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Decorating with Eastern Inspiration

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If you have visited East Asia, you may have fallen in love with so much about the culture and the aesthetics. If you have never traveled there you might be intrigued by the traditional philosophies of Taoism, Buddhism or even the different martial arts. There are many concepts and practices of East Asian societies that are beneficial to your health and your living space. Here are some examples.

Sitting on the floor

This is an amazing underrated characteristic of Asian homes and restaurants. Why would sitting on the floor be good in these situations? Depending on the number of guests you have at your place, you might not have enough chairs to accommodate everyone. If the floor seems like an inviting place to sit down, then kids, young adults and the hosts can relax on the floor while everyone else takes a seat on the furniture.

How do you make a floor space inviting? First off it needs to be clean. Secondly you could have floor pillows or a soft rug. A really neat piece of furniture is floor chairs. Some really look just like average chairs with the legs cut off. Other versions might be bean bags or triangular pillows which support your back.

No shoes in doors

This varies from home to home in many cultures. There are actually very few cultures that allow outdoor shoes indoors. Having a clean floor is essential to maintaining a truly livable home. Don’t be a stranger in your own home! Buy a pair of indoor slippers if that makes you feel more comfortable.

Sliding doors

While adding sliding doors to your living space would be a hassle, your place would really benefit from the change. With sliding doors you have more say over the entrances and pathways of your home.

With standard western doors, the door is closed or open, and opens in only one direction. Sliding doors slide in both directions. That means that you can dictate how wide the passage way is and whether to open it to the left or the right of the passage. Sliding doors are simply more versatile and less constraining.

Sliding doors do a great job of hiding the kitchen without constraining the space. Sliding doors are often times translucent, so you can shut off the environment while grabbing some of the light or depth that the translucent doors will give.

Asian inspired décor

Finally, you can add East Asian décor to your place. Water feature Pros sells a whole line of Asian inspired fountains. If you are looking for more decorations we also suggest prints. For your business you have to have a lucky cat!

We hope these suggestions will inspire you to explore your options and balance the eastern and western elements of your home.

Your Backyard Zen Garden

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Spending time in a peaceful outdoor setting is a great way to connect to the Earth and find a true sense of peace. There is a certain level of serenity that the natural elements bring, and that serenity is the main goal of a zen garden. A zen garden is a simple and peaceful setting that is designed to keep your energies flowing with the universe. You can build your own zen setting, and find peace in your own backyard. The main thing to consider when creating a zen garden is the elements. You will want to be sure that all of the basic elements (air, fire, earth, and water) are represented.

Air

This is the easiest element to implement in your space. Being an outdoor space, the air flow should be abundant. This is more a matter of location than anything else. Be sure that the space that you choose for your garden is open with plenty of room for energy and air to flow. Mother Nature will have no problem taking over from there.

Fire

Fire is more of a tricky element to represent in your zen garden. The trick to representing fire is that you don’t have to have actual fire present to accomplish your goal. Many zen gardens symbolize the element of fire by using the color red. If you would prefer a more in-depth and realistic depiction of this element, you can install a fire pit or decorate the area with red candles.

Earth

When people think of a zen garden, it is usually the earth aspect that comes to mind. To represent the earth in your zen garden, it is common to use sand, or sometimes gravel. You will have to periodically rake the sand as minor maintenance. This also contributes to a popular aspect of the zen garden. Not only will raking keep your sand free of debris, but you can also use the rake as a meditation tool, creating patterns in the sand and centering your energies in your garden.

Water

One of the most peaceful elements of the zen garden is the water. It adds a refreshing and energetic touch to the space, while contributing to the soothing energy around. To represent water in your zen garden, be on the lookout for different outdoor water features. There are a wide range of styles and sizes to choose from. One of the best options is a pond, especially with a waterfall, to give your space movement and dynamics. There are also many modern stand alone fountains that come in simple designs that fit perfect into a zen setting.

You’ll be able to find serenity in your own setting in no time. Connecting to the elements brings you a sense of peace that is often overlooked and taken for granted. With representations of air, fire, earth, and water, your backyard will be a spiritual oasis.