If you are like me, you are wondering, "when will spring arrive"? In upstate New York it is often too cold to go outside. The energy in the house can get hectic and frenetic. The kids are in closer quarters and tend to fight and argue more. When it is -10 degrees with the wind chill, I cannot simply tell them to go outside and play! So, we have created a peace corner in our home where they (or I) can go to reflect when they are feeling angry or when they just need to be alone for a little bit. Follow these simple tips and you will have your own area of Zen in your home.

-Create the peace corner in an area of your home that gets relatively little traffic. Do not place it near major intersections, such as near the front door or near the kitchen or family room. Do you have a quiet extra room or possibly a room that is rarely utilized? Find the area that would make the most sense and gather your materials.

-Some people choose to use a small table with chair and some prefer to just have a comfy big pillow that sits on the floor. If you use a table and chair arrange peaceful objects on the table. If you are using a pillow on the floor, hang a shelf nearby that can contain your peaceful items (more on peaceful items below).

To make the area private, you may want to hang a decorative silk or piece of fabric from the walls, enclosing the space. Choose soothing soft colors such as peach, light blue, or soft green.

-Collect items for your peace corner that will instill healing qualities.

Arrange crystals in a decorative dish or plate. Holding crystals can invoke a sense of peace and tranquility. Crystals such as amethyst, clear quartz, rose quartz, and jade are a few to include. Stock certain essential oils in your peace corner.

Essential oils such as lavender, cedarwood, chamomile, etc have soothing effects. Simply place a drop or two upon your wrist and gently inhale. By trial and error you will find which oils are good for you. A quick visit to a certified aromatherapist will help narrow the choices down and will ensure you are choosing the oils right for you.

Do you have any reflective books that you could include in your peace corner? Perhaps you have a book of poetry or an inspirational book from Dr. Wayne Dyer or Dr. Doreen Virtue? Simply reading a passage from one of these books can lift the spirits.

Do you journal? Writing thoughts and feelings in a journal while you reflect in your peace corner is therapeutic.

Include aspects of nature in your peace corner. A plant or objects from nature will surely increase the positive energy of the corner. Healing plants such as Aloe Vera or lavender are popular choices.

Creating a peace corner in one’s home reaps many benefits. The whole home will feel more at peace. Most importantly you and your family members will have a space to go when they feel the need to reflect and time take for themselves.