How to Set Up a Cozy Corner for Regulation
By Jessica Jordan, MS. OTR/L
What Is a Cozy Corner?
In more and more public & community spaces, we’ve started to see a welcoming of cozy corners. I have seen them in schools, museums, libraries, and more! Cozy corners, sensory spaces, zen zones—or any other way you want to refer to them—are places that provide individuals a safe area to regulate, take a break, and/or release any emotions that may be weighing on them.
When assisting with facilitating these areas in the school setting, one of the most important things I stress is that it shouldn’t be an area where any demand is placed on the student, but should be an area to assist with the facilitation of co-regulation. That’s especially important because, for some students, a demand is what brought them to the space to begin with.
When setting up a cozy corner, first and foremost, it does not need to be a corner! It may look different in different environments. However, what I think the most important concept of the space is that it should offer various sensory tools and strategies to assist with regulating our nervous systems (aka brain and bodies).
These don’t need to be complicated or expensive! You can create a cozy corner at home using items you already have—pillows, a soft blanket, a quiet spot, and a few calming tools can go a long way.
Tips for Setting Up a Cozy Corner
The following strategies are a few I have compiled, but feel free to comment below with any other tools you have found helpful:
1. Reduce visual and auditory input
This area or space should offer decreased extraneous visual or auditory input. Sometimes simply decreasing additional external visual or auditory stimuli helps our nervous system with regulation. Therefore, these spaces are usually in quiet places of a classroom or a public area.
2. Use physical boundaries
Most spaces have boundaries—like a corner/nook, a pop-up tent, a large cardboard box, or a hammock—as these physical boundaries may again help to remove extraneous environmental input, specifically additional visual input which may be considered overwhelming to our sensory system. The physical boundaries of the space can also provide our bodies with feedback (aka proprioceptive input), which is usually calming to our nervous system.
3. Make it comfortable and inviting
The space should be inviting and comfortable. Again, think of it as being an opportunity to reset your body when you may be feeling any big emotions. I like to encourage the use of pillows, possibly weighted blankets, weighted stuffed animals, a textured blanket or scarf, body socks, and/or Lycra fabric.
4. Offer sensory tools and supports
Various sensory supports should be available to be used. I have seen the use of visual supports to assist with regulation, which may be emotion charts/icons/books/pictures, or tangible items including fidgets/stress balls/poopers, or the combination of both—including sensory water bottles filled with sparkles or gems. Lastly, auditory supports may be included in the space, including headphones, music, or earplugs.
5. Match it to your audience
Gear the space to your audience. For example, if the space is geared for little bodies, remember students that age might not be independent with reading visual supports or books—therefore, tailor the space to the population you are supporting.
6. Keep it simple
Lastly, less is more in this space! Think of it being a safe space to step away to reset our bodies. There doesn’t need to be an abundance of sensory strategies, as they can become overwhelming as well!
Whether it’s a classroom, clinic, or your own living room, cozy corners are a small way to create safety and support every day. We hope this gives you some ideas to get started!
Helpful Links
If you found this post helpful, you’ll love our therapy resources! Whether you’re a parent or therapist, our apraxia and autism courses are here to offer practical tools, compassionate guidance, and real-world strategies you can use every day.
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