Drew Barrymore Turned Her Closet Into a Meditation Space and Maybe That’s What We All Need

Jan 29, 2024

This article originally appeared on Yoga Journal

Drew Barrymore has a meditation closet. Or, rather, a "room of revelations," as it's described in a recent article in New York Magazine featuring the child star, rom-com queen, and talk show host showing off her repurposed walk-in closet.

The free-spirited actress sacrificed precious storage space in the three-bedroom pre-war Manhattan apartment she shares with her two daughters to create a place where she can exist quietly. Pink flamingo wallpaper serves as backdrop to a "mosaic of sticky notes" containing "affirmations and aphorisms" as well as candles and an old-school boom box.

The dozens of handwritten reminders to herself include "Listen to my body and soul," "Treat myself as the mother I needed," "Do not beat myself up." They are largely based on prompts from Barrymore's longtime therapists, explains writer E. Alex Jung.

The approach draws on Jungian psychology and becoming aware of and confronting the negative judgments we tend to hurl at ourselves. The intent is observe one's patterned tendencies rather than habitually fall into them. What results, with time, is an ability to elicit responses that are less self-damning, more realistic, and even kind.

The space isn't a hideaway. It's a space to be with herself as she navigates life. It's a place for her to catch and change her thoughts and self-talk when she starts to move into a downward spiral of self-judgment.

"There's nothing I can do but just walk through it and feel my own discomfort," Barrymore says in the disarmingly candid way of talking that she's been known for since she became a celebrity at the age of seven with the release of E.T.: The Extra-Terrestial. She's also known for her resilience, notably in taking ownership of the struggles she's experienced following her celebrity childhood, including battling addiction and becoming emancipated from her parents at age 14.

As New Yorkers know, a walk-in closet in the city is precious real estate. But for Barrymore, the repurposing of the space seems to be as much necessity as amenity. A recent Instagram post by Barrymore, who also practices yoga, features a meme that states, "The true measure of success is a calm nervous system."

Unsurprisingly, the meditation closet has drawn attention on social media. