3 ways to create an indoor sacred plant space

Your garden center should be a sacred experience for all five senses. After careful analysis, ask yourself: Does your space smell earthy or artificial? Can you hear the buzzing of bees, sweet birdsong and a flowing fountain, or the ruckus of rush-hour traffic? Are there visually captivating elements to draw customers into your garden space and inspire them to recreate the sensory experience in their home or business?

When shopping for plants, the experience that leaves a lasting impression on most consumers isn’t the gorgeous displays of colors and textures, beautiful as they may be. It’s not seasonal blooms, shade-loving plants or two-for-one sales. What draws them into the store and keeps them coming back for more is the emotional connection the space evokes — how it makes them feel comforted, inspired, informed and motivated to design an environment that emulates the sensory delight of a garden center in the everyday world.

Studies show humans spend an average of 85-90% of their time indoors. That’s a staggering statistic, especially considering most of our existence has been spent living outdoors, evolving in symbiosis with the earth. When we surround ourselves with plants, it transforms a sterile environment into one reminiscent of what our ancestors experienced. For our ancestors, plants signified survival and green symbolized life — the very key to thriving on earth. Fast forward thousands of years later, our modern minds and bodies react in a similar way. When green is in our field of vision, it vastly improves our ability to relax and focus in an office or school setting. Subconsciously, we feel safe and secure when living amongst nature.

Additionally, when we take time to care for our plants and reconnect with our natural environment, our minds and bodies feel at home again. Consider it a symbiotic relationship in which both plants and humans benefit. And when we’re at home in the world around us, we’re more deeply rooted within ourselves too. Plants act as a reset button to recenter and balance our mind, body and spirit. The more we invest in reconnecting with nature, the more we experience moments of calm and inspired thoughtfulness. These feelings create a ripple effect that allows us to better connect and engage with others — something we desperately need in our post-quarantine world.

So how can you be successful in this endeavor? The answer lies in creating a sacred space in your store, one that inspires customers to replicate the tranquil environment in their own home, classroom, office or garden. The goal of creating a sacred space is to connect (or reconnect) more deeply with the natural world. It’s a space designed with intention, purpose and thoughtfulness led by what feels good to your senses.

This is critical in today’s digital-first, world, where students and teachers search for ways to alleviate anxiety and support mental health. For instance, one of our clients was inspired by the medicinal benefits of creating a sacred space. So, when a student of hers inquired about stressors and coping mechanisms, she gave them a plant to take home and encouraged them to design one (starting small with a dedicated space on their windowsill or in their bedroom). Since that day, the student has praised her sacred space for providing peace of mind when overwhelmed with the demands of school and life.

So, how can you create a sacred space in your nursery, store or garden center? To begin, I suggest encouraging your staff members to embrace their own versions of what a sacred space entails and leverage those as examples throughout the store. It can be as simple as a few shelves or as elaborate as an entire room. Since creating a sacred space is a personal expression, seeing examples of how other people are comforted by their own unique sacred elements can also spark new ideas for your customers. Consider creating a seasonal or monthly sacred space display with the name of the employee who designed it. This strategy boosts morale and promotes a sense of community — demonstrating to your employees that you appreciate and value their input.

Three ways to create an inspiring sacred space

Discovery

Determine which sacred element resonates most with you. If it’s plants, start with houseplants or garden edibles, or perhaps bonsai or fruit trees. Consider incorporating a small desktop fountain or outdoor garden pond if it’s water. Or do you prefer fire, metal or wood? Whatever it is, that element should become the focal point of your sacred space from which everything else radiates. If you can’t bring yourself to choose just one element, that’s totally OK! We find it's easiest to start with one foundational idea and expand from there.

 

Location

Decide where this space will reside (for your customers, it will be in their home environment). Ideally, you should design it somewhere you often visit to soak up the full mental, physical and emotional benefits. As this location will evolve and change with the seasons, it’s important to be mindful that it’s a living space that grows organically and can be altered as needed.

Creation

This is where natural world therapy truly begins. Create a visual story that feels joyful, peaceful and inspiring. It’s a creative process — a living canvas — so take your time and change it as often as you wish. The creation process and the journey are just as important as the destination.

Creating a sacred space in your store that attracts all five senses encourages a more meaningful connection to nature for both your customers and employees. After all, to be in nature is to be human. Happy growing friends!

The author is founder of Sacred Elements and author of “Sacred Elements Guidebook,” in which she inspires others to learn about connecting with the natural world and the mental and physical benefits of plants. You can follow her on TikTok at @sacredelements.