Zen refers to peacefulness and calmness. Zen values meditation and peace of mind. With all the struggles of daily life that we all must overcome, having a place to find your zen is almost essential. 

What's more perfect than having a zen space in your own home?

Your home is your safe place. It's the one place in this world where you can be 100% yourself without any worries. Adding a sen living space into your home is beneficial for your mental health and can help add to the aesthetics. 

Starting with a few zen space ideas is a great start. The way you design your zen home will depend on your own personal preferences and what feels the most soothing and relaxing to you. Still, it's nice to have some ideas for inspiration. 

In the guide below, you'll find zen home ideas to help get you started down the path to creating a home that caters to your mindfulness. Continue reading to find out more!

 

1. Make Your Home One With Nature

If you can create a flow between your home and nature, then you'll help tighten the zen. Allow your home to be one with nature by looking into a few different upgrades. Depending on how well you want your home to be connected with nature, you can decide on what type of upgrades to make. 

When starting out small, you can purchase a few indoor plants. Several plants do well indoors and even help purify the air as well. You can also install skylights around the home or replace your current windows with larger ones that let in a good amount of natural light. 

Sliding glass doors, large windows, or flooring that extends to your house's exterior patio, are other examples that you can consider if looking to make larger modifications to your space. Nature has a beneficial effect on mental health, so the more you can incorporate it into your home, the better. 

 

 

2. Design a Clean and Organized Space

Imagine this: you've been gone all day, most likely at work, and you're finally arriving home but when you walk inside, you're overwhelmed with clutter. It's not the first thing you want to see when coming home. 

Did you know that a clutter-free and clean space has a positive effect on mental health?

When you place yourself in a room filled with mess and chaos, your mind can't be at peace. Instead, the wheels inside your brain are spinning like crazy. There's so much going on in one space that you don't allow yourself to think clearly. 

When your home is clean and organized, your brain can rest. A great way to make staying clean and organized easier is to use furniture with easy-to-clean surfaces. The less maintenance needed to keep the place clean, the better. 

 

3. Incorporate Water Into the Design

If you were to visit a zen garden, then you'd most likely come across a water feature of some sort. The sound of water is an excellent way to tune out all the other noises of life. As you focus on the sounds of the running water, you can begin to let go of any commotion going on inside your brain and focus on the beautiful sounds of nature.

Adding water features into your home design can help create those zen-garden vibes. This is even more ideal if you live in a city or off a busy street with lots of city life noises.

 

4. Use Relaxing Scents 

As you design your home around the idea of zen, be sure to consider all 5 of your senses. This includes smell. What does your home smell like when you first walk into it?

How can you improve the smell? 

Try using relaxing scents around the home, such as lavender. The best way to do so is by placing essential oils into a diffuser. Essential oils are natural and contain no chemicals or unnatural fragrances. 

 

5. Create a Clear, Open Flow

All rooms in your home should have a clear and open flow to one another. This is a factor to consider when purchasing a home or designing a new layout. Having that open-concept feel is beneficial to creating zen. 

If renovating your home isn't an option, you can do a few smaller things to achieve this. If you have any items blocking entryways or hallways, you should first consider removing them. Find other places for these items that are out of the way and don't block the flow from one room to another.

 

 

6. Build a Quiet Space 

Building a quiet space in your home away from high traffic areas will give you the space you need to recuperate from the day or to prepare yourself for the day ahead. Building this space doesn't always require a renovation. You can create a quiet space simply by finding a secluded corner in a room and laying down a few comfy pillows.

If you can find a spot next to a window with views of the garden, then that's an excellent option. Hanging a plant and keeping a journal and some books in your quiet space is also ideal. When you feel frustrated, overwhelmed, or have negative thoughts, you can escape to your quiet space to find your peace. 

 

7. Put Electronic Devices to the Side

Electronic devices aren't ideal in a zen atmosphere. Instead, you want to focus on natural and calming items. When possible, do your best to put all electronic devices to the side. 

Removing the tv from your bedroom can also help you sleep better at night. If you must have certain electronic devices around the home, however, consider storing them in ways where they're not always visible, only when using them. 

 

You Can Transform Your Home With These Zen Space Ideas

Transforming your home into a zen oasis doesn't have to be a big project. Start off small with some of these zen space ideas and slowly work your way down the list until your entire home screams (or whispers) relaxation. 

Are you looking to improve your mental health even further? 

Check out our mental health zines for more helpful advice!

 

Image Credits: Samantha Hurley, Tomas Hustoles