After a stressful year, mindfulness meditation has never been more popular or more necessary. The popular meditation app Headspace even has a show on Netflix, titled the Headspace Guide to Meditation, demonstrating the popularity of meditation over the past year. Meditating helps us recharge physically and mentally, reduces stress, and helps keep our bodies healthy. But meditation can be tricky, and it is particularly essential to have a space that calms the mind without distractions.
Here’s how to create an oasis for quiet reflection and meditation in your apartment by incorporating rugs, cushions, soft textures, soothing scents, and more.
Use a Meditating App such as Calm or Headspace
The art of meditating is a bit of an enigma to many, especially those who recently began meditating for the first time. Thankfully, there are several free tools to use that can help guide the meditative process and offer direction. Free iPhone and Android apps such as Calm and Headspace offer easy-to-use meditation techniques for meditators at any level. YouTube also has several free meditation guides such as this 5-minute guide, this 10-minute guide, or this 30-minute guide.
If you are meditating on your phone, tablet, or computer, try to turn off texting notifications and other distractions you may anticipate coming through. Put the device behind you or in an area that is within earshot but out of eyesight to help you really focus. After practicing for a while, it may be possible to meditate without guidance altogether, so it is best to put technology in a different room.
Fill the Space with Plants
Plants are natural air purifiers and oxygen generators, making them helpful when removing toxins from the room while also bringing a calming, zen-like quality to the space. Some plants remove carbon dioxide, benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene from the air, which are linked to respiratory issues, headaches, and other health problems, so plants have several benefits beyond adding calm and serenity to a room. If you’re newer to the plant-parenting journey and want plants that are easy to maintain, consider succulents, aloe vera, a ZZ plant, or pilea peperomioides, also known as the pancake plant. Fiddle leaf fig trees are also beautiful and calming and have lush round leaves. However, they prefer a humid environment and require weekly watering and indirect sunlight.
Incorporate Crystals
Did you know that crystals hold so much power they have even been used to power computers? Three great crystal options include selenite, which is an energy cleanser; clear quartz, which enhances clarity; black tourmaline, which absorbs negative energy; and amethyst, which helps to find peace of mind. Selenite can be placed in the corners of a room to bring positive energy or you can hold the crystals in your hands while meditating. Alternatively, the crystals can be arranged around you while meditating to create a safe, powerful space.
Candles, Incense, and Essential Oils
Aromatherapy helps reduce stress, relieve muscle tension, boost the immune system, and stimulate brain function. Essential oils—particularly lavender, peppermint, and chamomile—have a calming effect that soothes the mind and body. Consider investing in a diffuser if you don’t already have one, which can typically be purchased for only $15 or $30 online. If those you live with are comfortable with you burning candles, incense, or sage, those are great alternatives to diffusers.
Meditate Outdoors (or Open the Windows)
If you have a balcony or any other type of private outdoor space—and the weather is warm enough—try to create a meditative space outdoors. Incorporate plants, soft pillows and throws, crystals, candles, or diffusers to create a safe meditative space in the warmth and beauty of the outdoors. These items can easily be packed up in a waterproof box and stored outdoors or moved back inside after meditating, making it easy to meditate in various parts of your home. If your building has a shared rooftop, try to go up there during low traffic times of the day (such as early in the morning) and catch the sunrise while meditating. If you don’t have an outdoor area to meditate in, try sitting near an open window to allow energy to flow in and out of the space.
Remember to Make it Your Space
When many think about a meditation space, they often picture a room filled with bohemian décor, chakras, and layered throws. And, while the eclectic mix of bohemian colors, patterns, and textures help give a layered and relaxed energy to a room, that doesn’t have to be the only aesthetic you go for. If you prefer a different style approach that doesn’t involve boho décor, you should channel that and make the space your own.
Meditate Anywhere
For those living in an apartment, it can feel difficult to find space to meditate—especially when living with family, roommates, or a significant other. However, a meditation space doesn’t need to be in a large area. It can be wherever you feel most comfortable in your home. For some, the best space to meditate may be while sitting on the bed or couch, while others may feel more grounded when sitting on a cushion on the floor or out on the balcony. Wherever it is, when utilizing the recommendations above, always remember to allow inspiration to guide you in your decorative choices. It is your space and should make you feel comfortable, welcoming, and zen-like—even if it doesn’t adhere to what may traditionally be considered a meditation space.
Key Takeaways
Draper and Kramer offers beautiful and spacious apartments that feature calm areas for meditation and reflection. Several apartments include private balconies and outdoor space, while many other properties include yoga studios, saunas, and steam rooms to help fully relax and decompress. Hubbard221 in Chicago features a private yoga studio and meditation lounge while the Grand Plaza Apartments offer private balconies as well as a steam room and sauna. Contact us or view our list of properties to learn more about our zen-like spaces.
For those living in an apartment, it can feel difficult to find space to meditate—especially when living with family, roommates, or a significant other. However, a meditation space doesn’t need to be in a large area. It can be wherever you feel most comfortable in your home.
