TRANSFORM YOUR SPACE INTO A ZEN HOME THIS AUTUMN

Shorter days, red leaves… and busier schedules. Autumn brings back-to-school energy, but it's also nature's moment of transition, while summer is shedding to make space for renewal. Before the hectic pace takes hold, use this natural momentum to adapt your habits and space.

Zen philosophy, a school and branch of Buddhism, originated in China and transmitted to Japan through Buddhism, becoming a school of thought of its own. Centred around enlightenment and self-knowledge, the core Zen practice is seated meditation, and the practice of mindfulness and intuition. Different seasons call for different kinds of care, and a personal Zen practice can go a long way in navigating seasonal transitions.

While Zen principles are spiritual, they can be transferred in the choices we make in our material lives, through a focus on intuition and consciousness. When home becomes a refuge on rainy afternoons and crisp Sunday mornings, mindful interiors cultivate the calm and clarity needed during cooler months.

At MUJI, Zen principles guide our commitment to simple, functional homeware that supports mindful and sustainable living. Follow our guide to refresh your rituals with practices you can carry throughout the year.

The Art of Zen Living in Autumn

"Zen is not some kind of excitement, but concentration on our usual everyday routine." Shunryu Suzuki, zen priest.

Zen living is the practice of presence, and of fully inhabiting each moment. As autumn arrives, take time to reflect on what you want to cultivate and what you're ready to release.

Create a calm, ritualized environment that makes room for intuition and reflection, for truly mindful living.

September

Still energised by back-to-school season, focus on decluttering and making space. Try new routines and mindfulness practices, and use those first autumn weeks to discover what works best for you.

October

As light slowly decreases in the Northern Hemisphere, create your own sense of home: set up a new lighting atmosphere, or perhaps bring autumnal fragrances into your home. Slip into warm slippers, flannel pyjamas, and switch your skincare routine to more nourishing, natural products.

Jersey beddings, organic cotton towels, mochi cushions… focus on taking care of yourself, and on the way your sensations ground you to the present moment.

November

Days get colder, calling for warmer bedding, soft blankets, comfortable cushions comfortable cushions. Create a bubble following Zen principles: use what you already have and organise storage effectively to access your essentials easily, and protect them for a long time.

New rituals keep you grounded, while thoughtfully designed spaces support this deeper presence. Embrace minimalist living, naturally.

Declutter and Decorate the Zen Way

Decluttering your environment creates mental clarity, as DanShaRi teaches. Developed by Hideko Yamashita in the early 2000s, this Japanese minimalist movement is rooted in Zen philosophy, and works as a way to incorporate those philosophical principles into our daily lives and homes.

As a practice, DanShaRi’s steps aim at purifying your home to calm your mind:

断 DAN - REFUSE

Learn to refuse unnecessary clutter and decorative excess that crowds both space and mind. Practice mindful purchasing by reflecting before acquiring anything new. Rather than filling life with extras, intentionally acquire products that fulfil existing needs without generating new ones.

捨 SHA - RELEASE

Remove what clutters your living space, tidy your drawers and shelves, and sort through your belongings thoughtfully. Use natural material storage solutions like rattan or wood trays and baskets, or bamboo storage units, to organise and rotate items, keeping visual space clear. Smart storage helps clearing both your environment and mental space.

離 RI - SEPARATE

The deepest principle: learning to separate, and to choose mindfully. As days grow shorter and seasons shift, this becomes essential for staying present and reconnected with your goals. Select only useful, high-quality items that truly serve you.

Decoration remains essential, but the goal is creating a space that feels authentically yours without overwhelming you: carefully curated pieces in warm, natural materials create both coziness for quiet evenings and calm for stressful days. Your space becomes a refuge that nurtures zen and mindful living.

Creating a Zen Living Room

Zen design is all about concrete choices that transform your daily experience. Start with your living room, the heart of your home where life unfolds quiet evenings, morning coffee, meaningful conversations. Staying true to Zen principles, rearrange what you already have to avoid more consumption, and use your space mindfully - and if your space still feels cluttered after decluttering, it might just mean that you have too much furniture for the room size.

Colours and Materials

Ground your zen living room in earthy, autumnal tones, that soothe both the eye and mind, with neutral colours that adapt effortlessly to changing seasons. Simplicity is key, and you can easily find neutral wooden furniture, such as the Pine Shelf Unit, that you can paint to your liking.

Incorporate natural materials like warm wood furniture, that enhances any space year-round. Shelves such as the Oak Narrow 3 x 3 set work great as modular units for a clearer, tidier space, in autumnal tones. Layer in soft textiles (think Mochi cushions, or the Cotton Pile Blanket) that invite touch and comfort.

Soft lighting

Abandon harsh overhead lighting for multiple small lamps of varying heights using side tables or stools. The small Rubberwood Bench, inspired by traditional Chinese furniture, is perfect for a small lamp and to illuminate the space differently.

Use 3-4 light sources of varying heights, with bulbs under 40 watts each. This technique will help create a layered lighting essential to a zen living room, and the perfect setting for curling up with a book and warm drink on a crisp evening.

