Zen is the practice of understanding life directly, without confusing thoughts or language to distract the mind. Many people enjoy the calm, restful feelings they experience in a beautifully-designed space that incorporates design principles used throughout Asia in contemplation and worship spaces.
Those same design principles can be used to create a beautiful, relaxing Zen-inspired deck for your Metrowest home. Here’s some ideas you may want to consider:
Shakkei – Key to Zen philosophy is the understanding that all beings are connected and that no one lives in isolation. In design terms, that means being ever mindful of the view. Your creative deck designer will work with you to take advantage of your yard’s best features when positioning and designing your deck.
Mizu – Whenever possible, a Zen garden will incorporate a water element. Water is representative of purification and cleansing. Its reflective nature is said to support a contemplative mindset. There are a number of ways to incorporate a water feature into your deck, including deck ponds, fountains, and even waterfalls. Your deck designer can help you find the option you’ll love.
Tenkeibutso – Technically the word for lantern, Tenkeibutso refers to the concept of illumination and how important it is for relaxing spaces to be well-lit. Be prepared to spend a little time with your deck designer choosing and deciding where to position your lighting features. It’s a critical component that helps you get the maximum amount of enjoyment from your deck.
Ishi – Ishi is the word for stone. Stone and other natural materials, including wood & carefully selected live plants, are central to Zen design. Some families choose to incorporate a Zen rock garden into their deck design – a unique look that makes a subtle yet profound statement about the family who lives in the home. Other ways to incorporate rocks into your deck design include placing larger rocks as contemplation focus objects – it’s very traditional to put these near the entrance of a garden as a sign of welcome.