Choosing the right colors for your meditation space isn’t always easy. While in the world of art, color is a study that connects with many different places in the mind, you can also use that understanding when considering a meditation space. In this article we will learn a little about colors and how the eye, the mind, and the intuitive emotions will react to those colors. I’m also an artist, so I will be approaching this using what I’ve been taught and learned from class, as well as creating spaces for others. As a meditator, I will also share how color effects a space for meditation based on different factors.
White: The color white is actually a color that absorbs all colors and so is without a color itself. It’s a color that is considered to be connected with virtue, and purity. It’s also an excellent color for a meditation space and can be used for all elements from cushions, to flooring, to wall color. White can come in different hues, some cool (bluer in color) and some warm (on the creamy side). It’s not always easy to read these colors until you get them into your room because white can also be affected by the light that your using in your space. When the light in your space is bright, and there is a lot of white in the room, it can be a little overwhelming and distracting, so be careful in how your use it. In this image there are some other colors, plus the outdoor shading which have softened the brighter whites in the cushions and hangings.
Neutral Tones: Some people really connect with the zen simplicity of neutral colors, and clean simple lines of a contemporary space. This kind of energy can be quieting, and connect with a very deep discipline in the mind. It’s important when creating this kind of space to keep in mind surface textures. Hard granite, cement, and glass can all give a feeling of cold, and hard. So bringing some wood and fabric elements is really important to soften the edges and connect with the body.
Blue: The color blue is most often thought to be calming and very quieting for the mind. It’s connected with the sky, which is spacious and vast, a good meditation focus. It’s also connected with water, a quieting and soothing element that helps the mind stay calm and centered. This beautiful blue room is a good example of balance, simplicity and quiet focus. The light is bright, which could be distracting at certain times of the day, but overall a beautiful and inviting space.
Red: The color red is considered to be royal, rich and warm. It’s a color that is associated with energy and can be intense, so keeping it on the maroon or deeper reds is a smart idea. To much red can be intense, but feels so warm when mixed with a saffron yellow, don’t feel afraid to experiment. This room pictured here is a well known meditation prayer room in a Shambala Tibetan Buddhist center. Zafu cushions with spiritual wall hangings make the room feel traditional, and richly filled with positive energy.
Green: The color green is a ‘middle’ color, meaning it can be on the warm or cool side, and is most often thought to be connected with wealth, and new growth. The picture here of an Australian meditation room is on the warm, or pea green side, which has more energy than a cooler green. But mixing it with darker, neutral colors is a nice contrast, quieting the green for a meditation room. The colors have been picked up in the wall mural, making it seem like a forest oasis of natural woodsy tones. Some really gravitate to this kind of quieting space because it speaks to their outdoor sense of nature and quiet forest glades.
Browns: Many, many meditation spaces in homes have a lot of brown, tan and cream colors. These colors often come from natural dyes and colors from nature itself, which always feels so warm and ecological (no chemical dyes that some are sensitive to). Fabrics, cushions, floor coverings and curtains come in so many different textures and warm colors in undied natural fabrics, it’s no wonder it’s so popular. It makes it easy to create this kind of natural and inviting space that doesn’t distract from your meditation sessions.
Purple: The color purple is another color that is associated with royalty, and is another ‘middle color. It can be a warmer violet hue, or a cooler bluish tint. The cooler purple is more attractive for a meditation space because it’s calmer, but coupled with violet, grey and other neutral colors, gives the space a deeply intelligent simplicity. This sophisticated outdoor space is so inviting who could resist sitting in quiet solitude for a good long meditation session every day.
Color can be inviting, exciting, or calming. Since it’s your space that your creating, take the time to give it careful consideration. This is a space you’ll want to visit every day, so it’s important that it really connects with your inner peace. Try to keep it simple, and less cluttered is always a good idea. But most of all, let it be your space that gives you comfort, quietude and spacious room in your mind.
