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purchased through through some some links links in in this this article article How How to to create create a a Zen Zen space space at at home home and and no no it it doesn doesn t t need need to to be be perfect perfect Zen Zen can can boost boost our our health health and and vitality vitality increasing increasing happiness happiness energy energy concentration concentration and and even even problem problem solving solving By By Jane Jane Alexander Alexander Jan Jan small small vase vase on on top top of of blue blue linen linen House House Beautiful Beautiful Nassima Nassima Rothacker Rothacker Stylist Stylist Jen Jen Haslam Haslam Production Production Sarah Sarah Keady Keady The The Japanese Japanese have have always always understood understood the the importance importance of of creating creating a a peaceful peaceful home home to to help help its its inhabitants inhabitants feel feel happy happy and and nurtured nurtured And And now now is is the the perfect perfect time time to to learn learn from from their their approach approach says says Jane Jane Alexander Alexander The The benefits benefits Zen Zen is is tailor tailor made made for for our our stressful stressful world world There There s s something something about about the the simplicity simplicity and and serenity serenity of of a a home home designed designed around around Japanese Japanese principles principles that that makes makes us us breathe breathe deeper deeper and and lets lets our our shoulders shoulders sink sink that that bit bit lower lower Coming Coming from from a a school school of of Buddhism Buddhism that that dates dates back back thousands thousands of of years years Zen Zen arrived arrived in in Japan Japan from from China China and and elevates elevates simplicity simplicity to to an an art art form form making making the the home home as as much much meditation meditation space space as as living living hub hub And And it it doesn doesn t t just just look look good good research research shows shows Zen Zen can can boost boost our our health health and and vitality vitality increasing increasing happiness happiness energy energy concentration concentration and and even even problem problem solving solving Zen Zen is is the the perfect perfect tool tool for for modern modern life life says says Zen Zen master master Julian Julian Daizan Daizan Skinner Skinner founder founder of of Zenways Zenways It It works works with with your your body body mind mind and and energy energy to to create create greater greater wellbeing wellbeing vitality vitality and and awareness awareness Lighting Lighting Zen Zen is is all all about about blurring blurring the the lines lines between between inside inside and and out out If If you you have have a a lovely lovely view view and and aren aren t t overlooked overlooked go go nude nude on on your your windows windows If If privacy privacy is is an an issue issue keep keep everything everything light light and and fluid fluid soft soft gauze gauze curtains curtains or or pale pale coloured coloured blinds blinds suit suit a a Zen Zen aesthetic aesthetic It It isn isn t t all all about about bright bright light light though though It It also also plays plays with with shadow shadow creating creating different different moods moods with with screens screens and and diffused diffused lighting lighting Sho Sho ji ji is is the the traditional traditional paper paper and and bamboo bamboo lattice lattice sliding sliding partition partition that that lets lets light light filter filter through through while while separating separating out out large large spaces spaces wooden wooden side side cabinet cabinet large large bowl bowl vase vase and and a a black black pendant pendant light light abovenatural abovenatural partnerssimple partnerssimple pieces pieces grouped grouped together together on on a a sideboard sideboard form form a a relaxed relaxed display display with with a a jute jute rug rug addinga addinga welcoming welcoming textural textural layer layer walls walls in in wevet wevet modern modern emulsion emulsion l l farrow farrow ball ball felizsideboard felizsideboard hurley hurley rug rug in in tan tan leather leather and and jute jute both both habitat habitat House House Beautiful Beautiful Tim Tim Young Young Texture Texture Floors Floors are are traditionally traditionally wood wood or or stone stone though though polished polished concrete concrete or or earthy earthy tiles tiles work work well well too too they they all all help help you you to to stay stay earthed earthed and and grounded grounded Walking Walking mindfully mindfully in in bare bare feet feet both both indoors indoors and and out out is is a a classic classic Zen Zen practice practice says says Zen Zen meditation meditation teacher teacher Kim Kim Bennett Bennett founder founder of of Serenity Serenity Retreat Retreat Explore Explore Etsy Etsy or or seek seek out out local local craft craft fairs fairs and and find find things things that that make make your your hands hands smile smile when when you you hold hold them them Squeezing Squeezing pebbles pebbles between between fingers fingers or or toes toes is is a a form form of of self self shiatsu shiatsu baskets baskets are are both both practical practical and and beautiful beautiful Muji Muji has has a a good good selection selection and and basketwork basketwork or or bamboo bamboo also also make make light light diffusing diffusing light light shades shades if if you you want want to to break break away away from from classic classic Japanese Japanese paper paper ones ones try try Ikea Ikea s s Sinnerlig Sinnerlig bamboo bamboo pendant pendant