Create your very own peaceful haven at home with the Zen decor style! Get inspired by East Asian interiors to live the simple, clutter-free life!

With the world being what it is right now, we all want a place we can retreat to, a haven of peace and comfort. The Zen decor style offers exactly that, as we get inspired by the Japanese philosophy of letting go of everything unnecessary and sticking only to what our hearts and souls need.

Decor Styles 101: Zen

Most of us associate Zen with being a Japanese philosophy, but it’s actually a little more complex than that. Zen is derived from Ch’an, a Chinese term which is again derived from Dhyana, a Sanskrit term for meditation. As you see, Zen is something that has travelled a good part of the world!

The essence of Zen is to organize our thoughts and seek clarity and awakening of the mind. In this process, we cast out everything that we don’t need or that doesn’t serve us, so we keep with us only the most precious and most essential. You’ll remember that Marie Kondo’s decluttering philosophy is along similar lines, and that’s what Zen decor also reflects.

In this decor style, the focus is on leaving out all the fuss, and celebrating the true nature of everything that we need. As a result, this is a style that’s seriously minimalist in nature, and the overall vibe is one of peace, freedom and calmness. Everything is light, clean and minimal, and that is how you should feel when you walk into the space. Let’s understand this better by looking at the characteristics of Zen decor.

Characteristics of Zen Decor

• Zen decor features a lot of open spaces, particularly around furniture
• The colors used are soft, neutral and soothing colors, giving a calming look
• Everything has straight, simple lines and there is no ornamentation whatsoever
• There is minimal stuff out on display, and almost everything is hidden away in storage
• Natural light, natural materials and plants are an important part of Zen decor

8 Ways to bring Zen Decor to your Space

1. Choose a Neutral Color Palette

As soon as you walk into a Zen space, you should immediately feel calm and reassured, and colors play a big role in creating that feeling. Opt for neutral colors like browns, beige, greens, blues and grey. Use shades of colors found in nature, like the brown of sand, the blue of the sky, the grey of pebbles. Mixing up different neutrals will add interest and prevent the space from looking too bland.

2. Go for simple Furniture Pieces

Most of the furniture in a Zen space is made of wood or bamboo, and some stone is also seen. The important thing to look for is the structure of the item. Go for straight lines or simple curves avoiding all kinds of ornamentation like carvings, inlays and embellishments. Low lying furniture is preferred, as being closer to the ground encourages the Zen feeling.

3. Include a Mix of Textures

4. Celebrate Natural Light

Natural light is a major part of the zen decor, and you’ll often find Japanese homes having large windows that go all the way from ceiling to floor. Window treatments are also light, and paper screens are popular ways to maintain privacy while letting the light in. For lighting fixtures, avoid harsh florescent lights and go for soft, warm indirect lights to maintain a relaxed atmosphere.

5. Get rid of Visual Clutter

As mentioned above, the Zen decor style is quite minimalist in nature, which means most surfaces are empty. Avoid anything that you don’t need, and this applies to decor as well. Everything in a Zen home is functional and things with purely decorative purpose generally don’t find a place here. Put away all your necessities in storage solutions that are in the colors you’ve chosen.

6. Hide the Electronics

Honestly speaking you shouldn’t have any electronics on display in a Zen home, but we know that is not exactly practical for everyone. However, you can cut down on visual electronic clutter by hiding as many things as you can, especially wires. Install hidden wiring wherever possible. You can have shutters that cover your TV when not in use. Arrange furniture strategically to hide other appliances or use a divider.

7. Go Minimal on Decor

Purely decorative items aren’t really a party of Zen decor, but you can use a few of your everyday objects to serve as decor. Books are a good option as are candles and incense sticks. If you really want to have something decorative, go with a Buddha bust or some smooth pebbles that you place on an empty surface.

8. Bring the Garden Indoors

A garden is an integral part of Zen decor, and many homes in this style have large open windows that look out on a garden. If you don’t have a garden like that, you can still have one indoors, including some bamboo or bonsai. Flowers are also great in a Zen decor, especially orchids. Having lush greenery all around the home adds to the peaceful and calming atmosphere you expect from a Zen home.

If you are a person who likes having her personal belongings out or if you like creating vignettes or gallery walls, Zen is not the style for you. It can also be challenging to maintain this style of decor if you have small children running about. However, if you have been able to follow Konmari successfully and would like to apply the philosophy to all areas of your life and home, then there’s no question about it – Zen is perfect for you!

This post is a part of the Blogchatter A2Z Blogging Challenge 2021.