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Need some meditation room ideas to get all Zen in the comfort of your own home? Transforming a room into a dedicated yoga/meditation space—even if you try to be Zen about it—can sound daunting. How do you even start replicating the peaceful vibe your favorite studio delivers time and time again?

“Meditation and yoga are all about connecting the mind and body with the universe, so it’s essential that the [room] enhances the experience,” says Lisa Melone Cloughen, owner of Melone Cloughen Interiors, a residential design firm in the New York area. “The space you create should be reflective of you and your nature.”

There are no rules, she assures. But keep your drishti (to nonyogis, that would be your focused gaze) on these crucial concepts.

Less is more

No one’s saying your space needs to be devoid of design, but it should be free of visual clutter.

“An excess of ‘stuff’ can be unsettling to the eye and ultimately cause the mind to wander,” Cloughen says. If possible, empty the room first and then add back only what you need or truly want.

Create a focal point

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If your studio has a well-situated window, you’re in luck! You just found yourself a lovely and natural focal point.

“Your practice will benefit from natural views and ever-changing light,” says Cloughen. If you chose to cover your windows (because maybe you don’t want your neighbors to watch you deep-squatting in horse pose for two minutes), keep it easy and ethereal: Use shoji paper shades or soft sheers.

No windows? No problem. You can also create a focal point on a blank wall. Consider a mandala for artwork—this geometric figure represents the universe in Buddhism and Hinduism.

Color yourself serene

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Whether you go with light or dark colors is a personal preference, but stay away from vivid colors, which can create a mental distraction.

“A grass cloth or bamboo wall covering’s also an alternative to paint,” Cloughen notes. “It adds warmth, subtle coloration, and textural variations, and furthers the Zen-like vibe of the space.”

Get your glow on

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Dimmer switches, lanterns, or well-spaced candles will add to the ambiance of your hopefully sacred space. You can even incorporate sconces, says Cloughen, since the shadows they cast will serve as an additional design element.

Bring in the outdoors

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“Natural elements have an inherently restorative quality and enhance feelings of harmony and balance,” says Veronica Parker, a yoga teacher and meditation coach in Voorhees, NJ. Bring in something from the outdoors that resonates with you, be it crystals, shells, river rocks, branches, or a little greenery.

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