7 Ways to Make Your Home More Zen

The place we call home is a place of comfort, of reliability, and a place that symbolizes the unwinding of the day. That’s why cultivating a space in your home that creates an ambiance of relaxation and composure is essential to your mental clarity and happiness. The term Zen actually stems from a Japanese school of Buddhism, which emphasizes the value of meditation and intuition. The overall essence of Zen is to understand the meaning of life, without being misled or distracted by toxic surroundings. Zen Buddhism believes that all human beings have to discover the truth of themselves by looking inside of us for enlightenment. Here are a few tips on how to make your home a little more Zen worthy:

1. Decorate with Earth Tones: Numerous studies have shown that the colors that surround us actually have a significant impact on our mood while in that location, all known as the psychology of color. For example, red tones tend to evoke high energy levels, while yellow evokes happiness. Blue, on the other hand is said to bring down blood pressure and slow down the heart rate. Because color is proven to have such a big effect on our mindset, we recommend sticking to earth tones if your aim is to amplify the Zen in your home. Green is largely considered the most restful color, and is known for its calming effect when used in decoration. Brown tones are known to ignite a sense of strength and reliability, and brings to mind feelings of warmth, comfort and security. So there you go! Do your research to determine which colors are correlated with which emotions you feel you need to work on, and you have a simple way to alter your mindset to something a little more positive.

2. Incorporate Plants: As great as dogs and cats are, plants are actually some of the best pets to have in regards to enhancing your feelings of Zen. A few scientific benefits of filling your home with leafy greens are along the lines of a reduction of carbon dioxide levels, a reducing of airborne dust levels and pollutants, and keeping the air temperatures at a comfortable level. But it gets better than that—plants are actually known to make you mentally feel better as well as improve your physical health. According to Psychology Today, potted plants are known to lower blood pressure, increase attentiveness, raise productivity, lower levels of anxiety and raise job satisfaction. That is a list we can get on board with! So head out to your local plant shop or farmers market to fill your life with plentiful plants!

3. Invest in an Oil Diffuser: Do you ever come home at the end of the day and find yourself unable to fully unwind and destress? Then investing in an oil diffuser might be the right route for you. Widely renowned for their stress relief capabilities, oil diffusers also have been shown to help ward off illness, increase exercise endurance, focus your mind, and overall improve a sense of tranquility. The best scents to increase tranquility are bergamot, grapefruit, and patchouli, while well-known mood boosters are lavender and clary sage. And if you’re looking for a good source of stress relief? Try out some chamomile, rose or frankincense.