Simplicity

A minimalist living room naturally embodies zen's core principle: just what you need, nothing more, nothing less. But let’s be honest: the living room is also where clutter tends to accumulate the most. Keep it clear with a few tools: use the Beech Wood Coat Stand to hang your coats, and place a well-designed dining table, like the Natural Design Oak Table, equipped with built-in drawers, to keep everything where it belongs.

Enjoy a home you genuinely look forward to returning to, that supports relaxation, reflection, and mindful living.

This is zen living made tangible: a beautiful autumn haven.

Zen Bedrooms and the Importance of Rest

Sharper mind, better immune system, emotional balance… Mindful living is not complete without feeling rested, especially in the colder seasons. Get the most out of your sleep with slight changes to your bedroom, and curate the best zen bedroom.

Simple decor and layout

Design your sleeping space with intention, following core zen principles: simplicity, aesthetic balance, natural materials, and tranquillity. You can do so through comfortable mattresses or wooden beds and furniture, like a MUJI platform bed, modular and very Japanese: focus on furniture that is versatile and useful, without overwhelming the space.

Lighting

Create an atmosphere that guides you toward restorative sleep: soft bedside lighting in strategic spots paired with blackout curtains for complete darkness when needed.

Natural bedding

Select neutral, comfortable linens and duvets, that soothe the eye while expressing your personality. Materials like cotton jersey or linen provide the perfect balance of warmth and breathability, adapting to your body throughout the night.

Scent and Stillness – Fragrance for a Peaceful Home

Scent offers one of the most intuitive ways to create a zen home environment, and aromatherapy naturally cultivates atmosphere and home fragrance, while delivering therapeutic benefits for mind and body.

Use an aroma diffuser with essential oils like lavender for relaxation, ylang-ylang for balance, or lemon for clarity. Don’t be afraid to blend 2 or 3 different oils to create your own scent, and your own aromatherapy routines, based on your needs. Bring home classic autumn scents with easy candles: try the seasonal scents such as Cedar and Nutmeg, Nashi Pear, or Frankincense and Amber tin candles to set the tone for the season.

Choose your preferred method: electric diffusers for larger spaces, candles for ambience, and sprays for quick refreshment. Or choose the simplest of all options: the aroma stone diffuser absorbs essential oils and releases fragrance gradually without heat or electricity, perfect for desks, bedside tables, or even used inside wardrobes and dressers, with just a few drops of oil.

Each method offers its own ritual, allowing you to mindfully customise your home's sensory landscape.

Zen Home Rituals for Autumn

Mindful habits are essential for navigating seasonal transitions well. As summer gives way to autumn, intentional practices help you embrace the season's unique rhythm and possibilities.

Adapt your morning routine

Days get shorter in the morning too. Create your own Zen morning routine and take some time for yourself, with meditation or stretching. Consider postponing your first coffee intake: a warm herbal tea in a nice cup first thing in the morning will do wonders for your internal balance, and help guide a peaceful day.

Upgrade your evening routine

Try natural materials and comfortable bedding, soft blankets to snuggle in, a calming home fragrance, and a good book instead of screens… Make the most of the seasonal transition and those long, cosy autumn evenings.

Practice creativity

Creativity can take many forms. Start small and, little by little, incorporate a creative practice into your home routines, like writing, origami, photo albums, cooking… Journaling is a good option too: reflect on your days and set new goals for the season, through handwriting or drawing.

The power of warm drinks

Traditional Japanese wellness practices suggest that consuming warm beverages supports healthy metabolism. Incorporate these traditions into your daily life: it is a great way to detox and transition into autumn, and a warm green tea or soothing infusion can help create this balance so important in Zen philosophy.

Create ritual spaces in your home

Try creating a little nook just for yourself, dedicated to cosy reading or meditation. Start with a nice mat and a nice cushion, or a small table with your favourite scents. Use essential oils for an easy beginner mindfulness routine.

Walk in nature

Walking in nature will help you feel grounded, as you observe autumn changes around you, and feel the immediate benefits to your health and mind. Put on a sunhat, or perhaps rainproof gear; make it easy with the pocketable hooded jacket, and the compact foldable umbrella.

Live simply, feel calm – start your zen journey with MUJI

From decluttering to mindfully selecting design elements, a zen-inspired autumn is always a good idea. Create a space that honours the season transition, and that supports the routines and goals you set for yourself this season, whether that's establishing a journaling practice, exploring aromatherapy, or committing to rituals that foster peaceful, productive days.

Through thoughtful sensory experiences, comfort, and daily rituals, zen principles provide a grounding foundation for transforming both your home and daily life into something more mindful and conscious.

Zen philosophy and principles have always been an integral part of MUJI, and our products will help make this vision come to life. Natural wooden side table for your aromatherapy corner, soft blankets to snuggle in, comfortable bedding… Explore MUJI’s home collection to bring calm, comfort, and clarity into your space this autumn.