Expert Tips for Creating a Meditation Space at Home

Meditation is a powerful tool that can help you reduce stress, relieve anxiety, enhance self-awareness, and so much more. While meditation can be done at any time, in any place, creating a dedicated area at home can make the practice even more special. But how do you actually go about creating this place of stillness? To help you get started, we had meditation and wellness experts share their best tips for finding the right spot, which supplies to put in it, and some simple design tips to pull the space together.

Invite your body’s wisdom to choose the environment that will most support your sitting practice. As you walk through your home notice how your body responds to the different rooms. Trust you’ve found the room when the “Ah-ha” feeling arises and your body relaxes. – Mindfulness Coaching School, Ann-Marie McKelvey

First thing’s first, set an intention for your space: a moment of calm in your day, a moment of quiet, or a moment to improve your focus. Remember that cleanliness is ideal. Declutter your nook and welcome back in the necessities. These can include – a comfortable place to sit, colors that support your vision (blue is calm, red is energizing), and dim lighting to shift focus to the light within. Incense, candles, music and sentimental objects (photos, figurines, etc.) activate more of your sensory neurons; use these with awareness. – Urban Wellness Magazine

Bathtubs can offer built-in privacy for peaceful moments at the end of a long day. Consider bringing candles, incense, and healing salts to your tub for a fully embodied meditation. Notice the temperatures, textures, smells, and sounds of your moment-to-moment experience. – Mindfulness Exercises, Sean Fargo

Bring the feeling of nature indoors. We like to include soft, warm light and natural elements (think plants, wood tones, and salt lamps) to bring the peace of the forest indoors. And of course, make sure it is somewhere you want to spend time! – The Pearl Day Spa

Lighting and sound are the most important considerations when designing a meditation space at home. For overall ambiance, nothing creates warmth and calm like the soft lighting of dimmable lamps or fairy lights. For pure practicality, choose the quietest spot in your house, or add natural sounds such as a fountain to keep disruptive household noises from interfering with precious zen moments. – Mayu Meditation Co-op, Cierra McNamara

During meditation, good upright posture enables you to really get into the zone. Whether you’re sitting cross-legged on the floor or in a chair with your legs uncrossed, a support cushion will help you maintain a straight spine. To be truly mindful of your body’s position, you might want to use a posture trainer that reminds you to be upright and present in the moment. – Upright

Incorporate natural scents that allow you to focus more readily on the ‘present.’ Scents like eucalyptus, rosemary, citrus, and mints are invigorating, clearing, and allow you to remain mindful. Scent will ground you in your meditation quicker than any other sense. – Clear My Head, Brenda Stansfield

Find a place that naturally creates a sense of peace and calm, ideally away from distractions like electronics, televisions, speakers, etc. You could choose a dedicated room, like a den or extra bedroom to meditate – these places tend to be quieter and less associated with sleeping, entertainment, or excitement. Or you could choose a location, even the backyard, that has a view of nature. – Scott Moore Yoga

Engage the five senses: sight, touch, smell, sound, and taste. Surround yourself with blue tones and relaxing sounds, and bring your attention to the smell of your favorite candle or essential oil. Incorporate textures that bring you warmth and support, and consider enjoying a cup of warm tea or a piece of dark chocolate with your practice. – Neuro Wellness Spa, Emily Pedersen

Use the same things that stimulate your senses every time you meditate. For example, play the same music, or use the same incense. This way it helps to signal your brain that it’s time to meditate, and it’s a great way to develop a habit of meditating too. – Museflower Retreat and Spa, Tania Ho

Create a space for meditation with meaningful things. My favorite cozy blanket, a special candle, and a beautiful palm stone are three things that set me up to meditate at home more regularly. I can create a space for meditation anywhere with these few important items. Whether that’s on a chair in my bedroom, on my couch, or even in my backyard. I can even take my meditation “space” with me when I travel. – SF Advanced Health, Nicole Bianchi,

Keep it authentic. Too often we get caught up in what we think it should look or be like, when it may be as simple as your favorite chair located in a cozy spot where the morning light pours in. – Guiding Wellness Institute, Kelsy Timas

Use deep breathing. For an optimized relaxation response, use deep breathing as a guide for settling into your own inner self. Extending your exhale slightly longer than a deep inhale will both calm the body and the mind to find rest in your home or chosen location. – Harmony Health Massage & Wellness Spa, Inanna Hall

Find a quiet place away from distractions. Create a simple space that is uncluttered, without phones, computers or other things that draw your attention away from your practice. – Mindworks Meditation

If you don’t have an entire room to dedicate to meditation, create a space in the corner, away from all the things that may pull your attention. Once you select your location, establish a hard and fast rule that this space is for meditation only and declare it a no electronics zone. – Discarded Anxiety

Let it be cozy and inviting. Experiment to find out what feels most comfortable for you to sit on: a chair, meditation cushion, or low bench. To nurture a sense of spaciousness and peace, a small table set simply with a candle, a flower vase, and a picture or other inspiring object is enough. – Barbara Newell

Don’t be overly concerned with where you meditate. Learn to use “distractions” that may arise wherever you find time to meditate. You can use anything as objects of mindfulness meditation. Ask yourself, what can I learn from this in terms of your mind and body’s reactions to them? Learn to meditate anywhere and under any circumstances. – Mindful Living Center, Mike Healy

Choose a small space in your home that you feel intuitively connected to. Begin to create this sacred space with the calming and grounding colors of warm silver, espresso, and pure white. Next, gather the essentials to create a comfortable and healing meditation practice: sandalwood incense, mala beads, a well-padded meditation pillow, textured blankets, crystals, and your personal primordial sound mantra. – Serenity Spa

Make sure that whatever space you create for meditation in your home remains consistent and doesn’t change frequently. It’s also important to have ample air ventilation and light in the room. –MeditationIsEasy.com, Eklavya,

Originally published by Redfin