DIY Zen Garden
Have you ever been at home or the office wondering how you can get your nerves, focus, or stress under control? Well you and your peace of mind are in luck, we at Desktop Tranquility are here to tell you that one of the best ways to do so is by owning a desktop Zen Garden. You can even go a cheaper, more creative route and make one at home, here’s how.
How to Make your own Zen Garden
Zen Gardens are one of the most peaceful, breathtaking items one can own. They can be used for many reasons, but one of our favorites is it serves as a great way to unwind during times of stress and doubt, or even periods of success. Many people like to keep one to take a mindfulness break during the day, while others like to display them to give guests a tranquil activity to do. To help get you started, we’ve put together all the info you’ll need to create your very own desktop Zen Garden. All it takes is a few materials and a small portion of your time. There are an endless amount of designs you can choose from, it’s all up to your imagination! First, I would start by gathering all the supplies you may need:
Mini Rake- Some craft stores sell mini rakes made specifically for mini zen gardens. Other alternatives include mini back scratchers, skewers, toothpicks and forks depending on the look you’re trying to achieve. You can also DIY your own rake.
Container- Your container really depends on your own personal taste. A glass container is great for an elegant approach to the traditional zen garden, while a wooden tray or shallow box takes a more natural route.
Sand- Fine grain sand shows patterns better, but you can also add a fun twist with some colored sand. We recommend the brand Sandtastik because they make completely clean, safe and affordable play sand. Check ours out and order some here! https://www.desktoptranquility.com/storefront/p/extra-sand.
Essential Oils (Optional)- Add any of your favorite essential oils to enhance the relaxing benefits of your mini zen garden. Just add a few drops directly to the sand.
Stones/Rocks- Use outdoor rocks if you want to give your zen garden an authentic, natural look. Just remember to clean them prior to placing them in your garden. You can also pick up polished stones or gravel at craft stores. Geodes and crystals are popular alternatives to traditional stones because of their energy boosting and healing properties.
Steps to making a DIY Zen Garden
Step 1: Fill your container with sand and optional essential oils
Pour the sand in your container and shake it from side to side to even it out. Add a few drops of your favorite essential oils if you want an aromatic mini zen garden. You can also add a few drops of JoJoba oil at this time to give your sand a wet look and make your sand patterns stand out.
Step 2: Place rocks and other decorations in your tray
Rocks are one of the most important aspects of a zen garden. You can place a group of them in one corner of the garden or place them far apart. Take some time to think about what you’d like the stones to represent and how their placement will affect your sand patterns. Remember, you can always change the arrangement later if you want to mix things up.
Step 3: Create your sand pattern with a mini rake or skewer.
Since this is a DIY zen garden, you can rake the patterns however many times you want. The raking is a great mindfulness practice and can ease the mind when you need to destress or process your thoughts.
Now you have a mini zen garden you can call your own! Place it in your room to start and end your day with a clear head or keep it in your living room to give everyone a chance to practice mindfulness. You can even create a few to gift to your loved ones. Take a look at some of our ideas below to see how to personalize mini zen gardens for all of the people in your life!
DIY Zen Garden Ideas
Quirky Garden-
Place fun trinkets like mini animals or seashells to add a subtle pop of whimsy. Scatter polished stones or shells to match the light color scheme. Experiment with colored sand to see what helps the most with your mindfulness practices
Modern Times-
Use geometric containers to break away from the more traditional square-shaped gardens. Select the right crystals that support your desired or focused area of well-being. Position air plants in empty corners for added splashes of green
Total Zen-
Light a candle to create a calming ambiance while you reflect and meditate. Drop a few natural stones and essential oil drops for a stronger personal connection to your garden. Maneuver a wooden rake around your garden to trace over intricate patterns for daily meditation.
Zen gardens don’t need to be super fancy. In fact, it’s simplicity and pureness that makes them so beautiful and inspiring in the first place. Now that you have gathered all your supplies, put some thought and effort into what exactly you want to achieve from your garden, and get started whenever you’re ready. If you simply dont have the time or anything around the house that fits what you’re looking for in a zen garden, we encourage you to check out our selection of accessories and gardens here, or suggest a product to us! https://www.desktoptranquility.com/accessories.
We hope you enjoyed reading how to make your own DIY Zen Garden!
