Zen is probably one of the freshest
styles that I have seen over the past couple of years. Sure, in Asia they have
been decorating their homes in this style for centuries. It is only recently
that the look has started to spread to the western world though. On this page I
want to talk to you a bit about what the Zen style is, perhaps more
importantly, how you will be able to merge this style into your room decor.
It is worth noting that Zen is not
really a true style when it comes to home design. By this I mean that I can't
just throw a book at you and tell you that these are the rules of Zen. There
are no set of laws when it comes to Zen. This is a way of life. It is all about
making you feel calm and relaxed in your surroundings. Zen is all about
creating a state which is blissful with the ability to relieve you of your
stress. Part of Zen is choosing what feels good to you. I am going to share a
couple of ideas with you, however you should think of these as guidelines. They
are commonly accepted as a Zen style, however, I am sure that some people will
veer off the track a little.
Let's start with the color. As I
mentioned before, Zen home decor is
all about creating an environment that is as relaxing as possible. This means
that bright vivid colors are out of the window. Instead we want more calming
'earthly' colors. Think along the lines of taupe, white, gray and various soft
tones here. You will want to mix and match up the colors a bit. However, to
keep a degree of simplicity you just want to use two or three colors at the
most. I suggest that you take a little look at various images online to show
you the various color schemes that people use. This should give you a few
ideas.
Part of the Zen home decor style is
trying to keep those walls free of clutter. The pioneers of this way of living
centuries ago believed that clutter leads to stress. This does not mean that
you have to do away with your wall art
though. Instead you can opt for something that is very subtle. You want basic
colors and simple imagery. This means veering away from those bright sharp
colors which will just ruin everything else in your room. You will want to keep
the wall art to a minimum to reduce clutter. However, you do need some
otherwise the room may suffer from a touch of blandness. I suggest that you
take a browse through a good collection of Zen-style wall art from a
professional supplier. Look for something that is simple and not too 'over the
top'. Try to look for good picturesque scenery imagery. I have spoken to many
people who like this art style and say that it works wonders with its calming
influence.
Ornaments are a big part of Zen home
decor. You will find that many people who practice Buddhism in Asia and other
parts of the world will start to integrate Buddhastatues into their decor. This helps to give a calming influence; remember
however, you do not have to be a Buddhist to do this.
On top of all of this you may want
to inject a bit of softness into your room. Carpets work wonders. Throw in some
beautiful green plants, soft natural lighting, and some candles burning off
some wonderful scents and you are almost there. Just try to keep things as
simple as you possibly can whilst aiming for that natural look. Remember, the
quality of your wall art can make or break that look, so choose well!
