If you need a respite from your busy life, consider transforming your bathroom into a personal refuge. Follow this simple path to create an authentic, Zen-inspired design.

Use Organic Materials
Reflect nature's influence on Zen design in your choice of materials. Strive for balance between Asia's five elements: fire, earth, water, metal and air. Blend copper faucets and stone sinks with airy rice paper screens. Move the mountain inside the house with stacked pebble tiles. Cast concrete sinks have the look and feel of carved stone and add an important grounding balance to your bathroom. If you want to get the Zen look for less, consider installing bamboo laminate countertops.

Teak is a popular wood in Zen design and it's an easy way to add an authentic touch with no remodeling at all, says designer Jodi Fitzpatrick of Renata Resources in Fresno, Calif. Add a teak stool to the shower and teak floor mats outside the tub. If you are remodeling, build a teak bench next to the tub. "Don't go nuts with teak," says Jodi. "One to three pieces work best. Balance is the key."