How to Create a Zen-Inspired Home
Give your home that zen kind of feeling, inside and out
The zen design is a juxtaposition of meditation, relaxation and harmony, and is associated with minimalism, simplicity and purity of lines. When you arrange your home featuring zen elements, you’ll build a welcome atmosphere that offsets the stress of your daily life. Use these 10 tips to help you create a home that is totally zen.
2. Use bedrooms wisely
If possible, locate bedrooms towards the back of the house – this is where chi (positive energy) is naturally more abundant. Dedicate your bedroom to its original role – the room for your bed. Keep ‘active’ furniture, such as exercise equipment and work desks out of this room.
If possible, locate bedrooms towards the back of the house – this is where chi (positive energy) is naturally more abundant. Dedicate your bedroom to its original role – the room for your bed. Keep ‘active’ furniture, such as exercise equipment and work desks out of this room.
3. Build a room with a view
The view from your bed influences your view of the world. It’s what you see first thing in the morning and last thing at night. Here, thriving plants, stones and a unique artwork surround a soothing water feature to create a true place of serenity.
The view from your bed influences your view of the world. It’s what you see first thing in the morning and last thing at night. Here, thriving plants, stones and a unique artwork surround a soothing water feature to create a true place of serenity.
4. Light your home naturally
Take advantage of natural light wherever possible. Generally, the more we bathe in natural light, the better we feel. Avoid harsh fluorescent lighting, which can make you tired and irritable, and add more light sources in the way of floor and wall lamps, dimmer switches, candles, and so on.
More: Sensational Skylights: Light Up Your Home Life
Take advantage of natural light wherever possible. Generally, the more we bathe in natural light, the better we feel. Avoid harsh fluorescent lighting, which can make you tired and irritable, and add more light sources in the way of floor and wall lamps, dimmer switches, candles, and so on.
More: Sensational Skylights: Light Up Your Home Life
5. Enhance light creatively
If your house is dark and gloomy, pull in more light by choosing light-coloured paints and furnishings. Well-positioned mirrors can also reflect light into your home.
If your house is dark and gloomy, pull in more light by choosing light-coloured paints and furnishings. Well-positioned mirrors can also reflect light into your home.
6. Create a down-to-earth bathroom
The focus of a zen bathroom design is to bring it as close to nature as possible. Natural and organic materials, such as wood, bamboo and natural fibres, should feature in most rooms of the home but especially in the bathroom.
The focus of a zen bathroom design is to bring it as close to nature as possible. Natural and organic materials, such as wood, bamboo and natural fibres, should feature in most rooms of the home but especially in the bathroom.
7. Think about feng shui
Kitchens are considered very important in feng shui because the Chinese equate food with wealth and success. The belief is that a cook should always work in a clear, uncluttered, brightly-lit and well-ventilated kitchen.
More: Let the Sun Shine in: How to Brighten Your Kitchen With Natural Light
Kitchens are considered very important in feng shui because the Chinese equate food with wealth and success. The belief is that a cook should always work in a clear, uncluttered, brightly-lit and well-ventilated kitchen.
More: Let the Sun Shine in: How to Brighten Your Kitchen With Natural Light
8. Add elements of water
Water soothes and calms the soul; it is purifying, healing and activates chi. An outdoor bathroom, equipped with shower and bath, is the ultimate place to relax and enjoy water in its natural environment.
Water soothes and calms the soul; it is purifying, healing and activates chi. An outdoor bathroom, equipped with shower and bath, is the ultimate place to relax and enjoy water in its natural environment.
9. Remove all clutter
Try to keep a serene space – whether indoors or outdoors – as clear and uncluttered as possible. If your eyes are constantly darting around noticing items that are out of place, or you’re thinking of work or cleaning, then you’re not experiencing harmony and balance. You may prefer to keep the space entirely without decoration. If so, enhance it with soothing and peaceful colours and textures.
Try to keep a serene space – whether indoors or outdoors – as clear and uncluttered as possible. If your eyes are constantly darting around noticing items that are out of place, or you’re thinking of work or cleaning, then you’re not experiencing harmony and balance. You may prefer to keep the space entirely without decoration. If so, enhance it with soothing and peaceful colours and textures.
10. Design your retreat
Zen gardens typically combine the basic elements of wood, plants, water, stones and rocks in a structured design. Work with these elements to create your very own outdoor sanctuary.
MORE
Dream Spaces: Sink Into a Yoga Room
Bedroom Colour Combos That Soothe Your Soul
Deep Cleanse: Boost the Health of Your Home With Natural Fibres
Feng Shui for Beginners: Increase Your Home’s Energy Flow
Zen gardens typically combine the basic elements of wood, plants, water, stones and rocks in a structured design. Work with these elements to create your very own outdoor sanctuary.
MORE
Dream Spaces: Sink Into a Yoga Room
Bedroom Colour Combos That Soothe Your Soul
Deep Cleanse: Boost the Health of Your Home With Natural Fibres
Feng Shui for Beginners: Increase Your Home’s Energy Flow
Zen interiors typically feature the colours of nature. That is, the blue of the sky, green of the trees and warm gold of the sun and sand. Used singularly or in combination, these colours will encourage a feeling of calm.
More: Mood-Boosting Colours for Your Home