House should be an oasis of calm that gives us happiness, especially when the world is busy. For me, there is no better feeling than coming home at the end of a long day to a place that helps me relax. Lately, it’s become more important than ever to make my home a personal sanctuary and to design a space dedicated to meditation.
I have rearrange and redecorate to surround myself with objects that I love, colors that make me feel calm and focused, and family photos and jewelry that evoke happy memories with friends and family. I know I’m not alone in saying that the past few months (ah, years…) have sent my worries spiraling in ways that I felt a little out of control and something that helped me cope has begun a daily meditation practice.
Honestly, before this quarantine, I wasn’t allowed to sell meditation and all the benefits that experts say it’s there for your mind and body. I’ve tried it before in yoga class and even have some apps on my phone for it, but it wasn’t until I read this quote from Headspace co-founder Andy Puddicomb that I made up my mind. commit to it for 30 days and see if it can help relieve my anxiety. (Spoiler alert: it really do.)
“The mind,” he said, “if we leave it alone, if we don’t spend time taking care of it, it will start to fail and we won’t experience life in the happiest way possible. We often think that happiness is somewhere in the future: if we can get that thing, if we get that job if we get there if we can just be with that person. We always look to the future and somewhere else in the hope that we will find it. You will have to give up finding happiness outside of yourself. The only thing to do is to let the mind relax as it is. Whether it is a busy mind or a quiet mind. Thoughts you like, thoughts you don’t like. Feeling good, feeling uncomfortable — you just have to be comfortable with it. ”
Rub! Light bulb! This is where it all changed for me. I realized after read this that I need to stop trying to answer all the unknowns in the world right now and just sit with my uncomfortable feelings and work through them. I need to be present. I need patience. I need silence. I need a meditation session.
Step into my personal meditation space. Having a meditation space that gives me a place in my home helps me practice commitment to silence, stillness, and comfort with my annoying, anxious thoughts.
To design the perfect meditation space, I turned to one of my favorite interior designers, Jeremiah Brent. If you follow his work, you will know that he is Great proponent of meditation and creates morning rituals that help set the energy and tone of the home. “Mindfulness has always been a part of my adult life but it seems different in different seasons,” he tells me. “When Poppy came to our world and a few years later, Oskar, morning meditation became an important part of my routine. There’s something about reflection and breathing that resets us and helps us show up as the best version of ourselves to others. “We couldn’t agree more.
In fact, meditation was the key to setting his day up for success. He added: “There are so many roles I play and the people I interact with, in Daily life. Whether it’s my design team, my husband, my kids, or my client — I can best show them after i have sat and reconnected with myself. All relationships together and meditation is the best way I’ve found to do it. “
So how do we fix that time and space? Well, we asked Brent for some advice.
Create your own mind corner.
Brent is all about creating ritual at home so it is important to create a special corner or even a room at home to practice meditation daily; a space that gives you the opportunity to recharge both physically and mentally, and keep you balanced.
“You want your home to represent the pillars of your life that mean the most to you,” says Brent. “Via
establish an environment for the ceremony, there is an invitation to experience the continuous inner background for yourself and for all who enter your space. “
You absolutely don’t need an entire room for it—an empty corner, an empty space in your closet, bathroom, living room, or even a spot in your backyard or garden would work just fine. You just need to set aside a special place to be completely quiet and do your mind work. It’s less about space and more about picking and prioritizing an area where you can focus on yourself—even if it’s just five minutes a day.
Make it comfortable.
When creating a personal meditation space, Brent tells me there are three essential elements to consider first: Texture, scent, and light. “Touching these three senses can make even the smallest spaces feel serene,” he says. Space should also beComfortable and calming yet still in sync with the rest of your home.
“There is an art to create a calming atmosphere throughout your living area to Brent added. “I have different textures throughout at home, where I keep my meditation supplies ready for quiet moments. ”
Consider stacking rugs, throw chairs, meditation cushions, or pillows on the floor to turn your corner into a cozy meditation oasis. We love layering sheepskin on top of the rug and using large pillows to spread out the space. Or, if you have the budget, consider investing in a few meditation cushions — they’re designed to help relieve pressure on certain parts of the body, which I know can be a challenge. awake to maintain presence if your legs are asleep or your back begins to hurt.
We also love using sonic baths (if you don’t want to buy a private bathroom, there are plenty playlist in the sound bath you can play online instead), Himalayan salt lamps and candles are another great, easy way to create a sense of comfort and serenity in your space. Infusing these elements will help create a sense of well-being and help improve your training.
Choose a place with natural light.
Natural light is huge in helping me feel awake, grounded, and focused — you see everywhere in Brent’s house also. Choose an area in your home for your personal meditation space that has a window or skylight and allows natural light to flood into your space. If you’re living in a small apartment or have few windows, consider rethinking certain rooms or areas of your home to accommodate — you can sacrifice some space in the WFH area, Do you have a dining area or living room for your meditation space? Get creative in choosing the perfect corner — remember, this is a space you (hopefully) use every day, and rethink areas that may not be getting as much use as you initially thought there would be. can be the best choice to create a perfect meditation space in your home.
Keep it clean and tidy.
When it comes to a meditation space, sometimes less is more. You want this space to feel light, bright, and clean. And, having clutter around you will most likely make you feel more cluttered. Try to choose an area out of sight like your TV or computer. Remember that the purpose of meditation is to remove stress from your life, so don’t create more stress by trying to perfect the meditation space overhead. You want a minimalist, no-frills space that is quiet and relaxing, creating an immediate sense of calm when you step into it.
Bring in nature.
Nature has a relaxing and healing effect, so it is important that you bring some elements of nature into your mediation space. While it’s ideal to meditate on the sand by the beach or another quiet outdoor environment, it’s not always possible if you live in a busy urban environment like I do. However, adding natural touches of plants, rocks and/or greenery to your meditation space will immediately infuse your meditation space with harmony and balance.
You can choose any natural element you like or any nature that brings you joy — this could be a potted plant, a vase of cut flowers, decorative branchesa succulent mini garden, jars filled with sand or seashells, or even an electric fountain that drips in the corner if you have the space— (talking about the zen vibe!) Trying to keep things compact, built-in shelving is an ideal way to display lots of little green things without taking up valuable real estate in your space.
Add a personal touch.
When creating a mediation space, you definitely want to include some of your own. Brent is big on conveying emotions. In fact, every inch of their house classified in meaning. It could be anything from a particular smell, sound, or object that calms your body and relaxes your mind. Think about incorporating things like a diffuser with essential oils, candles, bells, bells, crystals, Buddha statues, mala beads, affirmations, or artwork. Adding any of these to your space are great ways to create a serene and peaceful environment that feels unique to you, while allowing you to get excited and focused on your work. meditation.
However, keep in mind that you don’t want to overload the space. It is important for a clean and ventilated environment to keep an open mind. Pick only a few pieces at a time and exchange them for different ones sometimes you just can’t decide. This is a personal experience and is intended to inspire you to connect with yourself, so have fun with it!
In the words of Brent:
“When managing a meditation space, all you really need is to surround yourself with whatever in your home you connect with in a soothing way.
Below, Brent shares some of the items that always make him feel at the center of his retreats:
Shop for everything you need to create a cozy and zen space that feels like home.
This post was originally published on January 22, 2021 and has since been updated.
