Zen bedroom design and decorating ideas

Hackrea Team / February 4, 2021

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Each of us decorates the interior of the bedroom by own wishes and expectations. Someone wants to turn their home into an ultra-fashionable corner. Someone wants to demonstrate their status and craving for luxury. Someone wants to surround themselves with sophistication, someone needs brightness and crazy energy, and someone dreams of a quiet haven in which everything breathes with calmness and serenity. And if the latter option is closest to you, a Zen bedroom may well be the very source of inspiration you have been looking for for so long.

Zen in the interior: history and concept

Zen is one of East Asian Buddhism’s key schools, formed in the 5-6 centuries in China. Its other name is the school of mystical contemplation. Zen adherents’ main goal is to comprehend the nature of the mind, cognize one’s personality, purify the heart, and seek enlightenment in meditation. According to the founders of the doctrine, complete harmony with nature, acceptance of one’s desires, free flow of thoughts -, this is what you should devote your life to without any violence against yourself and rejection of the surrounding phenomena.

This philosophy could not fail to find its reflection in the arrangement of housing for fans of this school. Although the mention of how to provide your own life and create a harmonious environment in Zen is rather superficial, the importance of these aspects should not be underestimated – it is in what surrounds us that there is meaning and a path to understanding.

In terms of interior design, experts distinguish seven main categories. They have been used in modern design for a long time, but if you have just started to study this excellent style, it is worth learning more about each of them.

Wabi. From a design point of view, this concept implies the desire to notice beauty in the simplest and most natural things. The rough natural surfaces of wood, stone, and ceramics, without any sanding or finishing, allow you to get the experience of experiencing an encounter with raw material through tactile sensations.
Sabi. Another name for this category is the experience of the journey of time. From this point of view, it is essential to understand the fragility of everything that surrounds us while not forgetting about aesthetics as a key component of Zen. That is why it is vital to surround yourself with things and materials that age beautifully – this applies to the scuffs of wood, the change in the shade of the stone over time, cracks in ceramics, and patina on metal surfaces.
Wei-wei. This concept suggests considering nature as an artist who creates the world around us. From the point of view of wei-wei, a person is assigned the role of a decision-maker in choosing certain natural materials and things – and they do the rest themselves, creating a specific visual range due to their physical characteristics.
Yugen. This category examines the desire to comprehend the content, the very essence of an object or space, hidden from a careless, superficial glance. In the interior, this is manifested by the absence of open shelves and the rejection of bright and everywhere lighting.
Hieta. A category that insists on the simplicity of the forms surrounding a person. According to Zen’s supporters, excessively complex lines and fanciful decisions suppress their individuality and deprive them of mental freedom.
Yohaku no bi. This concept suggests evaluating the aesthetics of emptiness, realizing the value of silence for freeing the inner self. The absence of decorative elements allows you to make contemplation more fruitful, rest not only to the eyes but also to the thoughts.
Syorasy. The word itself can be translated as “fading” or “lack of color.” The category implies the rejection of bright colors, contrasts, patterns and ornaments, and everything that distracts from comprehending the essence of things.

As you may have noticed by now, all of these categories can be a starting point for creating a Zen-inspired interior in your bedroom. You should not experiment and look for something new: there is more than enough in these principles.

Zen bedroom decoration and furnishings

Simplicity, comfort, and absolute, unclouded peace – this is how you can briefly describe the interior of the bedroom, decorated following Zen’s principles. Designers suggest that you approach furnishing and decorating a room thoughtfully and seriously, focusing on what gives you peace of mind, as well as physical and mental comfort.

Palette

The color scheme for a Zen-style interior is relatively neutral and at the same time allows for the colors that nature itself is so often saturated with. In the bedroom, you can use the following tones and shades:

muted smoky white;
beige and ivory;
natural grays;
brown;
black in minimal quantities;
calm and natural green – for example, the specter of bamboo leaves;
soft pink, reminiscent of the flowering of trees in spring.

As a rule, three, maximum of four colors are selected for a room, one of which is the basic one. It’s up to you to decide what shades you want – however, finding the perfect color balance is significant.

Finishing

For the design of the primary surfaces of the bedroom in the Zen style, the following solutions are characteristic:

Painted walls. In this case, paint is used in neutral light shades – beige, dim white, ivory, cream, or very pale smoky. It is this background that is ideal for a setting that involves contemplation. Textured plaster, wallpaper, and decorative wall panels are excluded.
Natural flooring. In this case, we are talking about matte or polished wood or ceramic tiles without a glossy sheen – the latter usually imitate natural stone. If you love warmth, you can easily afford heated floors, as Zen is for comfort and pleasure.
Laconic ceiling. It can be painted or plastered or finished with thin wooden slats – and this is the maximum you can afford. It is not necessary to choose an exclusively white color: cream and ivory look no less harmonious.
Sophisticated window decoration. Zen-style interior does not deny textiles; however, not all fabrics are suitable for curtains. The most harmonious solution for such a bedroom will be straight plain draperies made of thin linen, tulle, or muslin – of course, without any lambrequins or grabs. You should also pay attention to bamboo blinds and wicker roller blinds – they add authenticity.

Furniture

A lot of attention should be paid to the choice of furniture for such a bedroom despite Zen assuming its minimum amount. The central element of the room is, of course, a sleeping place, but this style has unique requirements for it – a minimum height, a low, laconic headboard or its complete absence, and, of course, a body made of natural wood in natural shades. However, Zen fans can afford to sleep on a wide mattress right on the floor; however, designers still insist on using a small podium for delicate zoning. You can also install the following pieces of furniture in the bedroom:

low bedside tables without thread and complex fittings (can be replaced with low wooden tables);
light laconic chest of drawers for little things;
metal stools as accent tables.

It is entirely optional to use everything mentioned above – do not forget about the Yohaku-no-bi principal’s importance.

Lighting and decor

With the bedroom lighting decorated according to Zen’s canons, you need to be extremely careful. The harsh, bright light that floods every corner is entirely unsuitable for creating a relaxed atmosphere and craving for contemplation. Chandeliers and massive ceiling shades are not used. Better to look for hidden lighting lines, sconces, and small floor lamps that make a soft, diffused glow that allows you to observe the whimsical play of light and shadow in the evening.