Zen Your Bedroom for Peace and Relaxation

Throughout the chaos of your busy day, from errands to play dates, there seems to be no escape and not a free second for “me-time.” If your daily schedule is run by your toddler or if you’re balancing a WAHM gig, you’re likely pressed and stretched in all directions, stressed and totally maxed-out.

What if you could create a peaceful retreat in your home, a place where you could step away for just five minutes to relax and rejuvenate? With a few changes you can!  Use these tips to create a place of Zen in your very own bedroom.

What is Zen?

Zen is a Japanese School of Mahayana Buddhism that aims for a state of enlightenment via wisdom and meditation. According to HGTV, many people attempt to incorporate the Zen style in their design scheme to create a peaceful environment.

Freshome notes that Zen in interior design promotes relaxation and reflects both harmony and balance. Typical features of Zen design style include earthy colors, soft natural light, light fabrics, simple furnishings and minimal decorations. Zen interiors are also free of electronics and are often peppered with lush green plants that can evoke calm.

How to Use Zen Style in Your Bedroom

You’ll notice that many Japanese style homes follow a very minimalist design scheme. A bedroom free of clutter and electronics decorated with neutral soothing colors helps your mind unwind and aids your body in relaxation. Freshome states that the simplicity and symmetry of minimalist style detonates calm and that soft colors can affect our moods in a good way. With a Zen style bedroom you can put your mind at ease and enjoy a peaceful nights rest.

Increase Natural Light: Harsh lighting does not promote relaxation. Eliminate all of the sources of strong lighting within the room and layer your lighting sources. From floor fixtures and table lamps to controlling outside light with neutral wood blinds, you’ll be able to layer your lighting to suit your mood.

Add Greenery: Implementing plants into your bedroom design scheme can have a calming effect, however you must be very careful when choosing the flowers. Avoid using plants that require special maintenance or emit a harsh odor. Freshome suggests adding bonsai trees or hanging terrariums and states that they are commonly found in Zen design schemes.

Breathe Natural Scents: Linen sprays, beeswax candles, soy candles and essentials oils can all enhance your bedroom naturally. Using scents in the bedroom can not only help promote a sense of calm when it’s time to sleep but scents can also invigorate your senses when it’s time to wake up in the morning.

Minimize Clutter: Freshome recommends clearing your room of all clutter, because it can inhibit relaxation. Organize items by using storage containers that can be hidden underneath the bed or in the closet out of sight.  If you want to read how we took the steps to de-clutter our Master Bedroom to make it more Zen-like go here.

Practice Zen

Bedtime Rules: A relaxing space is free of distractions and mental clutter; this means no TVs or electronics in the bedroom. If you’re hubby isn’t willing to part with his television, laptop or smartphone during bedtime hours talk together to create a rule to follow when it comes to powering down at night.  Every night I cover my television with a small linen tablecloth so that the light doesn’t bother me at night. If you do have a television in your bedroom, try this little trick I read about in a Feng Shui book and see if it helps with any sleep disturbances.

Meditation: Try to dedicate five to 15 minutes each day to practice Zen in your relaxing space. For more tips on meditation, including posture, thoughts and emotions, visit goodlifezen.com.