Scents and Sounds in your Odd Space

You’ll need to breathe when you’re in your odd space and in the oddest of the odd spaces, that can be a challenge.  The best of the odd spaces have windows in them or nearby that can be opened when things get stuffy (actually, hopefully, before they get stuffy) and weather allows.  Windows that open give you a way to tailor a space to your needs, which you can also do with any curtains and blinds covering those windows.  Don’t be bashful about bringing a fan into your odd space if the air seems stale.  When a space is appropriately ventilated, your mind and your lungs will both work better.  Your cognitive performance and mood will improve, which is great for getting along with others.  Allen and Macomber suggest ventilation rates of 30 cfm/person and making sure that the filters on heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems are appropriate for a building’s location (for example, better filters are necessary when the air outside is dirtier).  Anyone interested in ventilation should read Joseph Allen and John Macomber’s 2020 book, Healthy Buildings:  How Indoor Spaces Drive Performance and Productivity (Harvard University Press).

Scents can make your odd space work well for you, not just be.  Read this article to learn how to add scents to your environment and which smells might be best.  For example, green apple can help a space seem larger, the smell of lemon can boost cognitive performance, the smell of oranges can help you feel less anxious, and the odour of lavender is not only relaxing but also encourages us to feel more trusting of others.

To keep your ears happy as you spend time in your odd space, consider listening to nature soundtracks, the sorts of sounds you’d hear in a meadow on a lovely spring day, a burbling brook, gently rustling leaves or grasses, birds quietly singing, etc.  If your odd space is too large or too small or something else that makes you feel stressed out, listening to quietly playing nature soundtracks will help you feel less tense and make it more likely you’ll have the sort of time you planned in your odd space.

To get the most benefit from all of the sensory experiences that you’re adding to your odd space, make sure they’re consistent.  If you’re adding relaxing sounds and scents, don’t make the space visually exciting.  When there is inconsistency between the various sensory experiences you develop, not only will each of them individually not achieve their desired objectives but the combo will make you tense.  Consistency in experience is especially important if you decide to make your odd space a mental revitalization/refreshment/recharge area.

Odd spaces are the perfect way to make your house your home and send silent signals about what’s important to you. Even if you don’t have a space for a grand piano, you can tuck an electric keyboard into an odd space and tell the world that you’re enthusiastic about music.  Turn the lean-to against your home into a potting shed, and you’re a GARDENER to your visitors, and, most importantly, to yourself.  Odd spaces can be great ways to signal your “brand” to your world and to you.

Remember the conversation in this article, about creating a safe haven for your dog or cat?  Your odd space may be just the refuge that your pets need, particularly if you outfit it with their bed, blankets, and other favourite things.

Odd spaces don’t have to be the odd-men-out, they can work with you and for you as you create the life you’ve planned.