Archive for May 4th, 2010

Asian themed houses inspired the Zen idea (less clutter, focusing on minimalism) have been more popular as of late. I attribute it to the fact that people have been encountering so much stress outside their homes on a daily basis that their homes need to be their centers for relaxation, for them to regroup and de-stress.  Many people have begun decorating their homes in a fusion Asian decorating style that embodies the best design elements of different cultures. 

Zen interior decorating uses the harmonious interaction of space and form within your home or apartment. This gives you a more soothing and relaxed feel, giving you the great amount of rest which you deserve. The Zen approach to interior decorating promotes minimalism. Zen uses the bare essentials within a dwelling and each item in the house has a specific use.

Basically what you can normally see in Zen-themed houses are elements of nature and virtually no clutter. A friend of mine has a Zen-themed house and cherry wood, bamboo and stones are prominent elements in their house. The presence of water also is used by having an indoor water fountain along their hallway. I love how one wall of their hallway has an illusion of waterfalls (they were encased in a glass), entering the house gives you a sense of peace and tranquility almost instantly.

They got the Gardenfall Metaline Series  (a 90-inch waterfall) at Outdora.com. This repeats itself all throughout the hallway. In between the waterfall fountain there are bamboo plants in Zen-themed plant holders.

Looking throughout their whole home, you would think you are in a spa. The presence of water and its sounds are everywhere so it really gives you a sense of calm and peace.

They are avid believers of Feng Shui and they were advised that water in the house will bring them lots of luck. So they had water in the form of an indoor fountain and tabletop fountains. They make great decorative accents so it was a big plus!

It was an added bonus that they love Zen themed houses too. They have a sprawling garden at the back with a patio and in the middle of their beautifully-landscaped lawn is a central accent in the form of an outdoor fountain!