lamp lamp a a low low white white sofa sofa with with scattered scattered green green and and white white patterned patterned cushions cushions in in a a white white room room with with a a large large french french doors doors wooden wooden shelves shelves with with black black metal metal poles poles holding holding brown brown and and silver silver pots pots of of green green plants plants books books and and ornaments ornaments and and a a brown brown fold fold out out chair chair underneath underneath a a large large woven woven lampshade lampshade walls walls painted painted in in yeabridge yeabridge green green estate estate emulsion emulsion for for l l farrow farrow ball ball bowen bowen rattan rattan seats seats with with cushions cushions each each bowen bowen rattan rattan ottoman ottoman with with cushion cushion all all habitat habitat lounge lounge chair chair alburni alburni table table indah indah hide hide rug rug all all heal heal s s a a line line shelf shelf graham graham and and green green rattan rattan shade shade habitaton habitaton sofa sofa l l r r kulgam kulgam greywhite greywhite cushion cushion cover cover luma luma botanist botanist embroidered embroidered cushion cushion sainsbury sainsbury s s haveli haveli cushion cushion cover cover luma luma syssan syssan cushion cushion ikea ikea linen linen lines lines cushion cushion zara zara home home alpaca alpaca blend blend throw throw northlight northlight homestore homestore on on coffee coffee table table tumblers tumblers each each tequila tequila jug jug all all heal heal s s on on top top shelf shelf pots pots for for three three rockett rockett st st george george on on second second shelf shelf pot pot from from dobbies dobbies vintage vintage bottles bottles find find similar similar at at home home barn barn ingefära ingefära plant plant pot pot from from for for cm cm dia dia ikea ikea heritage heritage twine twine paperchase paperchase third third shelf shelf socker socker plant plant pot pot from from p p for for cm cm dia dia ikea ikea faux faux deer deer skull skull in in dome dome rockett rockett st st george george House House Beautiful Beautiful Mark Mark Scott Scott CREATING CREATING A A ZEN ZEN SPACE SPACE The The pared pared back back Zen Zen home home originally originally came came about about through through necessity necessity but but the the Japanese Japanese swiftly swiftly realised realised that that this this minimal minimal way way of of living living had had benefits benefits way way beyond beyond the the practical practical Full Full on on Zen Zen spaces spaces can can feel feel a a trifle trifle too too monastic monastic for for most most of of us us but but here here are are some some simple simple tweaks tweaks we we could could all all adopt adopt to to make make our our lives lives and and homes homes more more serene serene Simplicity Simplicity Traditional Traditional Zen Zen spaces spaces are are a a lesson lesson in in minimalism minimalism and and there there s s no no doubt doubt that that most most of of us us could could do do with with paring paring down down our our stuff stuff One One Zen Zen principle principle is is datsuzoku datsuzoku freedom freedom from from worldly worldly attachments attachments While While we we don don t t need need to to turn turn into into monks monks a a clean clean clear clear home home is is restful restful Look Look at at yours yours with with a a critical critical eye eye or or ask ask a a friend friend to to be be honest honest What What do do you you really really love love and and need need What What are are you you clinging clinging on on to to because because of of nostalgia nostalgia those those boxes boxes of of old old birthday birthday cards cards guilt guilt your your mother mother gave gave it it to to you you or or ego ego will will you you re re read read those those books books or or are are they they there there to to show show how how smart smart you you are are Clear Clear out out that that clutter clutter it it s s clogging clogging up up the the ki ki vital vital energy energy in in your your home home making making you you feel feel muddled muddled If If this this sounds sounds suspiciously suspiciously like like feng feng shui shui it it s s because because it it is is Feng Feng shui shui is is alive alive and and well well in in Japan Japan and and has has been been influential influential for for hundreds hundreds of of years years says says Zen Zen master master Julian Julian Daizan Daizan glazed glazed tiles tiles ceramic ceramic bowls bowls and and wooden wooden utensils utensils textures textures natural natural materials materials House House Beautiful Beautiful Dan Dan Duchars Duchars Colour Colour If If you you re re addicted addicted to to eye eye popping popping shades shades colour colour clashes clashes and and wild wild pattern pattern this this will will all all leave leave you you cold cold A A key key aspect aspect of of Zen Zen is is shizen shizen naturalness naturalness and and its its palette palette takes takes natural natural and and neutral neutral to to a a fresh fresh degree degree Black Black and and white white are are the the classic classic combination combination but but strict strict monochrome monochrome can can feel feel harsh harsh so so soften soften it it up up with with subtle subtle yet yet warmer warmer tones tones cream cream mushroom mushroom calming calming greys greys duck duck egg egg blues blues and and gentle gentle mossy mossy greens greens look look fabulous fabulous against against natural natural wood wood and and stone stone Earthborn Earthborn has has a a wide wide range range of of paint paint formulated formulated to to strict