A meditation space is the perfect way to create a little bit of paradise in your very own home. It can provide you with an area for you to escape from other things that may be causing a little stress. Studies have shown that meditation has many positive effects on the mind and body, such as reduced stress levels and boosting your immune system. And even if you’re not that into meditation, a room for a little quiet time is a great way to unwind, whether you use it for listening to music, reading, painting, whatever takes your fancy…
There are a number of things that are useful to consider when creating your perfect meditation (or quiet space) in order to get out of it exactly what you want:
1. The Sound of silence
It is sometimes difficult to find a space that is away from the noise and hustle and bustle of the rest of the house, especially in an urban setting. However, things like double glazing can reduce the sound of the outside world dramatically. Another idea is to have a sounds system, built into the space or free standing, what ever takes your fancy. This can not only be used to play your favourite music, but you could also play soothing ocean sounds or meditation music to transport you away from that business. Sonos have a number of great systems that allow you to control your music from you phone and other portable devices. Perfect if you’re in a rather difficult yoga pose…
2. Scents
We all love a good smelling candle here at Kia Designs and often have one flickering away in the office while we work. Simple touches such as home candles fill your home with a gorgeous scent and can instantly create that feeling of calm to ebb away that stress before you start on your meditation session. We particularly love Soak and Sleep and Neom who both create beautifully scented ranges.
3. Lighting
Natural lighting is obviously a great feature to have in a meditation area. It instantly brightens a space and the people within it. But the artificial lighting is also just as important. Try to create ‘scenes’ with different types and styles of lighting. By this I mean, when you’re not using the space for meditation, you should have enough lightly to be able to use the space effectively. However, this lighting may be too harsh when you’re relaxin or meditating. Therefore you will need a different kind of lighting such as low level spot lights, or perhaps just a couple of table top lamps dotted around to give a warm glow. Lutron Systems allow you to control all the lighting in one space from one control pad, which you can pre-set with a set number of different scenes, so you can have exactly the right kind of lighting you need for a particular activity.
4. Clutter
A meditation or relaxation space should not have too many distractions. That is why storage is key. In a project we are working on at the moment, we have designed a Meditation Bed. This is not only the perfect platform under a window for meditating, but also contains a great amount of storage so that the space can be clear and distraction free.
5. Colours
Similarly, it is important to have colours that are not too distracting too. This means that earthly and natural tones are perfect for a meditation space. However, these can begin to look a little drab, especially if the space has a dual purpose and isn’t solely designated as a meditation space. In the project mentioned above, the space doubles as a guest room. We have added highlights of retro orange to the insides of the wardrobes and shelves. These little accents of colour are enough to brighten the room, but not too much to distract during a meditation setting.
