how to design a biophilic meditation room
in biophilic how to
Whether we talk about meditation room, yoga room or quiet-time room, we’re referring to a space dedicated to self care, that closes the door to the hurricane of thoughts that crowd our brains every day.
In the times we’re currently living, we all have many more thoughts, questions and uncertainties than usual. So it’s even more important to plan for proper quiet time. And – now more than ever – it has to be done at home.
meditation room: an essential for future living?
Our world moves fast, leaving little to no time for calm. Yet we all need some time to slow down in order to preserve our wellbeing and mental health. And this need is coming up stronger and stronger in recent years.
More people decide to turn a spare room in their home into a meditation room, and meditation rooms are also becoming increasingly popular in the workspace.
More in general, people are – more than ever before – on the lookout for slowing down activities: from meditation, to social media detox, art therapy and journaling.
meditation rooms + biophilic design
A meditation room shares some key features with what biophilic design calls refuge. Indeed, it needs to be:
- comfortable
- soothing
- shielded from the rest of the space
So let’s see how to translate these three features in the design of a meditation room.
comfortable
To make a meditation room comfortable, there are a few elements to think about:
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temperature Not too cold, not too hot, the temperature in a meditation room (as well as in the rest of the home really) needs to feel just right. Proper heating and air conditioning are obviously important. But don’t forget that rugs, curtains and the selection of cooling/warming colours and materials can help a lot in making a room feel warmer or cooler!
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air quality Good air quality and proper ventilation are also essential for the entire home, meditation room included. Opening the windows regularly is an easy – yet effective – way to improve indoor air quality.
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lighting A big window is a great starting point for the design of a meditation room as it floods the space with natural light. The outdoor view should also be curated, highlighting a beautiful existing view or creating one that’s worth staring at during quiet time. For what concerns artificial lighting, intensity and colour are the two key features. Essentially, light should be dimmable and adjustable in colour to make it warmer or cooler according to the time of day. In short, the lighting system should follow the standards of Human Centric Lighting.
soothing
Since it is a space for grounding, it’s paramount for a meditation room to feel soothing. Here are some elements to think about:
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clutter free Both consciously and unconsciously, clutter is very distracting and disturbing to our mind. So it needs to go. How empty the space will be is also a matter of personal preferences. But for sure every finish and object in a meditation room needs to communicate calm.
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neutral colours A calming colour palette has a neutral base. Beige, taupe, greys and white are all good hues to start with. In fact, all other colours can also be used, provided that they’re in subtle shades.
- tactile features One of the pillars of biophilic design is making a space engaging beyond aesthetics and touch is one of the most grounding senses we have. Therefore, natural textures and materials are particularly indicated to add tactile richness in a room that’s meant to restore mental balance. A green wall is also a great option as it will add greenery while creating a focal point in the room.
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water feature Water has an incredibly grounding effect on our brain. Therefore, a meditation room is actually ideal to implement a water feature indoors!
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relaxing sounds Considering that time will be spent in silence in a meditation room, sounds are of primary importance. If total silence is not for you (or if there is some kind of background noise to cover) the best options are Spa music or tracks that reproduce natural sounds. However, speakers should be either hidden or beautiful, so as to contribute to the calming vibe of the space.
shielded from the rest of the space
Clearing the hustle and bustle of thoughts from the mind requires concentration. So – just as a working space – a meditation room also needs to be separated from the rest of the home. Ideally in a dedicated room, a meditation space can also be created in a corner of a calm room. In this case, a curtain or room divider will be enough of a separation.
how to set up a quiet-time corner without moving from home
If designing a meditation room is a full interior design project, setting up a quiet-time corner can be an easier task. And – given the times we’re living – we would all benefit from some more quiet time in our days. So here’s a quick checklist to create one in your own home.
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Choose a tranquil space Namely, a space where you can be alone. There’s no one-fits-all rule here as it all depend on when you’re going to practice your quiet-time and how you and the people that live with you use the space. For instance, if you live alone, virtually any space can become a quiet-time space. If instead you live with other people but your quiet time is going to be early in the morning before everyone else wakes up, the middle of the living room can be just fine! Also – if the weather allows – don’t forget that a balcony is also a great location.
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Make it comfortable and soothing Whether it’s clearing out clutter, selecting a relaxing track, moving around few plants or escaping on the balcony, try to create an inviting and calming space where you really feel good. Read through the article again and try to tick as many boxes as possible on the “comfortable” and “soothing” areas.
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Schedule your quiet-time Last but certainly not least, plan your quiet-time and respect it diligently as if it were a job appointment.