strict environmental environmental standards standards Think Think Rothko Rothko rather rather than than Rubens Rubens for for any any artwork artwork one one simple simple striking striking piece piece that that leads leads the the mind mind into into meditation meditation The The classic classic Zen Zen brushstroke brushstroke circle circle enso enso that that stands stands for for enlightenment enlightenment the the universe universe and and mu mu the the void void would would look look striking striking on on clear clear walls walls Find Find examples examples on on Etsy Etsy or or practise practise painting painting it it yourself yourself Calligraphy Calligraphy and and mindful mindful art art are are both both great great Zen Zen practices practices for for focusing focusing the the mind mind and and coming coming into into the the moment moment a a glass glass vase vase with with a a fern fern in in on on a a wicker wicker chairdreamweavescontemporary chairdreamweavescontemporary rattan rattan accents accents add add personality personality and and a a hint hint of of warmth warmth to to any any room room left left walls walls in in river river reed reed perfect perfect matt matt emulsion emulsion l l designers designers guild guild bala bala bench bench john john lewis lewis partnerscassini partnerscassini decanter decanter the the conran conran shop shop wicker wicker and and glass glass cup cup rose rose grey grey cushion cushion made made up up inbelge inbelge linen linen in in green green m m christopher christopher farr farr cloth cloth House House Beautiful Beautiful Tim Tim Young Young Scent Scent and and sound sound Seijaku Seijaku is is the the Zen Zen principle principle of of tranquillity tranquillity and and a a key key part part of of Zen Zen lifestyle lifestyle is is the the practice practice of of meditation meditation sitting sitting quietly quietly focusing focusing on on the the breath breath just just being being Finding Finding stillness stillness solitude solitude and and silence silence can can be be tough tough in in our our frenetic frenetic lives lives but but try try switching switching off off distractions distractions for for at at least least part part of of the the day day Do Do you you always always have have music music on on Does Does your your phone phone constantly constantly ping ping alerts alerts Try Try turning turning it it off off and and notice notice how how you you feel feel Tune Tune in in to to the the natural natural sounds sounds around around you you birdsong birdsong the the wind wind in in the the trees trees If If outside outside sounds sounds are are just just too too distracting distracting explore explore tracks tracks for for Zen Zen meditation meditation on on Spotify Spotify or or YouTube YouTube Bells Bells are are a a key key part part of of monastic monastic life life and and their their clear clear chime chime can can help help you you sink sink into into meditation meditation Zenergy Zenergy meditation meditation chime chime soundtravels soundtravels co co uk uk Burn Burn some some incense incense to to complete complete the the temple temple feel feel the the practice practice dates dates back back to to the the eighth eighth century century in in Japan Japan and and is is believed believed to to calm calm the the mind mind and and focus focus intention intention vectiskarma vectiskarma co co uk uk has has a a good good selection selection of of Japanese Japanese incense incense japanese japanese incense incense Yagi Yagi StudioGetty StudioGetty Images Images Plants Plants We We all all know know the the benefits benefits of of shinrin shinrin yoku yoku Japanese Japanese forest forest bathing bathing but but bringing bringing nature nature inside inside is is also also therapeutic therapeutic Plants Plants don don t t just just look look good good there there s s a a growing growing body body of of research research that that shows shows they they can can make make us us feel feel more more settled settled and and connected connected while while increasing increasing concentration concentration and and improving improving memory memory It It s s down down to to the the way way they they trigger trigger the the release release of of the the happy happy making making neurotransmitters neurotransmitters dopamine dopamine serotonin serotonin and and oxytocin oxytocin Bamboo Bamboo and and dragon dragon trees trees dracaena dracaena are are both both very very Zen Zen but but just just choose choose what what makes makes you you smile smile The The Morvah Morvah ceiling ceiling hanging hanging planter planter from from Heal Heal s s lets lets you you garden garden vertically vertically and and has has those those clean clean clear clear lines lines you you re re after after macrame macrame just just won won t t cut cut it it If If you you re re hopeless hopeless with with plants plants maybe maybe invest invest in in a a tabletop tabletop Zen Zen garden garden raking raking patterns patterns in in sand sand is is supremely supremely soothing soothing Etsy Etsy has has a a good good selection selection Bloombox Bloombox Club Club Dragon Dragon Tree Tree bloomboxclub bloomboxclub com com SHOP SHOP NOW NOW Furniture Furniture Traditional Traditional Japanese Japanese furniture furniture hugs hugs the the floor floor and and a a low low table table with with cushions cushions for for seating seating is is not not only only sociable sociable but but over over time time will will strengthen strengthen your your back back and and create create flexibility flexibility in in your your hips hips and and legs legs Too Too tough tough Mid Mid century century furniture furniture has has the the clean