We all need a space that we can escape to when it’s time to get chill. As adults, that might mean a space that our kids can’t get to. Or perhaps it’s somewhere that we can let our guard down and turn off our brains for a few minutes.
For kids, this is a space where they get to be unapologetically themselves and where it’s okay to be a little extra silly or wild or sad or quiet. But how do we get these spaces? Well, today, we are breaking down the idea of a zen room and how it will help you achieve that perfect mood.
We are going to explain why it’s essential to get some time to yourself throughout the day and what it means to have a zen room. Then we will go through items and choices to consider when setting up your zen room or meditation space. Finally, this will lead us to five amazing ideas for your personal zen room.
We can already feel the mood improving!
What Does Zen Mean?
The term “zen” owes its lineage to the practices of early Indian Buddhism. The word was translated from Sanskrit to Chinese, then to Japanese. Now, it translates to the idea of sitting meditation, a key to what the Buddha taught.
As a part of popular culture, zen means a state of total relaxation. It is the idea that we know and are aware of the issues or stressors we must manage daily, but they don’t affect our overall mental clarity or happiness.
We understand the points that cause us turmoil are events or moments in our lives, and we find ways to roll with the punches.
Why Do We Need Zen Space?
Everyone needs and deserves a space they can go to that’s entirely their own, and that helps them relax. Adults and children may deal with different external factors and very different stressors, but that doesn’t mean their effect on our physical and mental health isn’t similar.
A zen space offers us an escape from the realities we deal with. It allows us a few moments to turn off our brains and let our minds wander. Trying to be “on” or going non-stop every day can burn us out, and burnout is a major issue that current generations face more than ever before.
But with a zen space we can go to that gives us a small amount of time to relax, we can hopefully avoid that burnout.
Do You Need a Dedicated Zen Room?
We don’t necessarily need a dedicated zen room. A dedicated room can be difficult to create or build when we’ve got kids to think about and limited space in our homes. But, if the room for a zen space exists, take advantage of it.
As parents, we are always willing to give everything we have to our children, but creating this zen space helps us stay alert, relaxed, and the best parents we can be. It may seem selfish, but creating a safe space to go to calm down or take a break from the day-to-day is really for the benefit of the littles.
It’s important to remember that kids will also need these zen spaces from time to time, so create a space that everyone can use (but not all at the same time). Zen space is for the individual that needs it, not a group.
What It Means To Have a Zen Room
A zen room doesn’t need to be a room with four walls and a door, but it should be a space where we can go and be alone for a while. It can be a corner of a bedroom or an outdoor patio space.
The biggest design element that needs to be followed is that it is a space that can act as a refuge from the stressors of daily life. When we have a bad day, or the kids start driving us crazy, we have somewhere to go that is filled with items and hobbies we love, and our brains can turn off.
We need to enjoy a small moment of clarity. Then we can get back to our daily errands and feel ready to tackle them.
Zen Room Necessities and Home Decor Ideas
Before we can give you some of the best ideas for your zen room, let’s discuss a few design points that you need to consider when you’re creating your space. These seemingly-minor details will help your brain relax and feel happy so you can reset your mind and get back to being the best you.
Cool Tones
Cool-toned paint colors and room decor colors are better for finding peace in your thoughts and help to improve your overall mood. You can totally use your favorite color but use the muted, lighter variations instead (for example, lavender might prove more soothing than vibrant magenta).
Give extra consideration to blues and greens when planning the room’s ambiance — studies show these are the most calming colors.
Minimalism and Intentional Meditation Room Decor
Decorate your zen space with your favorite items or motif but do so intentionally. If you like a boho vibe, find some of your favorite macrame items or minimalist wall art and hang them on the walls.
Hang a cute swing or some beaded garlands in the room, but do so sparingly. Greenery and some comfy floor cushions can make a big difference without overwhelming the simple interior design vibe.
You don’t need to add every piece of wall decor you own to your meditation area, just a few that spark feelings of happiness and joy.
Negative Space
While minimalist decor is a must, don’t forget to leave negative space in your zen den or yoga room. Negative space is left intentionally empty, with walls that look bare but are left that way on purpose to make the entire room feel just right.
Why does this help? Well, feng shui tells us that we need to position objects properly to create harmony.
Small spaces left empty keep the room from becoming cluttered and confusing your brain when you walk into the room. That negative space lets in plenty of natural light, which is a critical aspect of intentional home design.
Plants
According to certain studies, nature is linked to happiness, creating a sense of ease within our minds, bodies, and souls — like daily meditation.
