As you are deciding what to do with that empty space in your backyard, check out some of the best Zen garden ideas and designs that will get you started on the right foot.

Before we dive full-on into the ideas, let’s talk about Zen gardens for a moment. Traditionally, they were an area of contemplation and meditation created by the monks to aid them. Nowadays, many people still use them for their original function, but they also serve as a place for connecting with yourself, with others, and with nature. It’s common to see them in people’s yards, and they can blend in with a typical garden, serve as an addition to it, or stand-alone in its own space.