Some meditation practitioners choose to create an altar or decorate their meditation spaces with meaningful or sacred objects. "Anything that triggers the space of divinity for you" is ideal, says Gruver. "There may be a photo or painting of your guru or master, [or] crystals." Rains suggests adding meditation beads or inspirational books to read before or after meditation.

If you like to meditate for its body-mind benefits -- not so much for spiritual reasons -- why not fill your meditation area with mood-enhancing decor? Garlinger recommends adding house plants, which are proven to lower blood pressure, reduce anxiety and increase attentiveness. "Plants by their nature are calming and provide rejuvenating oxygen, and make a wonderful contribution to a meditation space," Garlinger says.

The color of your space and decor can also help set a tone for meditation. For instance, blue and green can enhance relaxation; pink, compassion.

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If you've ever wandered into the fluorescent lighting section of Home Depot and wanted to immediately GTFO, you know how much lighting can influence your state of mind. The type of meditation you practice -- and what you want to achieve from meditating -- may influence how you choose to light your meditation area.

A lit candle has a calming affect, and it's used as a tool to focus the mind in candlelight meditation, says Gruver. (See the 13 best candles for your home.)

Dim light has been shown to make people happier and more relaxed, ideal if you meditate to reduce stress. Exposure to bright light, such as sunlight, boosts alertness; if you're meditating to improve concentration, consider orienting your seat toward an open window.

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The jury is still out on whether aromatherapy has genuine mind/body benefits; some small studies have shown that essential oils reduce the symptoms of a variety of ailments, including anxiety, chronic pain and insomnia. Nevertheless, many practitioners of meditation find scented oils, incense or candles important for setting a mood. Fragrant plant oils such as lavender and jasmine are said to encourage relaxation, and sniffing orange oil has been associated with reduced stress.

If you're not big on candles or oils, try burning herbs or leaves such as white sage, cedar leaves and pine needles. Whether or not you believe they clear bad juju, their fragrance is intoxicating.

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Tuning out the world's BS is hard enough; add car traffic, barking dogs or boisterous neighbors and you may never reach your moment of Zen. If street noise around your home is a distraction, consider rounding out your meditation area with a sound machine, or a Bluetooth speaker for playing ambient meditation music.

Listening to guided meditation sessions on your smartphone can also encourage focus; Gruver recommends the app Insight Timer, free for iPhone, and offers a few free guided meditation sessions on her website. Rains also offers a selection of guided meditations for beginners.

Garlinger recommends the free iPhone app Headspace, which "provides very helpful instructions, with a wide range of guided meditations," to beginners.

Still stuck in a meditation rut? Check out our Meditation Hacks for People Who Suck at Sitting Still.

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