When it comes to helping ourselves deal with the daily stresses and uncertainties of life, one particular effective solution that doesn’t get enough credit is meditation. Not only does meditation allow us to get rid of the tension in our bodies, it also helps in eliminating mental stress brought about by the daily grind. You don’t need narcotics or expensive tools to make it work either. You just need an open mind, a few minutes, and a private, quiet space to meditate in.
That raises the question, though: how do you create a proper meditation space? In this article, we’ll provide you with a few suggestions on how to do just that—putting together the perfect environment for reflection and meditation.
Use Calming Colors
Think about which color promotes security and meditation for you. Some people prefer lighter, neutral shades to be calming while others feel more comfortable in darker shades. Choose a shade you find soothing and make it the foundation of the accessories you’ll add into the space.
For example, you can choose a room with bare, neutral colored wall. You can then add furniture and accessories in white and earthy tones. Use natural materials such as wicker, wood, and linen.
Comfort should be your priority, so consider adding large cushions, mats, blankets, or sheepskins. You can also add a lavender pillow to add both comfort and relaxation to your space. If it’s not practical to have these placed permanently, you can store them in a basket within reach.
Use Soft Lighting
Light plays an important role in setting the mood, so consider the kind of light you find relaxing. Natural light is great, and if you prefer this, you should choose a place that faces the sun. This would depend on your schedule though and whether you prefer sunrise or sunset.
If you want to use dim light, add curtains to your space and consider using candles as light source. You can also add some incense and aromatherapy or essential oils to add to the relaxing vibe.
Add A Water Feature
Mounting a wall fountain in your chosen space could go a long way into making that room or corner in your home perfect for meditation. Not only can a water fountain add beauty to any indoor environment, it can also give that space a sense of peaceful tranquility. The sight and sound of softly flowing water are guaranteed to calm even the most frazzled of nerves. The sounds produced by a fountain also serves as a neutral white noise that can block out unpleasant noise pollution from the outdoors, allowing you to relax more and achieve a better meditative state.
Keep It Clean And Uncluttered
While it may be comforting to be surrounded by things that you value in spaces such as your office or bedroom, doing the same to your chosen meditation space could actually work against you. Having objects or possessions around you while you try to meditate may distract you or force your mind to wander, instead of helping you relax and turning your mental focus inward. If you must bring something into your meditation space, make it something conducive to what you’re trying to do—such as a meditation pillow, a small table, and a mat.
Look Into Aromatherapy
Sometimes, it’s not enough to seclude yourself or to have the outside world blocked out in order to get yourself to meditate properly. Maybe you’ve had a really stressful day, or you just can’t seem to relax no matter what you do. In this particular instance, you may want to give your meditation space a bit more ‘oomph’ when it comes to calming you down—and you can do this through aromatherapy. Doing so helps you further separate your meditation space from everywhere else, and as such trains your body to recognize when it’s really time to relax. There are also certain smells that are geared towards helping people reach a more relaxed and meditative state. Examples of such scents include subtle ones like lavender, sandalwood, clary sage, and more.
Make It A Technology-Free Space
Technology has made our lives easier and more convenient, but that doesn’t mean that we have to be surrounded by it all of the time—and certainly not when we’re meditating. As such, it’s always a good idea to remove devices and electronic appliances from your meditation space to help you focus. That means everything from tablets and TVs to smartphones and gaming consoles. If you must have a smartphone on your person at all times, especially for emergencies, then at the very least put it on silent mode before you start meditating.
Add A Touch Of Nature
Give your meditation space a more natural touch by adding small potted plants in a few corners or on top of a table. Studies have shown that plants naturally help people to relax, and having potted plants in your meditation space could provide you with something that you can look at to focus on while you’re reflecting.
Making your meditation space as perfect and as conducive to reflection and relaxations as possible doesn’t need to be difficult or complicated. Simply follow the steps listed above, and you’ll be on your way to having more rewarding meditation sessions.
