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To read the first 3 steps on how to turn your home into a soulful Zen haven, click here.
This three-part series reveals 10 enlightening steps to turn your home into a soulful Zen haven. To read steps 1-3 click HERE. Stay tuned for steps 7-10 in Part III.
The marriage of East and West has become quite popular in interior design. For me, it shows an increasing search to connect to something more spiritual – something larger than ourselves. Just as we have learned that the clothes we wear, the people we surround ourselves with, even the products we use, can have a significant impact on our happiness, so too can the environments in which we live.
Fusing both worlds can be very appealing. Look at the room containing the elaborate Eastern carving of a Buddha. Now, imagine substituting this carving with a modern sculpture, for example, a horse or a modern abstract stature. The overall aesthetic effect could be very similar. Eastern and Western artifacts can sometimes be interchangeable. What matters more is how they are used within their setting. Here the leather upholstered dining chairs with their modern appeal and the adjacent modern sculptures present a dynamic contrast with the Buddha.
“IN THE BEDROOM BELOW WE FUSED CLEAN LINES IN THE FURNITURE WITH A ASIAN INSPIRED CEILING DESIGN, SOFT FABRICS AND LIGHTING THAT CREATE A PEACEFUL AND SERENE LOOK.”
Everyone has experienced it, when you enter a room with good asymmetrical balance, everything just feels right. A subtle feeling of order occurs. But too much balance can appear artificial, static, and become boring over time. Asymmetrical balance relates very strongly to the visual weight of objects rather than repeating the same item within a space to achieve balance. It has a genuine, more relaxed feel to it that gives us the same feeling of stability and security as symmetrical balance.
“I LOVE THE ASPECT OF ASYMMETRICAL BALANCE THAT PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN ZEN DESIGN BECAUSE IT’S UNEXPECTED AND FEELS MORE NATURAL.”
In the living room example below, symmetry was achieved through the arrangement of furniture. The two sofas, positioned at either side of the coffee table, are symmetrical. But look at the arrangement of the decorative elements on the coffee table, the side table, and the floor lamp that breaks up the dull feel.
The dining room shows a similar situation with a perfect symmetrical balance that is offset by the picture and the arrangement of flowers on the left, a mixture of precise alignments and asymmetrical arrangements that feels instinctively right and harmonious.
Symmetry can be achieved through the use of pattern, arrangement of furniture, decoration, placements of light fixtures and millwork, and through the application of color. Trust your own eye to create a visually interesting harmony between all elements.
A Zen-inspired design is all about natural colors and materials. For color schemes, think contemporary neutrals or even the early 90s beige-themed palette. When it comes to furniture, go with solid wood, bamboo, or metal with high-quality organic fabrics like cotton, silk, bamboo fibers, or linen for upholstery. Chromatic harmony between the various elements is important, as well as the visual continuity between walls, furniture, and floors.
In order to add contour to a monochrome scheme, you may choose to combine a dominant color with matching objects and textured textiles, such as white with taupe or beige with rosewood. To create diversity, combine two matching colors or play with shades of your favorite color.
The bedroom on the left reveals simplistic lines and a warm earthy palette, with shades of beige and gray of a modern Zen-style space that have the power to induce a sense of relaxation and calmness. The red blanket and cushion in the second view contributes a bright accent of color within a neutral color palette. Dramatic tones add touches of visual drama that bring the whole room vibrantly to life.
This three-part series reveals 10 enlightening steps to turn your home into a soulful Zen haven. To read steps 1-3 click HERE. Stay tuned for steps 7-10 in Part III.
