Choose a space

First decide where your meditation area will be. If you'll be practicing yoga, you'll want slightly more space than you'll need for simple meditation. A room without direct sunlight is ideal because less light makes for a more relaxing atmosphere.

Silence is also important, so the room closest to a busy road is probably not your best bet.

And this should go without saying, but no phones or computers should make their way into your haven.

Clean with a cause

Once you've decided on a space, clean out the clutter completely, leaving nothing from its past. Clean more deeply with products that won't leave an odor and are safe to the touch.

Once your new room is set up the way you like it, make sure it stays that way. It will be tempting to clutter it up again because there's so much open space. Keep the kids and the pets out -- after all, it is your sanctuary.

It takes a rainbow to relax

One of the most fun parts of the project is choosing your paint colors. Color has been shown to have great effects on mood, so choose your color wisely. Calming colors include blues, indigos and greens, while colors like oranges, reds and yellows evoke energy.

If you're not up to painting, then fill the area with rugs, pillows or wall hangings in your colors of choice.

Get grounded

If you have a choice in your flooring, go with wood floors. The more items in a room that come from natural materials, the better.

Fill your room

Now it's time to choose what you'd like to put in your room with. Common choices include:

• Floor pillows: For upright meditation or prayer.

• Books: For meditation, prayer or yoga practice. Other books might include poetry or other sources of inspiration.

• Candles: Choose soy or beeswax candles instead of the common petroleum ones that are thought in many holistic circles to be bad for the body.

• Incense for aromatherapy. Choose smells that are comforting or inspiring to you.

• Yoga materials: Mat, block, mat cleaner, strap and blanket.

• Water fountain: A small, inexpensive one provides a calming, natural sound.

• CD player: For motivational recordings or calming new-age music.

• Altar: This is simply gathering anything that inspires you and making it a focal point.

• Plants: The more nature, the better.

• Visualization board: Take some time and cut out images that match what you want in your life and put them on a corkboard. Use this for a focal point.

Christy L. Bonstell is a Chicago-area freelance writer.