Your Zen Home: Where Mindful Living
Meets Eco-Friendly Practices
Around 40% of people in the US describe themselves as spiritual. This means they value meaningful and soulful connections. They respect natural forces and energies they cannot see above material and physical things.
It makes sense that many spiritual and zen people also value the earth. They want to do their part to combat global warming while staying true to their spirituality.
If that's you, you can do both! You can 100% create a zen home that helps the planet while rejecting needless consumerism. This guide will show you exactly how.
Clear Your Clutter
When you picture a zen home, is it full of nick-nacks, stacks of paper, and boxes of junk everywhere? No!
Homes with lots of clutter waste space and block positive energy flow. They can also make you feel stressed. Plus, if you have lots of clutter then you might be consuming more than you need and wasting the earth's resources.
But throwing items in the trash should be a last resort. Here are some sustainable ways to get rid of your clutter:
- Donate
- Recycle
- Sell
- Compost
Get creative with your donations to avoid throwing everything into the landfill. For clothes that are too worn to donate, research local fabric recycling stations in your area. Teachers might like your unused stationery, books, trophies, and medals too.
You can sell objects online via sites like Facebook Marketplace, Poshmark, and eBay.
Struggling to know what to get rid of? Use the KonMari Method and only keep items that are useful or spark joy. Declutter your possessions by group, not by room, in this order:
- Clothes
- Books (or other physical media)
- Papers
- Miscellaneous
- Sentimental items
Another method to decrease your belongings is to play the 30 Day Mins game as coined by The Minimalists. On day one, get rid of one item and on day two, get rid of two items, and so on. By the end of the 30 days, you should have gotten rid of almost 500 items.
You can play against other members of your household to see who can carry on until the end. And if you all manage to get rid of 30 things on the 30th day, you're all winners!
Filter Your Home's Air
Everyone knows that plants are natural air purifiers. Humans breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide and they do the exact opposite. Filling your home with lots of green plants is a no-brainer.
You need around two medium-sized plants for every 100 square feet. Here are some of the best air purifying plants:
- English Ivy
- Snake Plant
- Spider Plant
- Aloe Vera
- Broad Lady Palm
- Barberton Daisy
- Peace Lily
Plants are natural stress-reducers too, but the clean air alone will help you feel more relaxed.
Why stop there?! You can cut down your carbon emissions in other ways too. Consider signing up for Climeworks' subscription to offset the energy you use in and outside of your home.
Increase Natural Light
If your home is dark and gloomy then it's not a very zen or eco-friendly home. The sun is the best source of light there is (and it's free!) so you should be taking advantage of its rays as much as possible.
Donate your thick, heavy drapes and open your blinds. Opt for thin, white drapes instead that won't block out the natural light. If you are remodeling your home, consider investing in big sliding windows.
Using fewer artificial sources to light your home will help you cut down your energy bills and save money and electricity. But it will also help you feel more energetic and in tune with nature's daily cycle.
If you live in a hot climate and need to keep your home cool during the summer months, it may be necessary to use heavy curtains to block out the sun's rays. However, this doesn't mean you have to sacrifice eco-friendliness when it comes to lighting. Instead, you can look for eco-friendly light fixtures and LED bulbs that can brighten up your living space without using too much electricity. By making conscious choices when it comes to both your window coverings and lighting, you can create a comfortable and sustainable living space that supports both your well-being and the planet's health.
Invest in Green Energy
Speaking of saving energy, if you want a sustainable home then you should only use renewable energy. Swap your electricity and gas providers for ones that use solar, wind, geothermal, and/or hydropower.
Take it one step further and install solar panels on your roof. It's a big, upfront investment but worth it in the long run. Your soul will feel so much better knowing your home is not contributing to the fossil fuel industries.
Opt for Natural Furnishings
Plastic, metals, names of materials you can't even pronounce... These materials do not work with zen home design. You need to decorate your home with furniture made from natural materials.
And you should only buy second-hand furniture from local sellers too. Supporting local businesses means that you are giving less money to energy-guzzling corporations. Plus, your furniture will have a very small carbon footprint.
Buy furniture made from reclaimed wood, rattan, bamboo, jute, and unbleached cotton. Even buying a second-hand leather couch is more sustainable than buying a new couch made from vegan leather.
Bringing natural furniture into your home is not only sustainable, but it will help you feel closer to nature too. It's the next best thing besides moving to a cabin in the woods!
Use Lots of Soft Fabrics
Once you've switched to more zen and sustainable furniture, you can think about getting more zen home decor. This will include lots of soft furnishings made from fabrics like sustainable wool, cotton, and linen.
There's nothing wrong with having hardwood floors. But soft rugs, blankets, table cloths, and throw pillows will help you feel calmer. They will encourage you to walk barefoot around your home and experience the sensations against your skin.
The soft materials act as insulators, trapping heat and preventing it from escaping quickly. This means that the warmth generated in your home, whether from heating systems or natural sunlight, is better retained within the space. Improve heat retention, with wall-hugging recliners because its soft furnishings can potentially reduce your reliance on artificial heating methods. With the cozy atmosphere created by these furnishings, you'll likely find yourself feeling warmer and more comfortable, even without cranking up the thermostat. So, by investing in a wall-hugging recliner with soft furnishings, you not only elevate your comfort levels but also create a cozier environment that promotes energy efficiency. Embrace the warmth and energy-saving benefits of this stylish and functional furniture piece, and enjoy a more comfortable and sustainable living space.
Remove Some Electronics
Even the most sustainable homes use electricity. It's one of the greenest ways of using energy. But too many devices and blinking lights can disrupt your sleep and stop you from feeling calm and zen.
Take a walk around your home and unplug all devices that are not in use. Consider removing devices that aren't necessary altogether, like TVs in bedrooms.
A Green Home Is a Zen Home
Creating a zen home goes hand in hand with treating a green home. One cannot exist without the other. Your soul will not be able to 100% relax in a home that wastes the earth's precious resources.
But now you have this guide, you'll be able to build your dream home where you can rest easy with a clean conscience.
Want to take more steps towards living a calmer and greener lifestyle? Our website has tons more useful spiritual living tips and tricks!