Adding a few hanging plants to your yoga studio or meditation corner can help clean the air and keep things fresh and bright in your space. Natural elements are another way to add feng shui to your space, as they create a positive aura in the air.
Aromatics
Keep the smells in mind that you want to introduce to your zen space. Aromatherapy is a great practice that manifests a sense of calm through inhaling specific scents and aromas.
These scents can be in the form of sprays, candles, air fresheners, diffusers, and many more options. You can use them when you come into your space and breathe them in while you find some peace and quiet in your DIY zen room.
But these sprays and candle scents will wear off quickly, and you can’t take them with you on the go once you have to leave your space. That’s why we suggest you invest in our ZenPatch. It’s a fun emoji sticker that goes on clothes and can go with you anywhere, helping you get a little aromatherapy no matter where the day takes you.
These stickers are full of up to eight hours of mood-calming essential oils, and the best part? They’re perfect for adults and kids! That means your kiddos can get the same relaxing boost you can get with a cute little sticker.
These patches are powered by Mandarin, Lavender, Sweet Orange, and Atlas Cedarwood. So much easier to use than walking around with a candle all day.
Five Zen Room Ideas
Now that you understand the main points to remember when deciding on the decor and focus of your room, let’s get into the fun stuff: the zen room.
Below are five ideas to create a room that will help keep you happy and mentally healthy:
Meditation Room
A meditation room is a perfect way to set up a zen space if complete silence and reflection are things you crave. We all need time to think about the events and activities we go through. If it would help you to have a dedicated sacred space to silently work out the items in your brain, then a meditation room is definitely for you.
As part of your meditation practice, you will be able to perfect breathing techniques, and you can get the kids involved, which is an easy way to set the whole family up for success. If you ever get into a stressful situation outside the home, those breathing exercises will come in handy to keep you cool and level-headed. (And meditation can help us sleep, too!)
Music Room
Many people prefer lyrics and the soothing sounds of guitars to the sounds of their breathing, and if this sounds more like you, then a music room is it. Even if you aren’t a musician, but you love a few key artists and bands, a music room is perfect for having a space to be free.
Maybe leave a space in the middle of your room so that you have a dance floor available. Even if you don’t play an instrument, you can release some tension with a few well-placed dance moves.
If you are a musician, invest in a few guitar holders that you can screw into the wall so you can hang that beloved bass. There’s nothing more beautiful to a rockstar than their very own guitars or banjos proudly displayed in their space.
Hobby Room
If fishing or rock climbing is your thing, then maybe create a space dedicated to your favorite hobby. These aren’t hobbies you can do in this room, of course, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a room where you can keep all of your equipment and possibly have a few books to read about your favorite pastime.
Reading Room
Reading might be something you have to work at, but having a room with a big oversized chair where you can snuggle in with a soft blanket and a good book is an excellent use of a zen room.
Reading is a fantastic workout for your brain, and even though it takes energy to read, it’s enjoyable and keeps you alert and articulate. It will help strengthen the links and connections in your brain that help you speed up your response time and help you find the right words.
Carve out a set amount of time weekly that you dedicate to having quiet time alone to read. It’s a wonderful use of independent time and keeps your cognitive functioning stellar. This is also a great use of time for your kids; creating a set amount of time for them to read every day will improve their vocabulary and cultivate a love of learning.
Workout Room
Workouts can encompass any sort of physical activity you like to partake in. For many, this could mean weights; for others, this could be yoga or pilates. Exercise is necessary to keep us healthy, both mentally and physically, so a space where we can work out at any time can be very beneficial.
In terms of practical design features, add bulletin boards or dry-erase boards to the walls so you can change up weekly routines to improve strength and intensity each week.
We know we said earlier that zen space should be enjoyed individually, but a weekly workout as a family could be a fabulous way to connect and enjoy an activity together. It creates healthy and positive habits and helps the family bond together over a shared interest.
Get Ready To Chill Out
We are confident that these tips and tricks are the right ideas to get you to the perfect zen mode. As adults, we need an outlet for our brains, but as children, we know that they’ll also need space to chill out during moments of intense emotions.
These zen space ideas are sure to be a wonderful starting point for everyone to decide on the right motif for their own personal interests. We can’t wait to see what you come up with!
Sources:
Japanese Zen Buddhist Philosophy | Stanford
How Does Nature Impact Our Wellbeing? | CSH
Aromatherapy: Do Essential Oils Really Work? | Johns Hopkins Medicine
5 Ways Reading Benefits your Health — and How to Make Reading a Daily Habit | Insider
Burnout and stress are everywhere | American Psychological Association
