Between a global pandemic, supply chain shortages, rising living costs, The Great Resignation, and general uncertainty, people are looking for ways to reduce their stress. One of the best methods for that is meditation, which saw significant increase across the globe throughout 2020 with signs that the trend will continue in coming years.

Meditation is an at-home activity that requires minimal equipment and space, but provides ample benefits. According to the Mayo Clinic, people who regularly meditate experience greater emotional well-being, such as building skills to manage stress, reducing negative emotions, and increasing creativity, patience, and tolerance. Meditation can also serve as a complement to treatment for a wide variety of diseases and illnesses, like anxiety, cancer, chronic pain, heart disease, and sleep problems.

It’s worthwhile to incorporate meditation into your daily routine. And creating a meditation space at home doesn’t have to be a complex exercise or necessarily follow a set of rigid rules. It’s up to you which direction you want to take your space in. If you’re feeling stuck, there are a few essentials and tips to consider. Here are five to help you get started.

Opt for soft colors

 

Begin by considering the palette you’ll use throughout the space. Specific colors have been scientifically proven to instill certain emotions within us. In most cases, soft tones will introduce elements of calm or relaxation into our body and mind.

 

When creating your meditation space at home, these hues are ideal options:

 

White: You might notice anytime you go to a spa, masseuse, or other relaxing services, the walls and towels are almost always white. That’s not by accident. White evokes feelings of cleanliness, freshness, and clarity. As you work to clear your mind in a meditation space, white walls or pops of white in the décor can really bring home that experience.

 

Blue: Blue is often described as a safe or stable color. A lighter shade of blue can bring feelings of consistency and calmness to the meditation room in home. Blue is also believed to soothe illness and treat pain, which can create an ideal mindset for alleviating any aches you may be experiencing.

 

Yellow: Vincent Van Gogh has a succinct view of yellow: “How wonderful yellow is. It stands for the sun.” He wasn’t wrong; yellow is a vibrant, bright color that generates feelings of warmth and energy, invigorating you during and after a meditation session.

 

Green: The color of nature, green is typically seen as inviting luck and evoking safety. It’s a calming color, too, so incorporating green into your meditation space can be an ideal choice for a relaxing room that may also bring you good fortune.

 

Purple: Purple is regarded as a symbol of royalty and wealth. If you’re using your meditation to envision future goals and those goals include success or breakthrough, purple might be a great choice.

 

Before designing an entire room as a meditation space at home, look at different color schemes side-by-side on a piece of paper, or head to an arts and crafts store and compare different fabrics and materials. How do they make you feel? Do one or two jump out at you positively? That can be a good place to start. Incorporating your preferred colors into the room via items like plush cushions, pillows, blankets, rugs, and mats will help generate the sentiments you’re working towards.

 

Consider a theme

 

Beyond a color scheme, you can also look at developing a theme for your meditation space, which can be a powerful visualization tool.

 

The theme could be as simple as relaxation, but the main goal is to work towards a setting that gives you a chance to clear your mind and block out the surrounding world, if only for a few moments.

 

For example, you could try creating a sort of “resort” area at home, using soothing colors, comfortable lounging chairs, a bookshelf with light reading materials, salt lamps, and even seashell and aquatic decor for the walls.

 

Or maybe you’d prefer a “back to nature” setting, where you can incorporate lots of plants and sunlight into a room, both of which provide health benefits, too—including Vitamin D, cleaner air, more energy, and immune-boosting nutrients. Do you have a space that gets lots of natural light already? Set up near a window or doorway where rays shine in. Or, if your home has a balcony or patio, bringing in a weather-resistant chair or loveseat can provide a bounty of good vibes.

 

Additionally, you can set up your space using different interior design philosophies. These philosophies focus on ways to use decor to improve your well-being. Combined with meditation, it’s a powerful recipe for wellness.   

 

Repurpose one of your home’s rooms or areas

 

When considering creating a new room or environment in your home, don’t think of something you have to build. Instead, take a current room and set up a designated area for your meditation space. In fact, there’s almost certainly a space in your home right now that would be the perfect candidate.

 

The possibilities really are unlimited. Any space in the home can serve as a meditation area. You don’t need to transform an entire room, either. You can shape a meditation space in home office open spots (such as the opposite corner from your desk) or utilize a portion of the basement or living room to create a relaxing nook. This is a particularly useful strategy in smaller homes. You’d be surprised how much you can do even with limited space!

 

You could even create a meditation space in a bedroom, but try to avoid incorporating your bed itself into the space. It’s important not to overlap functions in the bedroom; your bed is for sleeping, and you run the risk of disturbing your sleep cycle if you use it too frequently for other things. The rest of your room is fair game. Try adding a comfy beanbag or an exercise ball to sit on while you relax, unwind, and clear your head.

 

Aim for minimalist over busy

 

When you picture meditating, what comes to mind? Is it sitting cross-legged with your hands up in the air? Humming “ohms” for hours on end? Is it wishing you were eating a “hot, spinning cone of meat” at the Greek restaurant next door, like Ron Swanson?

 

While you can certainly include all of those during a meditation session, the key is providing a comfortable area for you to unwind in. If your space isn’t comfortable, sitting cross-legged for long periods of time or trying to balance in certain poses may quickly turn stressful instead of relaxing.

 

Rather than combining all sorts of different themes, focus on one or two at first. Your space should be a place where you can go to center yourself and clear your mind. If there’s too much going on, your brain will have a hard time settling down and will be distracted by all the clutter and stimuli in the room.

 

Even if your space isn’t by a ton of light, as long as it’s free of distractions and offers a comfortable seat for you—whether on a chair, sofa, or mat on the floor—it’s a great choice.

 

What meditation doesn’t need is excess construction. This practice is all about being present in the moment and embracing what comes up. A minimalist approach will open up more space to work through your thoughts and set the stage for peace of mind.

 

Embrace your personality

 

At its core, meditation is about mindfulness, accepting yourself and your thoughts, and reflecting on the present. You don’t necessarily need to think about the benefits of meditation while you’re in your space, but if it’s set up properly, you’ll reap those benefits sooner than you think.

 

This won’t come as a surprise: nobody knows you quite as well as you do. Incorporate calming objects into your meditation room or space is helpful, but don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through as well.

 

Does bohemian décor make you smile? Some comfy pillows or a plush ottoman might be the perfect addition. Are you a huge BTS fan? Throw up a colorful picture of the boys on your wall. Does Pac-Man bring you to a happy place? Implement a vibrant stool into your space.

 

Our interests change over time, and that gives you a wonderful opportunity to evolve your meditation space. You may find yourself replacing items once they no longer serve a joyful purpose, which is totally okay. Or you might discover a cushion or pillow while you’re out shopping that would be the perfect complement. Adding it into your space can bring a renewed sense of energy the next time you meditate.

 

Creating a meditation space doesn’t have to be a costly, labor-intensive endeavor. Start small and try a couple of things that help you into a relaxed, comfortable frame of mind. Who knows? You just may discover a new favorite room in your home.

 

 

*This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider or licensed physician before beginning an exercise program or nutritional regimen.