5 Tips To Add A Touch Of Zen To Your Home This Autumn

5 min read

Autumn is the perfect time to add a touch of zen to your home. The crisp air, changing leaves, and cosy atmosphere all contribute to a sense of peace and tranquillity. But rather than colours, soft palettes or minimalistic design, it’s more about decluttering and creating a sacred space that can provide a safe and supportive environment to process emotions and find peace.

While aesthetics play a significant role in creating a zen home, organization is equally, if not more, important. And the best part is, it doesn’t take a lot of effort to incorporate zen elements into your living space.

How To Make Your Home Feel More Zen

There’s something about the simplicity and serenity of a home designed around Japanese principles that naturally invite us to relax and unwind. A zen home is more than just a stylish aesthetic; it’s a sanctuary that promotes calm and mindfulness and for women over 50 who often find their lives so busy and hectic, creating a harmonious living space becomes increasingly important.

Rooted in a Buddhist tradition that spans millennia, Zen made its way to Japan from China, transforming simplicity into a refined art making even homes sanctuaries for both meditation and daily living. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, studies indicate that embracing Zen can enhance our well-being, leading to greater happiness, increased energy, improved focus, and better problem-solving abilities.

Here are some zen-inspired tips to help you transform your space into a little oasis this Autumn.

Create a Zen-Inspired Entrance

The entrance is considered highly important in a Zen home because it sets the tone for the entire space. In Zen philosophy, the home is not just a physical space but an extension of one’s inner state, and the entrance serves as the gateway to that experience. It acts as a buffer zone, helping the person reset their mental state as they enter the home and should reflect minimalism, free of clutter, with only essential, thoughtfully placed items.

This simplicity immediately signals a sense of order and balance, which are core aspects of a Zen lifestyle. Clean lines, natural materials like wood and stone, and a lack of excess create an environment that fosters mindfulness.

As renowned Zen Buddhist priest Shunmyo Masuno wrote in his book Zen, The Art of Simple Living, “Disorder in your mind shows in your feet. It has long been said that you can tell a lot about a household by looking at its entrance hall, especially in Japanese homes, where we remove our shoes upon entering. If the footwear is perfectly lined up, or if it is all a jumble—you can know the state of mind of those who live there by just this one detail.”

Clear Out the Clutter

Autumn, in Zen philosophy, is a season of transition, reflection, and letting go. It’s a time to contemplate the impermanence of all things and to find beauty in the fading and decay of nature, leaving what it’s not meant for you anymore behind.

No wonder why, when it comes to creating a Zen atmosphere, it’s important to maintain a clean and crisp feel: a houseful of clutter is one of the quickest ways to kill that peaceful vibe.

One Zen principle, datsuzoku (freedom from worldly attachments), encourages letting go of unnecessary burdens. While we don’t need to live like monks, a clean and uncluttered home brings a sense of calm. So, take a moment to assess your space, or invite a friend to give you an honest opinion. What do you truly love and need? What are you holding onto out of nostalgia (like boxes of old birthday cards), guilt (gifts from family), or ego (are those books for reading or just to showcase your intellect)? Let go of the clutter – it’s blocking the flow of ki (vital energy) and clouding your mind.

Keep countertops, tables and desks free of piles and random items. You can even consider going paperless. Try to get a handle on the mess and take time to clean up each night before bed in order to keep things looking tidy. 

“Your desk is a mirror that reflects your inner mind. In Zen temples, monks clean with all their hearts, though not because the temple is dirty”, writes Masuno. “The purpose is not only to make the temple sparkle but also to polish our minds through the act of cleaning. With every sweep of the broom, you clear out the dust in your mind. With every swipe of the cloth, your heart gleams brighter. This applies to your desk at the office as well as to the rooms in your home. Do not allow yourself to be disrupted by your anxieties or troubles—the key to keeping your mind invigorated is to first put the things around you in order“.

Choose Only a Few Decor Pieces

A Zen home should embody a sense of minimalism, which you can achieve by thoughtfully selecting only your most cherished décor pieces. While your walls and surfaces don’t need to be completely bare, it’s important to avoid overcrowding them with too many decorative items. Be intentional with your choices, ensuring that each piece has purpose and meaning in the space. Take time to assess your home, removing items that clutter or overwhelm the environment. This simple action can significantly enhance the overall tranquillity and balance of your home.

According to Zen philosophy, we should arrange our room simply. Doing so will simplify our minds as well.

“Simplicity is about stripping away what is not useful“, advises Masuno. “Determine whether something is truly necessary, and if it is, then take good care of it. Living simply means, for instance, that the mug you use every day for coffee is a mug that you really like—one that you take good care of and that you use for a long time. Acquire only good things that will truly be needed. A lifestyle of simplicity is the fundamental practice that will hone the mind“.

Focus on Cosy Lighting

In a Zen home, cosy lighting is more than just functional—it’s a vital element of creating a peaceful, mindful space. Thoughtfully chosen lighting enhances the atmosphere, promotes relaxation, and helps align your home with the principles of simplicity, natural balance, and tranquillity.

Consider adding fairy lights and minimalist lamp designs to illuminate darker areas, especially in spots where you work or unwind. Make the most of natural light by adding cushions to suntraps to have the perfect reading nook for your personal at-home book club.

Cultivate Your Inner Garden

We’re all aware of the benefits of shinrin-yoku (Japanese forest bathing), but bringing nature indoors can be equally therapeutic. Plants not only enhance the visual appeal of your space but a growing body of research shows they can help us feel more grounded and connected while boosting focus and memory. This is due to the way plants stimulate the release of mood-enhancing neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin.

Bamboo, bonsai and dragon trees (dracaena) evoke a strong Zen vibe, but you can choose whatever plants make you smile. Ferns, for instance, are ideal for adding loads of lush greenery indoors, their soft tendrils can fill shelves, window sills, and hanging baskets beautifully and instantly add a calmness to a room.

To maintain a fresh, healthy atmosphere—especially as we spend more time indoors—place air-purifying plants in areas where you spend the most time. These plants will not only beautify your space but also improve air quality.

“The accumulated wisdom of Buddhist monks is captured in the art of Zen gardens”, continues Masuno. “Try creating such a garden in your own home. If you don’t have a yard, an apartment balcony will do just fine. And if you don’t have a balcony, a window ledge will suffice. A few square feet is all you need. Within that space, try representing the landscape of your mind. A place where your mind can escape. A place where you can look upon your essential self. It may just become your favourite spot.

Also, consider growing a single flower from a seed. “Talk to it every morning as you water it. In time, a small shoot will appear, and then a beautiful flower will bloom. As humans, we have a tendency to fixate on the past, but when you grow a flower from seed, you become aware that nothing and no one can remain in the same place“.

The garden is never the same from one day to the next. Zen monks say, “Every day is new, and new again tomorrow.” It is the same for us as humans. The preoccupations of today will end today. Tomorrow there will be a new you. This is why there is no need to worry.

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