How to create a Zen-like home - color tone

What is a Zen space? Spaces that allow people to slow down, clear their minds, and ultimately play the role of physical and mental relaxation and healing should contain the seeds of Zen.

The previous issue introduced the natural plaster indoor paint, which uses the irregularity, oldness and desolation to create the leisurely Zen feeling of "the dead are like this". In fact, without using plaster paint, if you use the right tone and pay attention to the white space, you can still create a Zen feel.

Looking at different regions of the world, the artistic conception of Zen shows different appearances through different cultural characters. In this issue, we will try to explore the tones of Zen spaces created by different cultural backgrounds.

Minimalism in the 20th Century

Western minimalism, which advocates "less is more", has similarities with Eastern Zen. Mies van der Rohe, the master of modern architecture, believed that architecture is a kind of language. If unnecessary elements can be eliminated and eliminated again, the refined space can become a poem with profound meaning and leave a lasting impression after tasting it. Eastern meditation uses the method of meditation to remove distracting thoughts and go deep into the true nature of oneself layer by layer until the mind is clear and true.

The "less" in this is not really less, but to remove the dross and then further appreciate the beauty in the subtleties; and "more" refers to when you really open the invisible door. , and found that what was floating on the surface was just the tip of the iceberg.

For example, in this photo of white marshmallows, after refining, the same white color is affected by different light in different positions, reflecting different tones of white (color block on the right).

Similarly, the minimalist style interior looks completely white. After careful observation, we find that the white colors of the walls, floors, carpets, curtains, and bar are different. The designer deliberately used different materials and different tones of white to create different levels, making the space appear tranquil and not boring.

Minimalist style color matching is good at extracting interesting and delicate color combinations from ordinary/plain neutral colors, and makes good use of the natural texture of materials to increase the layering of colors.

Neutral colors are also called achromatic colors. The base colors are composed of black, white, gray, khaki, and brown. Neutral colors were embraced by medieval style in the 1950s, and their popularity has not diminished to this day. It can be said to be a "can't go wrong" choice. The first reason is that neutral tones are moderate in nature, and even if most people don’t like them, they won’t be too annoying; the second reason is that these colors will not feel inconsistent whether they are matched together or with other bright colors.

The space in the picture above adopts brown and gray as the main color, and is decorated with dark brown doors and tables with rich texture. The floor is gray and matches the high-top dining table. The overall color is harmonious, refreshing and simple.

This restaurant uses black and different gray tones as the main colors with a strong modern urban feel. The difference from the previous example is that in order to neutralize the cold gray and black feeling, log materials are added to the design. The chairs, one bright and one dark, form contrasting colors and make the space lively.

The golden mean of Nordic design

The aesthetics of minimalism require a state of detachment before you can appreciate it carefully, while the Nordic aesthetic "lagom" is more effective. Human touch: This is a lifestyle that pursues appropriateness and balance: not too much, not too little, just the right amount is the best. Compared with the minimalist style popular in the United States, Nordic design incorporates more colors without losing its Zen feel.

The Nordic interior wall paint colors remind me of the Morandi color system that has been very popular among Chinese people in recent years. Morandi was an Italian still life painter in the last century. The daily utensils he interprets with low-purity and low-saturation colors seem to have been coated by time.

Interestingly, Morandi was a very unique hermit painter at that time. In that era when everyone flaunted individuality and originality, Morandi's works were unconventional and exuded a Zen flavor with an exotic accent.

The interiors corresponding to the three Morandi works above are the renderings of Jotun, a famous Nordic paint brand, and the works of Nordic Zen master Axel Vervoordt.

I have introduced Jotun paint in previous articles. Their neutral colors are elegant and full of human touch; the purity and saturation of other warm and cold colors are low, which coincides with Morandi. color characteristics. The colors used in the following paintings are relatively bright, and the Zen feeling is still there.

The color of Eastern Zen

△ Chinese Zen Tea Room

Finally, let’s look back at our own Eastern culture. If Westerners are passionate and direct, then Easterners are reserved and restrained; Westerners are diligent in transforming the external world and seeking innovation and change, while Easterners like to pursue inner perfection and eternity; Western modern architecture focuses on the use of new materials and new technologies. , Oriental architecture tends to be natural and pays attention to artistic conception, and wood is the main material. Colors can be fresh and elegant, or they can be sophisticated and sophisticated. This is true for general buildings, and it is also true for Zen-like spaces that pay more attention to white space.

From simplicity to simplicity, traditional Chinese architecture uses wood, a simple material, and the technique of yin and yang to create an ever-changing inner architectural space. The color of the Eastern Zen space is like an ink painting made of wood. As it is written in the Tao Te Ching: Tao gives birth to one, gives birth to two, two gives birth to three, and three gives birth to all things. Cut the wood into strips and pieces and then put them together to make screens or panes. The gap between transparency and impermeability guides people from the material world to the realm of consciousness.

The concept of yin and yang as empty and full can also be applied to the relationship between indoors and outdoors. Nature itself is the best decoration: color, fragrance, sound and taste are all present, and it can also nourish the mind and enlighten the Tao. Therefore, we should introduce them indoors by borrowing scenery. If you have the conditions to have a yard, no matter how small it is, you must build it carefully.

Even if there are high-rise buildings or streets outside the window, if you raise some bonsais of different shapes in the house, through a hint of green, the truth can be seen from the small.

Japanese-style Zen places like to place some dead branches, while Chinese-style teahouses like to introduce dead branches and old wood as tea tables, symbolizing the eternal silence and the tension of the years. The Zen flavor is more simple and rough.

Finally, light is also an important component of interior color. Eastern Zen state of darkness and introspection. Generally, spaces do not like direct sunlight but prefer indirect light. The Zen room is even more so. The ray of sunlight shining in from the corner seems to symbolize a glimmer of relief from the troubles and difficulties in the world.

Which color of Zen is consistent with your Zen mind?

This answer comes from the Haohaozhu user Healing Home. For more decoration strategies and home experience, please log in to the Haohaozhu APP to view