How to Create a Bedroom Oasis

Center yourself and recharge your batteries in your own oasis.

The stress and pace of modern living needs to be counterbalanced with space and time to unwind and center yourself. Turn your bedroom into a place where you can retreat for meditation, quiet or mental and spiritual regeneration. Televisions, radios and laptops need to be banned; the only ambient noise need be that of soothing music, wind chimes or birdsong from outside the window. Keep the world out for a while and connect with your inner self in an oasis of calm and peace.

Instructions

1. Remove all the items in your bedroom that provide distractions or aren't needed in a peaceful environment. Watch television anywhere else but in the bedroom. Ban the telephone or cell phone from the room.

2. Change the colors of the walls to dusky greens and lilacs or a tinted white. Hang curtains in neutral colors made of natural materials. Choose bed linen in soft fabrics and soothing shades.

3. Use lamps rather than a central light, as these will provide subtle, low-key lighting. Remove an overhead light and replace it with a beautiful mobile that catches the air currents. If external noise is a problem, such as road traffic or a busy pedestrian walkway, buy earplugs to reduce the level of noise, as well as your stress level.

4. Designate an area of your bedroom specifically for quiet meditation, yoga or stretching and relaxation. Use a rug and a small pillow to mark the space. Keep a CD player nearby to play relaxing music and a small wooden box where you can place a lit candle or an incense stick.

5. Limit accessories in the room to a few of your favorite things: a handful of special books, artwork or photographs. Set a comfortable chair near a window for a private area where you can read or simply unwind.

Tips & Warnings

• If you share your apartment or house with others, talk with your spouse, partner, children or roommates and share your occasional need for a quiet, peaceful place for regenerating your spirit. Communication is key to making space for yourself in the midst of a busy family life.

References

• The New York Times: In Certain Circles, Two Is a Crowd
• The Feng Shui Society: Stressless Living -- Part 1

Resources

• The Psychologist: "Too Stressed to Sleep"; A. M. Gregory and N. L. Barclay; 2009
• The Conscious Life: How to Meditate for Beginners