Zen design and decorating

A zen living room should have an earthy color palette made out of colors like browns and greens. The objective of zen interior design is to create a peaceful, inspiring home which doesn't look overly dressed up.  

Clean straight lines are characteristic of zen interior design, whereas visually busy patterns, loud colors and fancy decorations are the opposite of zen design. Keep decorations and ornaments to a minimum by avoiding wall paintings or other unnecessary decorations. Keep it simple, keep it zen. 

A zen living room is simple, minimalist, and exudes a natural, relaxing vibe. 

Since Zen is a style of Buddhist spiritual practice after all, a zen themed home wouldn't be complete without a Buddha statue. 

This tranquil effigy of Buddha in pure white polystone with marble finish and gold colored electroplating will compliment a zen home perfectly. The Lord Buddha sitting in the lotus position with a begging bowl in one hand and a pearl in the other represents detachment from material possessions while gaining wisdom and enlightenment. 

This yin and yang coffee table brings harmony and peace to the home with its organic shape, earthy hues, and ancient symbolism. Zen style furniture is most often made out of natural materials and are simple and minimalist in design. Elaborate and complicated designs are usually avoided in zen interior design. 

This beautiful yin and yang coffee table is designed by Kvadrat Meble. 

Using minimal colors, this bathroom pulls off the zen effect, creating a calm and tranquil space. The wooden parquet floors and other wooden elements in the bathroom also help to create a soft, cozy, and warm feeling. 

Lighting is very important to set the zen mood. Play around with natural and soft lighting. Wherever possible, try to get as much natural light as you can into the house. Avoid using harsh fluorescent lighting which can be stressful, instead use soft lighting which is more calming. A variety of different lights with different intensities is always better than just one bright ceiling light. 

Browse through some bathrooms here on homify for more inspiration. 

Using natural elements such as wood and calming colors such as blue is a great way to create a zen ambiance in the kitchen. 

A zen kitchen should be open, simple, and free of clutter. A zen space is a space free of clutter just as meditation is the absence of cluttering thoughts. In order to keep the kitchen clutter free, invest in built-in or concealed storage, it's worth your peace of mind. 

For ideas on how to keep you kitchen clutter free, have a look at kitchen storage.