What does it mean exactly to "go mobile?" Now that everyone is working from their phones, laptops, Skype-ing into conference meetings, does this mean that we're actually crunching numbers at the beach? Answering work e-mails from the zoo? It's possible that being mobile means that we're actually becoming less mobile. We're staying closer to home. It's only normal to have a home office, a home entertainment center, an in-home gym. So the new trend in converting rooms into meditation spaces can only elicit the response…well, yeah.

The appeal in turning an unused or odd space into a meditation room is that it requires so very little. And really, any space will do. A cozy walk-in closet or a spacious attic with treetop views are both ideal for stealing away 20 minutes of your day to regroup the mind.

A "meditation bunker" like the one Lisa Manderville built in her two-story home in Portland, Oregon, could be just the thing to do with your extraneous hallway bathroom. "I had two bathrooms on the first floor. Why? I didn't need two! It's just twice the cleaning," she says. "I turned the one in the back hallway into my personal 'me space.' I love that it's so tiny, it's like re-entering a warm, safe womb. It's the only room in the house that nobody really goes into but me, and I can mentally shut out the world in there. I'll meditate for 20 minutes after my morning work is done, and then I'm ready to go pick up the kids."

A thoughtfully designed meditation room can not only provide a physical place to get away, but also brings into the home a powerful symbol of strength and resilience.

Buddhist temples constructed entirely of wood such as Hosshoji, built at Okazaki, Kyoto, in 1083, have survived earthquakes and typhoons over a period of centuries. It's easy to become enchanted by the life force of wood, by structures whose wooden components can resurrect themselves so as to live as parts of buildings even after being cut from trees.

All That's Fit to Stand On
Designing a beautiful meditation room starts with choosing the perfect hardwood floor. Try a cherry or oak floor, commonly found in modern temples and meditation studios. Choosing a lighter or darker finish will help create just the mood you're going for. Wood laminate flooring is also an option that will give the essence of hardwood at a friendlier cost. 

Inviting the Senses
When furnishing your meditation room, simplicity is key. Here's a list of must-haves that are powerful and spare.

• A small prayer table: Use a small, simple piece of furniture to place in front of you where you can keep incense and candles. A prayer table can be a touch point to start and end your meditative routine each day.

• Incense: Be sure to sample several different kinds to find just the one that works with your senses. If you're a beginner, lavender is always a great place to start.

• Candles: When praying in the evening, the vision of a single burning flame can bring calm to a busy mind.

• Cushions: Bring a decorative pillow into your meditation room to make sure you are sitting comfortably.

• Flowers: If you find that incense is too strong for you, try putting a freshly cut bouquet of your favorite flowers in a vase on your prayer table. It's also the perfect opportunity to pick a flower from your garden.

A good meditation room should leave you feeling re-energized and restore the strength you need to face the outside world.