Full-on Zen spaces can feel a trifle too monastic for most of us, but here are some simple tweaks we could all adopt to make our lives and homes more serene. The pared-back Zen home originally came about through necessity, but the Japanese swiftly realised that this minimal way of living had benefits way beyond the practical. Shōji is the traditional paper and bamboo lattice sliding partition that lets light filter through while separating out large spaces. It also plays with shadow, creating different moods with screens and diffused lighting. If privacy is an issue, keep everything light and fluid – soft gauze curtains or pale-coloured blinds suit a Zen aesthetic. If you have a lovely view and aren't overlooked, go nude on your windows. Zen is all about blurring the lines between inside and out.
'It works with your body, mind and energy to create greater wellbeing, vitality and awareness.' Lighting 'Zen is the perfect tool for modern life,' says Zen master Julian Daizan Skinner, founder of Zenways. And it doesn’t just look good research shows Zen can boost our health and vitality, increasing happiness, energy, concentration and even problem solving. Coming from a school of Buddhism that dates back thousands of years, Zen arrived in Japan from China and elevates simplicity to an art form, making the home as much meditation space as living hub. There’s something about the simplicity and serenity of a home designed around Japanese principles that makes us breathe deeper and lets our shoulders sink that bit lower. Zen is tailor-made for our stressful world. And now is the perfect time to learn from their approach, says Jane Alexander The Japanese have always understood the importance of creating a peaceful home to help its inhabitants feel happy and nurtured.
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