• Mini Zen gardens bring natural calming elements inside.zen image by laurent challencin from Fotolia.com
  
  Miniature Zen gardens are simple office or home embellishments that can alter the design of a room or the level of stress of the person who uses the garden. These small gardens are usually made of a wood frame container, in which grains of sand, anywhere from 1/4 to 1 inch deep, and natural rocks lie. A small rake is used to move the sand around. This activity can have a profound, calming effect.
  
  

Choose Neutral Colors

• When putting together a mini Zen garden yourself, choose a neutral color for both the rocks in the garden and the wooden container. Choosing unnatural polished stones that have been painted or altered in some way, or painting the wood garden container a bright color can diminish the calming effect the Zen garden can have on you and your surroundings. If you are purchasing a mini Zen garden instead of making one, consider the environment in which you will be displaying and using your garden. Select a garden that matches your surroundings and complements the colors.
  
  

Location

• Where you store your Zen garden is important. For your Zen garden to restore balance to your surroundings and yourself, your garden must be accessible. You should keep your Zen garden within easy reach of the area you inhabit. Because mini Zen gardens are aesthetically pleasing, displaying the garden instead of storing it is common. However, because mini Zen gardens are usually made of loose sand and loose stones, place yours where it will not be disturbed, knocked over or forgotten about. Spilling sand all over your office or bedroom will create more stress, rather than relieve stress.
  
  

Use Your Garden

• Once you have made or purchased a mini Zen garden, don't let it sit unused. When you are experiencing stress or have an important decision to make, take out your garden and move the sand around with the tiny rake. According to the website "Zen Garden," a miniature Japanese rock garden, or mini Zen garden, can have a powerful influence over both your levels of stress and concern and the environment of the room in which your Zen garden is placed. Rather than focusing on a difficult problem, focus your energy and mind on working the sand in your garden. This activity can help put things in perspective.