A Restoration Retreat in Your Own Back Yard
A Restoration Retreat is more than a chair outside, it’s a designated space intentionally designed to minimize distractions while encouraging you to shift into a stillness mode. The idea is to create an actual room outdoors with and entrance, walls, and filled with only things that encourage you to detach from everyday life, and focus on what calms you.
There are many benefits to a restoration room. It can be used as:
- A ten minute morning escape before meeting the demands of the day.
- Space for thinking or getting your creative juices flowing
- A calming space for aging parents or children with sensory issues
- A place to unwind after a day of traffic and work
- Setting for prayer, self meditation or reading
Considerations when choosing a spot in your yard to create your room
- Will you want the warmth of the sun or coolness of shade?
- Take advantage of existing visual barriers such as fences, tall hedges or even the side of a shed.
- Try to stay away from the noise such as traffic and air conditioners
- Is the area level for seating?
- Will it have easy access?
Basic Design Principles
- Creating an entrance allows your mind to mentally shift gears upon entering
- Avoid sensory overload by using evergreen shrubs in shades of green, Keep the plant pallet small and avoid bright and contrasting colors. Use greens, blues and whites. Use soft and fine textured plants.
- Create as much privacy as possible to help avoid distractions and create more comfortable retreat
- Incorporate just one focal point such as a small fountain, simple pottery, garden statue or a rock cairn. This allow your eyes to gaze buy not stimulate.
- Use natural elements like stone paths, small boulders and wood.
- Soothing sounds like gently running water, or small wind chimes can help you relax and also mask outside noise.
- Comfortable seating is a must.
- Soft lighting can help set the mood and make the area functional predawn or after dusk. Keep lighting soft and to a minimum
- Use plants with calming fragrances such as lavender, jasmine, gardenia, and rosemary, lilac, mints, and lemon balm. Incorporate scented candles or oil diffusers
Our lives seem to be becoming busier than ever as we get pulled in many directions, and bombarded with news, advertisements and social media. Having a designated space to remove ourselves from life’s demands is worth our consideration and investment.
What makes a perfect Restoration garden? One that you use. Don’t feel like you have to get elaborate or check all the boxes, just create what works for you.
We would love to assist you in creating your own Restoration Room. From choosing plants, creating an overall design and actual installation, we are here to help.
