Garden & Home TeamWith all the distractions that fill our daily life, from TV, social media, work and everything in between, it can be hard to find your zen. The first step is to have a space to come back to at the end of the day that inspires a sense of calm within you.
We asked Aisha Pandor, CEO of SweepSouth for some advice on how to easily create a space that is calm, zen and a peaceful retreat for the whole family. Here are some of her tips.
Do a big purge
Go through everything you own and do a big purge of all the things you don’t need. This includes furniture and big items, too. Have a TV that’s been standing in your house unused? Get rid of it. Have an overabundance of clothes that you don’t wear? Get rid of some. Doing a big purge of things you barely use will already make your home feel more spacious and less cluttered.
Choose your colours wisely
Neutral and natural colours work best for a zen space. Think earthy tones such as grey, white and beige. You could add in touches of natural green with plants to add a more nature-like feel to the space. Keep a natural colour palette in mind when you decorate. Even your furniture should have earthy colours. Your furniture should also ideally be made from natural materials and have clean, clear lines.
Add natural scents to your space
Light candles or use air purifiers to add some organic scents to your space. Choose forestry, sea breeze or other nature scents for the full effect. Using a linen spray or burning essential oils is also a nice way to add fragrance throughout your home. These fragrances can add a calming effect to your home and make any space feel fresh and clean.
Minimise electronic disturbances
Electronic disturbances are very bad for zen. You don’t have to get rid of all your electronics, but perhaps designate one room as a tech-free zone. Have an area where you have no TV or electronic device disturbances. But if you can’t and there’s a TV in the bedroom, put it in a place where you can shut it away – perhaps in a cabinet or cupboard.
Use natural light
It’s understandable that not every home has a lot of natural light, but where you can, use it as much as possible. Open curtains as early in the morning as possible and let in sunlight. Also, use light fabric for your curtains so that your room isn’t too dark and moody. If you need dark curtains in your bedroom for a good night’s rest, then of course this won’t work in that room for you. Perhaps your “zen room” is then the living room or another room in your home.
Keep clutter to a minimum
Clutter can be very distracting when you are trying to create a more zen environment. Pack clutter away where you can see it or use storage solutions to pack it away neatly. Get rid of what you can, clearing away anything you don’t need in your zen space.
As Rumi says: “Life is a balance of holding on and letting go.” Let go of the clutter you don’t need, and hold on to peace and calm.
ALSO SEE: HOW COLOUR CAN AFFECT YOUR MOOD
