Skip the sweat and stress with your own peaceful garden nook.

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Skip the sweat and stress with your own peaceful garden nook.

By emily.bailey

Thursday, April 30, 2020

DIY garden nook ideas | Schlage

With a fresh outlook and a little creativity, you can create a peaceful garden nook to recharge your batteries and come back happier and healthier than ever.

 

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In a world that often feels busy and chaotic, it can be hard to carve out the time and space to relax. The good news is that you might already have everything you need to change that. With a fresh outlook and a little creativity, you can create a peaceful garden nook to recharge your batteries and come back happier and healthier than ever.
Garden nook ideas.

Garden getaway must-haves

Everyone’s idea of relaxation is a little different and no two outdoor spaces are the same. Whatever your situation and preferences, including these items in your calming garden is a good place to start.

 

  • Nook – A little privacy to help you breathe and find your center could be just what the doctor ordered. Maybe it’s on the far side of a tree where you can’t be seen from the house or in a secluded corner of the yard. Find some space – sunny or shady – for some healthful alone time.

  • Plants – When you’re trying to relax, you might not want to have to think about what flowers go where and what fits your budget. Use what you already have. Surround yourself in your nook with your favorite potted plants and call it done.

  • Seating – The same “use what you got” strategy applies here. Rearrange your patio furniture, throw down some floor cushions or simply spread out a blanket. If you’re worried about a damp ground, place a tarp, shower curtain or raincoat as a base layer.

  • Soothing sounds – Truly calming gardens call for windchimes and water features. If you don’t already own one, try a DIY option using household items. The easiest and quickest solution is finding the perfect playlist of music or nature sounds. “Alexa, play …”
  • Lighting – Especially if you plan to spend some evenings out in your garden nook, set the mood with twinkle lights – repurposed Christmas lights are a good substitute – or candles. A citronella candle to ward off mosquitos solves two problems at once.

Zen garden ideas

If heading outside isn’t an option for you, a mini indoor Zen garden is the perfect alternative. Here’s what you’ll need.

 

  • A container – Traditional Zen gardens are often staged in wood, stone or glass trays to connect you to nature. No need to be fancy about it, though. One of those picnic or kid’s plates that’s divided into multiple sections, a plastic takeout container or a baking dish work just as well.
  • “Natural” material – If you have actual sand or some of that colored craft sand, use that as your base. Traditional Zen gardens typically create a scene with air plants – they don’t need soil to grow – but don’t fret if that’s not in the cards for you. A fake plant is always an option or skip the greenery altogether if you’d prefer. Stones and twigs collected from the backyard are also nice additions. And if you’re making this with your kids, they might include tiny plastic animals.

  • Rake – That hypnotic rearranging of the sand can help you find your peace. Alternatives to an official Zen rank are one of those hand-shaped backscratchers or even just a fork. This tutorial shows you how you can make a DIY Zen fork.

Opportunities to relax are all around us if we know where to look. Schlage can help you spot the possibilities. Check out some of our recent blogs on creating a calm home during stressful times and reclaiming peace of mind with smart devices you already own.