To set up a meditation corner, choose a quiet spot you can leave set up, lay down a zabuton (a flat mat) with a zafu (a round cushion) on top, and place a low tray or table in front for a candle, a singing bowl and one or two personal objects. Keep it simple and uncluttered, and keep the candle on a heat-resistant surface well away from cushions and fabric.

What you need

A zabuton (flat floor mat) or folded blanket
A zafu (round meditation cushion) or firm pillow
A candle in a glass jar
A low tray or small table
A singing bowl or tingsha (optional)
Matches or a lighter
Wick trimmer or scissors

Step by step

Pick the spot. Choose a corner or a small stretch of floor that is fairly quiet, where you can leave things in place. A spot by a window or a plain wall works well. It does not need to be a whole room.
Clear it. Remove clutter from the area. A clear floor and a clear surface make the corner feel set apart from the rest of the room.
Lay down the seat. Place the zabuton on the floor and the zafu on top of it, toward the back edge. If you do not have them yet, a folded blanket and a firm pillow work too. A chair is also fine.
Add a low surface. Put a tray, a low table or a wide board in front of the seat for your candle and objects, at a comfortable distance so nothing is within reach of a knee or sleeve.
Place the candle safely. Set the candle in its jar on the heat-resistant surface, away from the cushion, curtains, plants and anything that can catch fire. Trim the wick to 1/4 inch and never leave it burning unattended.
Add sound and one or two objects. Place a singing bowl on its cushion, or tingsha in a small dish, within easy reach. Add one or two things that are meaningful to you, such as a stone, a photo or a journal. Fewer objects keep the space calm.

Keep it simple

A meditation corner works best when it is easy to sit down in. Many people keep just a seat, a candle and a single object. You can always add more later; it is harder to settle into a crowded space.

Using the corner day to day

Light the candle, strike the bowl once, and sit for as long as you have. When you finish, strike once more and extinguish the candle. Doing the same few steps each time is part of what makes the corner feel like a routine.

Candle placement checklist

Stable, flat, heat-resistant surface. At least a foot of clear space around the jar. Nothing above it, such as shelves or curtains. Out of reach of children and pets. Extinguish it before you stand up to leave.

Meditation tools from AltarWell are coming soon

We are preparing singing bowls, tingsha, a zafu, a bolster, a cork block and a hemp strap. None are on sale yet. See what is planned in Meditation Tools (coming soon), or join the list to hear when they arrive.

Moon phase dates

Planning a ritual around the lunar cycle? Exact new and full moon times in Central Time are listed by month. Moon phases by month · Moon phase guide

Related candles

Calm candle (White Sage & Lavender): for slow evenings and stillness.
Clarity candle (Eucalyptus Lavender Herb): for journaling and planning.
New Moon candle (Sea Salt & Orchid): for beginnings and quiet intentions.

Candle safety basics

Trim the wick to 1/4 inch before every lighting.
Never leave a burning candle unattended, and extinguish it before you go to bed or leave the room.
Burn for no more than 4 hours at a time, then let the candle cool fully before relighting.
Place the jar on a stable, heat-resistant surface away from children, pets, drafts and anything that can catch fire.

More detail: Candle care & safety · FAQ