How to Design a Meditation Space in Your Home

I recently moved across the country from Chicago to Seattle. My husband and I sold our three bedroom house and downsized to a one bedroom apartment. In our previous house we had an office and half of it was dedicated to my meditation space, now I have carved out a tiny corner in our bedroom. What's important isn't that you have a lot of space, what's important is that you have a dedicated space, whether it's an entire room or a small blanket and tray you bring out of the closet. Having a personal meditation space will help motivate you to practice on a regular basis. 

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How to Design Your Own Meditation Space:

1. Find a space in your home that makes you feel peaceful
Maybe you like the light that comes in through your bedroom window or maybe there is a back closet away from everyone else in the house. Either way, select a place in your home that makes you feel calm and peaceful. It's probably a bad idea to set up your space in the middle of the kitchen, but only you will know the right place in your house or apartment.

2. Determine what you need to help you meditate
Not everyone needs props in their meditation space, but there may be a few calming objects that help signal to you it is time to meditate. Some people use crystals, a salt lamp, plants, or a Tibetan singing bowl. 

For me, I have a small table with a candle, lucky bamboo, and a few decorative objects on it. I'm still looking for the perfect statue of the Buddha.   

3. Use candles, incense, or an essential oil diffuser
Every day before I meditate I light a candle. As I light the candle my meditation session begins, and when I blow it out my session is complete. It helps me stay centered. 

Lighting incense or starting an essential oil diffuser would have the same effect. 

There are certain calming scents like lavender and sandalwood that are ideal for meditation. 

4. Find a cushion or something to sit on 
One of the goals of meditation is to clear your mind. You won't be able to get clear while you are uncomfortable, because the entire time you will be thinking about how your back hurts and your feet are asleep (I may or may not have experienced this in the past). 

You can use a pillow, yoga blanket, or a meditation cushion. I use a round pillow, but I have my eyes on this buckwheat medication cushion by Hugger Mugger: 

5. Use music or a meditation app
Once you've chosen a space and found the items and scents that prepare you for meditation, it's time to practice. I use a free app called Insight Timer. It has thousands of meditations to choose from and you can bookmark your favorites. I bookmarked about 50 meditations and I am working through them from shortest to longest. It's helping me learn to sit for longer periods of time. The app has both spoken meditations and music, so you can use whichever you prefer or simply set a timer. 

If you don't want to use an app, try putting on some soft music or white noise. 

It's easy to set up a meditation space and once you do you will find you are more compelled to meditate on a regular basis. Personally, I meditate first thing in the morning for 5-20 minutes. I find that if I wait until later in the day I am more likely to come up with excuses or feel less "in the zone." 

After I meditate I do cat-cow pose and three half sun salutations and then I feel ready to start my day.

Find what works for you and then make it a daily routine.  

Here is a picture of my simple meditation space. The table is an original mosaic created by my grandmother:

Overtime meditation has helped me cope with heightened emotions and chronic pain. Meditating in the morning ensures that I start my day in the right head space. 

Do you meditate on a regular basis? Do you have a meditation space set up in your home? 

"Meditation means the recognition or discovery of one’s own true self." - Sri Chinmoy