How to Make Your Home Zen & Chinese?
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It just so happens that we inhabit a place in time where we seem to keep running on the metaphorical treadmill to acquire more and more things. chinese zen philosophy, inspired by Buddhism, is nevertheless a study in contrasts. It teaches us to find solace in emptiness, beauty in imperfection, and elegance in simplicity. And when these principles are infused into the language of interior design, they can transform your home into a meditative retreat from the outside world.
Here are some ways to introduce Zen-inspired design into your home.
1) Let in Natural Light
Zen advocates openness in all aspects of life and a big part of that involves being one with nature, staying close to it. This living space is a perfect example of how to bring the outdoors in by letting in light. The cynosure is the glass wall that bathes the room in natural light and allows for expansive green views of the outdoors. Create a similar ambiance by exploring all the possibilities of natural light in your home.
2) Use Muted Earthy Colors
Zen-inspired spaces instill a sense of calm in the environment. Bright colors, even pastel tones, are considered to have a very energetic character. Muted, neutral, and earthy colors bring a sense of calm and serenity.
The goal is to keep all distractions, big and small, at bay. Solid neutral colors are an easy and budget-friendly way to achieve this. You can also opt for furniture in muted tones.
3) Put a Platform Bed
Stillness in Zen culture is about cultivating inner peace that strengthens self-awareness and a sense of equanimity. This principle is manifested in interior design through permanent fixtures, such as platform beds.
Platform beds are a common feature of Japanese-inspired Zen designs. They consist of a platform made of drink placed very low to the ground. A mattress is simply placed on top and there is a deliberate absence of any other elements in order to preserve the stillness of the place.
4) Install a Water Device
Zen spaces evoke the tranquility and the calm, both indoors and outdoors. The sound of flowing water inside the home creates soothing, harmonious music that uplifts energy and calms the mind. If creating a central water feature like the one in the picture isn’t possible, consider bringing in one of the plug-and-play indoor water fountains that are readily available on-site. Place them in the dining room, living room, or a courtyard—better yet, somewhere where the gentle sound of running water can be amplified in some way.
5) Bringing Minimalism and Simplicity
A simple life is part of the Zen genetic code. Everything that is not necessary is eliminated, so that the negative space created ends up becoming part of the drawing itself. The result is a captivating naked aesthetic.
The first step towards minimalism is to get rid of all the clutter in your home. Unused items can be donated and the rest can be neatly hidden away in storage units. For furniture, opt for pieces with clean lines, contemporary, light and without frills. Create a sense of lightness by choosing objects with a simple design.
6) Reorganize the Presentation
In addition to eliminating unwanted things and objects from our environment, Zen urges us to find balance and harmony with the things that remain.
You can achieve this by rearranging furniture, creating perpendicular angles in its placement, and removing anything that disrupts the flow and harmony of a space. You can also use subtle colors and complementing textures and lighting to create this balance.
This bedroom combines a simple, clean layout with a neutral, two-tone color theme to create the most serene ambiance.
7) Opt for Green
Embracing nature as a part of our being and vice versa is an essential tenet of Zen philosophy. To create a calming space, bring into nature. Use potted plants or even bring a tree or two inside the house. Sand, stones and rocks can be used to enhance the nature of the living space along with wood and bamboo. You can also for example opt for a Handmade Incense Holder, which will make your home very healthy.
You can also create a green corner in your kitchen or on a windowsill and grow plants and herbs. If you are not good with a green thumb, just place a few plants of bonsai around the house.
To learn more about methods to make your home zen and harmonious, you can consult our article on the Feng Shui.
