Your home is a personal extension of yourself. It’s been compared to a sanctuary. For most of us, the place where we live has great meaning. It should be somewhere you enjoy being, where you feel at peace.
You may find your life is so busy and hectic that you haven’t spent much time considering the details of your home. The idea of redecorating and sprucing things up might seem overwhelming. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be that way.
I have some tips that can help make your place a minimalist retreat that feels more peaceful and light with just a few simple changes.
I have created a checklist that you can use if you want to create a calmer, more zen home for you and your family. You can download it at the bottom of this post.
Start with the Entryway
A good place to start is the entryway. After all, this space sets the tone immediately upon stepping inside. You don’t want to walk into piles of clutter the minute you come in the door. If you have a closet, it would be ideal to keep your jackets, shoes and accessories stored hidden from view. However, you can create stylish organization with cubbies, hooks, racks and shelving. No matter how you choose to corral the clutter, make sure the end result feels refreshing and inviting to you.
Choose Natural Colors
There’s something soothing about nature. You can bring a hint of nature indoors just by choosing colors that mimic what you’d find in more natural settings. Your home will feel more Zen when you choose a minimalist color scheme. You don’t want to go overboard, though. Shoot for a neutral color palette as your base. Then, free to add complementary tones that incorporate the hues of nature such as calming blues or lush greens.
Let There Be Light
A Zen home should be light and airy. You don’t want it to feel closed in and dreary. That’s why it’s important to bring in as much natural light as you can. You can do this by choosing minimalist window treatments that are light in texture and allow you to adjust them for maximum light exposure. You can also use lighting to create the mood you desire throughout your home. Lamps, rather than overhead lights, can be soothing. Installing dimmer switches is also a possibility if you’re handy. Candlelight or twinkle lights can be lovely for a bit of ambience.
Tame the Clutter
When it comes to creating a Zen atmosphere, you really need to maintain a clean and crisp feel. A houseful of clutter is one of the quickest ways to kill that peaceful vibe. Clutter is distracting to the eye and creates a chaotic feel. This is particularly true when it comes to surfaces. Keep countertops, tables and desks free of piles and random items. Consider going paperless. Try to get a handle on the mess and take time to clean up each night before bed in order to keep things looking tidy.
Make Every Piece Count
A Zen home should have a minimalistic feel to it. You can create this atmosphere by taking care to choose only your favorite decor pieces. Your walls and surfaces don’t have to be absolutely bare, but you do want to avoid having too many decorative items in your surroundings. Choose carefully and make every piece count when deciding what to add to each room. Take a moment to inventory your home, removing decorative items that overwhelm your space. This small step can make a big impact on the overall feel of your home.
Create Zones
If your home is particularly busy with lots of household members living in close proximity, this next trick is perfect for you. Creating zones in your home with partitions, curtains or screens can truly help to make things feel more Zen. This strategy works particularly well for open floor plans, but it can be incorporated into any large space. Sometimes adding a physical barrier adds more privacy while lessening distractions.
Limit Mirrors
Mirrors can really help to make a small room look larger. However, they can also be a distraction to the eye. Feng Shui philosophy believes that mirrors bounce energy around. This could cause you to feel restless, stressed or anxious. Consider limiting your use of mirrors if you feel they might be causing negative issues within your space. This small trick could truly change the feel of a room.
Add Natural Materials
We’ve covered the idea of adding nature to your room by bringing in natural hues. You can have the same effect with the materials and textures you choose to add to your rooms. A quick and easy way to increase the Zen feel within your home is to place some natural materials throughout it for a warm and cozy feel. You can do this with all sorts of textures and items. A sisal rug, cork tray, clay pots or wooden paneling on an accent wall are a few things to consider. You can get really creative with your natural textures and accents.
Maintain Consistency
One way to create a nice flow for the eye is with consistency and balance. Consider using similar materials, colors or shapes throughout a room’s decor. For example, choose towels and linens that are the same color or at least are complementary shades in order to tie things together nicely in your master bedroom and bathroom area. Symmetry is also something that is pleasing to the eye, so you might want to place objects in a way that feels balanced. If something seems off, try adding an extra throw pillow or taking away a wall sconce. Small, consistent details can truly contribute to the Zen feel of a room.
Set Up a Quiet Corner
Finally, if all of this still seems like too much, feel free to start small. Perhaps your budget doesn’t allow for making changes throughout your whole home. Whatever the case may be, even creating your own small oasis in a quiet corner of your home can go a long way toward creating a sense of personal Zen. All you need is a quiet space to call your own and get away from it all. This could be your home office, your bedroom dressing table, your favorite comfy chair in the living room or even just a literal corner of the den. It doesn’t matter as long as you can claim some privacy and create an area that feels pleasing to you. Add candles, greenery, a soft throw blanket or any other elements from the above suggestions to personalize the space. Then, feel free to retreat there when you need a little solitude and rejuvenation.
Hopefully, you now feel excited about creating the Zen home you’ve always wanted. As you can see, it doesn’t take a lot of money, time or work to add some peace and tranquility to your space. Just a few changes and some strategic modifications can transform the overall feel of your rooms. Give some of these suggestions a try and see what a difference they make in your home.
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