If you've ever wandered into the fluorescent lighting section of Home Depot and wanted to immediately GTFO, you know how much lighting can influence your state of mind. The type of meditation you practice -- and what you want to achieve from meditating -- may influence how you choose to light your meditation area.

A lit candle has a calming affect, and it's used as a tool to focus the mind in candlelight meditation, says Gruver. (See the 13 best candles for your home.)

Dim light has been shown to make people happier and more relaxed, ideal if you meditate to reduce stress. Exposure to bright light, such as sunlight, boosts alertness; if you're meditating to improve concentration, consider orienting your seat toward an open window.

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The jury is still out on whether aromatherapy has genuine mind/body benefits; some small studies have shown that essential oils reduce the symptoms of a variety of ailments, including anxiety, chronic pain and insomnia. Nevertheless, many practitioners of meditation find scented oils, incense or candles important for setting a mood. Fragrant plant oils such as lavender and jasmine are said to encourage relaxation, and sniffing orange oil has been associated with reduced stress.

If you're not big on candles or oils, try burning herbs or leaves such as white sage, cedar leaves and pine needles. Whether or not you believe they clear bad juju, their fragrance is intoxicating.

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Tuning out the world's BS is hard enough; add car traffic, barking dogs or boisterous neighbors and you may never reach your moment of Zen. If street noise around your home is a distraction, consider rounding out your meditation area with a sound machine, or a Bluetooth speaker for playing ambient meditation music.

Listening to guided meditation sessions on your smartphone can also encourage focus; Gruver recommends the app Insight Timer, free for iPhone, and offers a few free guided meditation sessions on her website. Rains also offers a selection of guided meditations for beginners.

Garlinger recommends the free iPhone app Headspace, which "provides very helpful instructions, with a wide range of guided meditations," to beginners.

Still stuck in a meditation rut? Check out our Meditation Hacks for People Who Suck at Sitting Still.

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