ma, the space between things

Make room for stillness.

Ideas and practical buying guides for a calm corner at home to practice yoga, sit in meditation and slow down, inspired by Japanese and Scandinavian design.

Create your meditation corner Browse the guides

Bright white room with two low tables, gray floor cushions and a window looking onto green plants — Photo by Bayu Wicaksono on Unsplash

Low wooden table with woven straw floor cushions and a bare branch in a small vase, in a white room with a round window

Calm spaces

How to Create a Japandi Meditation Corner, Even in a Small Apartment

A floor layer, a good seat, one thing to look at and soft light: how to build a calm corner for meditation and yoga using Japanese and Scandinavian design ideas.

Read the guide

What a calm corner needs

Five things. Everything else is optional.

A floor layer
A tatami, a rug or a zabuton that defines the space and protects your knees.
A good seat
A cushion high enough that your knees rest a little lower than your hips.
One thing to look at
A single object with empty space around it, changed with the seasons.
Soft light
A paper lamp and a warm, dimmable bulb instead of the ceiling light.
Closed storage
A lidded basket or box, so only what you use stays in view.

Guides

See all guides

Calm spaces

How to Create a Japandi Meditation Corner, Even in a Small Apartment

A floor layer, a good seat, one thing to look at and soft light: how to build a calm corner for meditation and yoga using Japanese and Scandinavian design ideas.

5 min read

Two cork yoga blocks resting on a sage-green yoga mat on a light wooden floor

Gear guides

How to Choose a Yoga Mat for Home Practice

Thickness, materials, grip, size and care, explained simply, so you can choose a mat that suits your body, your floor and the way you practice.

4 min read

Round rust-colored zafu cushion on a brown square floor cushion on a stone terrace

Gear guides

Zafu vs. Zabuton: A Simple Guide to Meditation Cushions

What each cushion does, whether you need both, how to choose the right height and filling, and comfortable ways to sit if cross-legged isn't for you.

3 min read

Bright airy room with floor cushions on a rug, large green plants and tall windows

Calm spaces

How to Set Up a Home Yoga Space: A Calm, Minimal Checklist

How much floor you need, which props are worth having, how to store them so the room stays calm, and a simple setup for following online classes.

3 min read

Stack of folded soft fabrics in cream, sand and peach tones on a white background

Gear guides

What to Wear for Yoga at Home: Comfortable, Simple and Long-Lasting

How to choose bottoms that stay put, tops that don't flip over in downward dog, fabrics that breathe and a small capsule that covers every kind of practice.

3 min read

Small candle in a dark jar and a eucalyptus branch beside a blank card and white ribbon on crumpled white linen

Gift ideas

Thoughtful Gifts for Yoga Lovers: Calm Ideas at Every Budget

Gift ideas for people who love yoga, meditation and slow evenings, grouped by budget, plus tips on what to skip and what to check before you buy.

3 min read

Thoughtful gifts for yoga lovers

Calm ideas at every budget, from a cork block to a complete meditation seat, plus what to check before you buy.

See the gift ideas