clean lines lines Zen Zen loves loves while while floor floor cushions cushions and and beanbags beanbags in in sludgy sludgy neutral neutral tones tones are are great great for for low low level level lounging lounging Try Try the the Zen Zen lounger lounger from from ambientlounge ambientlounge co co uk uk and and a a hanging hanging chair chair Bali Bali rattan rattan hanging hanging nest nest ball ball chair chair from from cielshopinteriors cielshopinteriors com com is is perfect perfect for for quiet quiet contemplation contemplation Cielshop Cielshop Bali Bali Basket Basket Rattan Rattan Hanging Hanging Ball Ball Chair Chair cielshopinteriors cielshopinteriors com com SHOP SHOP NOW NOW Futons Futons are are ideal ideal for for small small spaces spaces or or for for when when you you have have overnight overnight guests guests as as they they can can be be rolled rolled up up during during the the day day They They re re also also well well known known for for easing easing bad bad backs backs as as they they re re super super firm firm and and don don t t sag sag The The Futon Futon Company Company has has a a good good selection selection futoncompany futoncompany co co uk uk If If you you can can t t give give up up your your beloved beloved memory memory foam foam there there s s nothing nothing to to stop stop you you plonking plonking a a mattress mattress on on a a futon futon base base or or get get creative creative with with pallets pallets and and make make your your own own low low level level bed bed or or sofa sofa bases bases Cox Cox Cox Cox Velvet Velvet Round Round Floor Floor Cushion Cushion Smoke Smoke Grey Grey coxandcox coxandcox co co uk uk SHOP SHOP NOW NOW WABI WABI SABI SABI Wabi Wabi sabi sabi lies lies at at the the heart heart of of Zen Zen philosophy philosophy It It s s all all about about making making the the very very most most of of life life accepting accepting that that things things can can never never be be perfect perfect Wabi Wabi means means transient transient beauty beauty while while sabi sabi is is the the beauty beauty of of nature nature and and ageing ageing Together Together they they teach teach us us not not just just to to accept accept transience transience and and imperfection imperfection but but to to honour honour it it There There are are seven seven key key principles principles kanso kanso simplicity simplicity fukinsei fukinsei asymmetry asymmetry or or irregularity irregularity shibumi shibumi beauty beauty in in the the understated understated shizen shizen naturalness naturalness and and unpretentiousness unpretentiousness yugen yugen subtle subtle grace grace datsuzoku datsuzoku freeness freeness seijaku seijaku tranquillity tranquillity Selfridges Selfridges SELETTI SELETTI Kintsugi Kintsugi N N porcelain porcelain and and ct ct gold gold bowl bowl cm cm SELETTI SELETTI selfridges selfridges com com SHOP SHOP NOW NOW Those Those ceramic ceramic bowls bowls mended mended with with gold gold dusted dusted lacquer lacquer kintsugi kintsugi that that you you see see all all over over Instagram Instagram are are just just the the start start of of wabi wabi sabi sabi but but they they re re a a good good way way to to understand understand the the principle principle Rather Rather than than throwing throwing away away something something old old or or broken broken you you mend mend it it or or upcycle upcycle it it relishing relishing its its new new form form It It s s the the antidote antidote to to our our modern modern day day pursuit pursuit of of perfection perfection Find Find wabi wabi sabi sabi in in mismatched mismatched china china in in visible visible mending mending in in faded faded fabrics fabrics and and the the wonky wonky handmade handmade mug mug that that didn didn t t quite quite make make the the grade grade Wabi Wabi sabi sabi isn isn t t just just about about physical physical objects objects either either It It s s a a total total mindset mindset It It s s about about finding finding beauty beauty in in things things and and people people just just as as they they are are not not how how we we wish wish they they might might be be says says Kim Kim Bennett Bennett Above Above all all it it s s about about being being kind kind and and compassionate compassionate to to ourselves ourselves not not beating beating ourselves ourselves up up for for our our imperfections imperfections It It s s a a call call to to slow slow down down to to pause pause to to be be mindful mindful and and present present in in the the moment moment The The joy joy of of Zen Zen is is that that imperfection imperfection and and asymmetry asymmetry are are built built into into its its philosophy philosophy Zen Zen teaches teaches that that mistakes mistakes can can be be beautiful beautiful says says Kim Kim It It s s a a great great life life lesson lesson Jane Jane Alexander Alexander is is the the author author of of Spirit Spirit of of the the Home Home How How to to Make Make Your Your Home Home a a Sanctuary Sanctuary HarperCollins HarperCollins and and many many other other wellbeing wellbeing titles titles Her Her latest latest book book is is The The Energy Energy Secret Secret Kyle Kyle Books Books Her Her website website is is exmoorjane exmoorjane com com and and she she s s on on social social media media as as exmoorjane exmoorjane This This feature feature originally originally appeared appeared in in House House Beautiful Beautiful magazine magazine Like Like this this article article Sign Sign up up to to our our newsletter newsletter to to get get more more articles articles like like this this delivered delivered 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