If you are planning a dinner party with an Asian menu and want your decor to reflect a Zen style, but you don't have the time or money to redecorate your dining room, let me give you some simple and inexpensive tips.
- Simplify your space. Clean all unnecessary items from the dining room. Extra knickknacks, art, and furniture should be removed to another room for the evening, leaving only the dining set and a serving table or buffet.
- Just add water. If you have one of those tabletop fountains, use it on the main or serving table. If you don't, bring the water element into the room with a shallow bowl. Fill the bowl half full of water and then add pebbles, a single floating flower, or a candle.
- Let there be light. Place candles around the room in groups of three to add the Zen fire element. Place on wooden planks to bring the wood element into the room.
- Words of wisdom. Find large, flat pebbles from your yard or neighborhood. Clean and dry. Using a black marker, print words such as serenity and joy on the pebbles and place on the table at random.
- Place at the table. Find some inexpensive bamboo place mats at the dollar store and use atop a plain tablecloth in an earthtone color.
- Keeping the light on. If you can find some Chinese lanterns at the same dollar store, add those to bring some brighter color into the room. They can simply be placed on the tabletop or hung from the light above the table.
- It's alive. Place several bamboo plants or other live greenery around the room and on the table top. This brings an earth element to the design.
- Heavy metal. The metal element can be introduced with a metal bowl holding candles or small Japanese iron lamps or candlesticks.
- In the mood. Dim the lights for atmosphere. Light the candles for more light in case you can't see what you are eating!
- Serving simple. Serve the dinner in simple serving pieces in ceramic, metal, or wooden bowls
As I have shown you, each Zen element of earth, fire, wood, water, and metal can be introduced simply, easily, and inexpensively in your dining room. The element of fabulous tasting food is up to you!
For more ideas on Zen accessories, read my article 10 Zen Accessories for Under $10 .
