The View from My Barcelona Writing Nook (Take 2)

Barcelona is my happy place, and I planned my writing "office" with great care.

I’m obsessed with writing spaces: writing chairs, chaise lounges, comfy writing couches and poufs to prop my feet when I sit on those couches. I will spend years looking for the perfect writing chair to replace the broken down one I’ve got, worn out from so much use.

Last week, a few days before Thanksgiving, I returned to Barcelona, this city where I live for half of the year (I hope everyone had a wonderful turkey by the way, if you celebrated the holiday!). This means, I’ve also shifted writing spaces from my Brooklyn spot to the one where I write when I’m here.

One of the things I think can be important in a writing life, is a change of scenery now and then. It can breathe fresh life into our writing when we do something as simple as write somewhere else for a while—a coffee shop instead of our couch, a different coffee shop than usual, the library instead of our office. This is also why it can be wonderful to go on a writing retreat, just getting ourselves somewhere different can jolt us into writing again and help us get into the mood.

Speaking of getting in a writing mood:

In Barcelona, I’ve truly loved cultivating the place where I write when I’m here, and I thought I’d take you on a tour of it. (See above photo to begin.)

For some reason, I have only ever been able to write with my feet up (hence the round green pouf you see). At some point I may try and explore why this is (I mean, do I need therapy for this?), but for now, this is why all my ideal writing nooks—be these makeshift nooks I find when I’m traveling at vacation houses or hotels, or the ones I’ve created in the houses and apartments where I’ve lived—tend to involve cushy, comfy chaise lounges or couches with poufs. Or, well, beds.

Also, blankets. Lots and lots of blankets. Because I like to be cozy when I write and it’s cold out and right now it’s “winter” in Barcelona (which means it only goes up to the 60’s during the day). Well also, let’s be honest: I like to feel like I’m in bed, while I’m writing. Often at least one or more of the blankets in my writing nook involves a grandma afghan, made for me by hand by one of my two grandmas.

Pillows are also important. I use pillows to prop up my back but also I always always set my computer onto a pillow like the pillow is a desk. This is another weird quirk of mine, kind of like I need to have my feet up for the creative juices to flow. This is my Barcelona writing pillow that I use to prop my laptop:

Last thing? Color is a really important part of my life. Obviously it is if you are looking at the photos of my writing nook. Blue is my favorite color, all shades of it, and bright green come in second. Occasionally I throw in a coral, I love pink, bright yellow. Basically, I love vibrant color—no muted colors for me. Bright color actually makes me happy. Like, I look at it and feel happiness, and writers need all the good-feelings they can get while writing, so I indulge myself liberally on the color front (as on the pillow and blankets and comfy front) in my writing nook.

Second to last thing: the couch in my Barcelona writing nook is amazing. I love Coco-Mat, which is a Greek eco-home company that makes mainly beds and sheets and beautiful blankets, as well as couches and chairs made with the same materials they use to make the beds (their couches are unbelievably beautiful and comfy). In Barcelona, Coco-Mat is half the price as it is in the U.S., so I was excited to furnish my writing space with their Nafsika couch, which I have obsessed over for years but never thought I would be able to buy. In order to get it into this space, it needed to be lifted with a crane up and over the railing of our terrace, and in through the terrace doors because the stairs in the apartment where too narrow to fit the couch. It was totally worth the hassle. (It was a little terrifying though.)

Last thing about my writing nook:

Maybe the view and how airy it is, is my favorite part of all. In the morning when I get up and come up here to write, I open all the bright blue French doors up here, as well as all the other windows—I do this even all winter, hence the importance of the blankets. (And comfy pajamas, sweaters, and sweatshirts.)

Please feel free to send photos and descriptions of your own writing nooks if you find your way here and are so inclined! I would love to publish them now and then.

Okay—happy writing and happy belated thanksgiving!

Love, Donna

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And speaking of Barcelona….

Barcelona Writing Retreat: Getting to the End, Feb. 7-13, 2024

Join MADonna Writing Retreats for a luxurious and intimate week-long retreat at Hotel 1898, filled with workshopping, writing best practices and tools, conversation, food and wine. Use code MADONNAFRIEND for $400 off your retreat registration, before December 1st. Register here.