The demands of today weigh heavy on all of us. Therefore, it is so important to have a home in which you can relax. In fact, by creating a relaxing place to rest and contemplate, you can help maintain a positive state of mind. One very simple way of achieving this is by creating a Zen place in your home. The first step to this is by starting with the five elements of Zen. They include earth, fire, water, wood and metal and they all work together to balance the energy in your home. Here’s a look at tips on how to incorporate each of these elements into your living space to make it your relaxing, peaceful place.
1 – Earth
There are several ways in which the element of Earth can fit into your home décor. They include natural stone tile, terrariums with plants and pebbles. For an accent piece that incorporates all of these pieces is a simple tabletop Zen garden complete with sand and stones.
2 – Water
The sound of moving water is probably one of the best-known tools for relaxation. You can benefit from this Zen element by adding a water feature to your living space in the form of a fountain, a fish bowl and even wall art that includes water as part of the subject.
3 – Fire
This is a rather easy one to do. If your home has a fireplace, all you have to do it keep it lit. Well, at least during the colder months. Another way to keep fire actively connected to your Zen place is with candles. Candles lining the fireplace can replicate a well stoked fire any day.
4 – Wood
The natural look and feel of untreated wood will provide your living space with grounding which will promote calmness. The best way to add wood to your Zen space is with wood flooring and furniture. It does not matter what type of wood, just as long as you have wood included.
5 – Metal
This is another easy element to include in your home as it usually is in the construction of many furniture pieces. You can enhance this with sculptures, art work, pictures frames and decorative bowls. Metal can have many different appearances from shiny to rough.
How to Make These Elements Work
Your goal is to create a balance and flow between the many items you will use in your home that contain the five Zen elements. Ideally you would pair a large item with smaller items of the same element. An example would be a sofa framed by two end tables on either side.
One more important factor that can impact the Zen feeling is clutter. If you can move freely through a room without bumping into things, then your space is in the right alignment. For more assistance on this or your real estate plans, call me – I’m Jen Bedard, you can reach me at 289-213-7031.