If you prefer a home that feels like a retreat, a Zen decor is ideal. Some people transform their bedrooms into yoga studios, their backyards into meditation platforms or their bathrooms into spas. Whether you choose to add some Asian fusion accessories to create a Zen ambiance or invest in a full home redo, remember to make the room interiors your own by displaying favorite drawings or watercolors in black lacquer frames or adding some eye-catching ethnic art to the walls. Does this Spark an idea?
Features
Zen decor consists of pieces made of natural materials, particularly bamboo, teak, sisal, paper, stone, marble, earthenware pottery and rattan. Low, modular furnishings feature minimal orientation, allowing natural light and open spaces to take center stage. Accessories are simple, such as a line of tea lights, a bright paper lantern, a cup filled with seashells or a tabletop Zen garden with sand and stones.
Function
In Zen decor, empty space is more important than filled space. Devote a windowsill to the view outside, keeping the window bare and the sill unadorned. Play around with wall art that emphasizes negative space, such as a mural with dark colors or patterns that frame the wall and leave the center empty. Keep clutter at bay by using cabinets with hidden drawers and niches, or shelves lined with baskets made of different plant materials and weaves.
Palette
A Zen decor ideally features softer hues that complement each other and allow for a feeling of flow throughout the room or house. Faded earth tones work well, with a dash of muted green for an accent color. Mellow yellow or antique white are other pleasing neutrals. Flooring might consist of earthenware tiles or plain wood under thick textured rugs or bamboo mats.
Effects
A Zen decor is tranquil, but never boring. Small details can be a room's focal point. Highlight the principle of yin and yang by bringing together accessories with opposing attributes, such as a white candle in a black teacup, smooth stones against a rough rattan mat, a tall glass vase with a single blossom or a rustic tin plate bursting with colorful limes, lemons and persimmons.
Considerations
Decorating Zen style means opening the doors to let the natural world inside. Hang leafy green plants in doorways, or plant an herb garden in a window box. Use a trifold Shoji screen with translucent paper panels as a window covering or a room divider. Hang a scroll painting featuring a mountain landscape or a full moon.
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