan or small heater to keep the temperature just right.

Personalize the Space

Every writer has a few quirks to help them write. When I write fiction, I have to write it out by hand on a pad of paper. Maybe you need to have a certain song playing when you write. Or maybe you need to be wearing a special jacket. Whatever it is you need to write, make sure you have it in your personal writing space. Add whatever else you can think of to make the space your own, such as pictures, mementos, favorite colors, and more.

Keep Inspiration Close at Hand

You will inevitably face the dreaded writer's block. Keep inspiration close at hand to help you overcome it when it does strike. This may include your favorite books on writing, music with special meaning to you, photos or paintings that move you and more. Include a few special items in the space to help inspire you when you need it.

Still need more inspiration for your personal writing space? Check out these ideas on Apartment Therapy (http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/finding-a-space-to-write-in-yo-136345) for creative spaces in small places.

About the Author:

Bridget Sandorford is a freelance food and culinary writer, where recently she’s been researching Los Angeles culinary schools. In her spare time, she enjoys biking, painting and working on her first cookbook.