(Image courtesy of: HGTV.com)
We all know what Zen is… but why would you need bedroom Zen?
Well, modern day life is super hectic and stressful- it seems is if our whole lives have become a flurry of action like a James Bond movie… with little time to stop and think. Reclaiming the bedroom, and making it special, is the first step to taking back control of our lives and “Zen”. When you walk into your home, the first thing you should feel is at peace. The home is a refuge, and the bedroom is a cave inside the refuge. We need a haven of peace and calm- a place where we can find some inner peace, reflect, and recharge. The answer lies in the East.
While people in the Western world have been trying to make life easier for themselves, inventing machines, people in the East have been trying to get more out of life themselves, without the aid of technology. Their studies led them to discovering harmony and inner peace – and Zen. The concept of Zen revolves around being in harmony with nature. As such, you would surround yourself with simplicity, with the emphasis on the natural.
Use natural colors for decoration, and use as many natural items as possible. A typical Zen bedroom would be mostly monochromatic – meaning that most of the colors would be:
- different shades of the same base color
- basic sage
- green
- tan
Color bases may work fine for Eastern communities; Western people may find it a bit drab and unexciting and need to add some complimenting color. In an ideal Zen bedroom, you would surround yourself with simple items made of natural materials – preferably reclaimed materials. Reclaimed furniture is usually made from wood recovered from buildings taken down – the fact that no tree was taken down to create the furniture, simply adds to the sense of harmony.
Wooden flooring from reclaimed wood is also available. Although you may want to add plants and water features to add to the natural effect, you may want to refrain form cluttering your bedroom – Zen is about conscious awareness, and this is best attained by having fewer distractions around you. Keep in mind that “clutter” need not be physical – rich colors and patterns can also be distracting, and are considered “clutter” as well.
To add to the effect of peace and tranquility, you could add some candles. Additionally, keep lighting soft – partly to create a relaxed atmosphere, and partly to allow the colors to flow into one another.
Another aspect of Zen is “open space” – since clutter is considered unclean. While keeping the number of items in the room down to a minimum can keep it from being cluttered, few homes actually possess enough space to create the “open” effect required. One way to create the illusion of additional space is by using large Rectangle Mirrors. The depth of the reflection creates the impression of “just as much space on the other side” – making the room look larger than it actually is.
At the end of the day, creating a Zen bedroom is as simple as changing colors, adding a touch of nature, de-cluttering the room, and “adding some space with rectangle mirrors. It’ll be well worth it, when you walk in after a busy day and you just want some peace and relaxation.
