Easy Ideas For A Zen Garden
There are so many ways to practice mindfulness and cultivate inner calm—from meditation to breathwork exercises to journaling and everything in between. Another great idea to add to the list is tending to a dry landscape (more on what that is in a minute), and these easy zen garden ideas can help you make one of your own at home—whether you have the space for a full-scale version in your outdoor space or backyard, a small garden, or just a mini, tabletop option.
Perhaps one of the best things about an in-house or backyard zen garden is how easy it is to not only create but also the different ideas and designs you can choose from are endless. So if your first go at creating serenity doesn’t exactly follow your plans, never fear—you may find that the simple process of making a garden is all the calm that you need. In this article, we will go over how to make one of your own and discuss a few zen garden ideas you can use.
Zen Gardens
Zen gardens, sometimes called a Japanese garden, are meant to be a stylized representation of the natural world that helps you reflect. In a Japanese-inspired garden, natural elements such as rocks usually symbolize mountains, while gravel, stone wall, or sand suggest the water's surface if there is no actual water incorporated into the garden.
Zen gardens generally contain a pond or a curated collection of rocks, water features, and plants and sit atop gravel or sand (hence its other moniker—a dry garden). The substrate tends to be raked to make water ripples or wave-like patterns, further evoking the feeling of water, peace, and natural beauty.
There are many benefits to having a zen garden in your home or workspace. A few of them include relaxation, stress relief, improved focus, improved concentration, aid meditation, and mindfulness.
How To Make A Zen Garden
Because a small zen garden is so easy to make, the only supplies you will need are a container, sand, the elements you want to include, such as stones, fine gravel or sand, plants, and a small rake. Once you have an idea of how you want it to look and have all your supplies, just get your container ready, pour in the substrate, add plants, and decorate it!
Pick a Container That Matches Your Personality
When it comes to picking a container for your small or mini Zen garden, there are plenty of different shapes and options that can match your personality. If you love being surrounded by nature, consider using terracotta, wooden, or ceramic pots – these materials often have a natural and earthy feel to them that will make the small space in your Zen garden truly special. You could also use wooden planters or even a beautiful stone bowl to give your garden that extra bit of luxury.
Consider Swapping Rocks For Sand
One of the main components in a traditional Zen garden is the use of rocks, or often large stones, which are carefully placed to evoke the feeling of nature and inner peace. However, if one wishes to create a different aesthetic with their Zen garden, they may consider small stepping stones or swapping out rocks altogether. This is because sand is softer and can be easily moved around when raking, which can help to make different patterns and shapes. Plus, it’s also easier to clean up if you make a mistake!
Opt For Cool Tones When Designing and Adding Elements
When creating a Zen garden, incorporating cool tones is a key element of the design. By opting for cooler tones such as blue, purple, or green, your Zen garden can convey feelings of serenity and relaxation. Incorporating cool tones into your design also helps to develop a sense of balance between the elements in the landscape. To achieve this balance, you can add items like plants, water features, larger rocks, soothing sounds, a stepping stone path, and sculptures in an array of colors- or any other zen garden ideas that inspire you.
Choose Plants That Speak To You
Having some splashes of green in your Zen garden is not only aesthetically pleasing, but it also helps to improve air quality and provide the space with lush vibrancy and ground cover. Depending on the size of your garden, you can opt for low-maintenance plants such as a few small succulents or even some moss to give it a unique look.
If you have room for them in a large garden and are concerned about the amount of sunlight they may receive in your space, consider adding larger ones that prefer shaded areas, such as slow-growing tree ferns, lilies, or even carefully pruned shrubs. Or, if you prefer, using artificial versions is also a great option that could be more beneficial to some, as you won't have to keep up with the maintenance of the plant.
Introduce a Water Feature
One of the key elements of traditional Zen gardens is water. Including a water feature in your garden, whether it be a fountain or a small pond, can be an inspiring focal point and create a calming atmosphere and provide your plants with moisture (unless you use artificial ones). If you don’t have access to running water, you can use a self-contained water feature like an aquarium or terrarium or even a plastic container or fountain with a pump to create the illusion of water.
Accessorize
Adding some accessories to the area is an excellent way to personalize it and make it unique. Decorative zen elements such as stone lanterns, figurines, wind chimes, larger rocks, and other decorative pieces can help add character to your garden. You can also use these items to add a touch of color to the space and create a calming ambiance.
Don't Forget The Rake!
Raking is an essential part of traditional Japanese gardens, and its importance should not be overlooked. As we mentioned above, the rake helps to create unique wave-like patterns, which can also help evoke feelings of tranquility and quiet contemplation. It also allows for easy manipulation of the landscape, making it simple to change up your design from time to time.
Creating a raked sand Zen garden is one of the best ways to find inner peace, no matter where you are. From picking the right container to introducing water features and accessories, there are plenty of ways to make your garden space unique. So don’t be afraid to get creative – with the few simple steps listed above, you will be able to confidently create a meditative space of your own.
Enjoy Your Creation
Once you’ve finished creating your garden, take some time to relax and enjoy it. Sit in silence, or turn on some peaceful music and meditate—whatever helps you reach inner peace. You can even incorporate a meditating buddha or some yoga figures into your Zen garden to help—the possibilities really are endless. Remember, the most important part of a Zen garden is to relax and find mindfulness and joy in its beauty, and we hope these zen garden ideas have sparked some inspiration for you!
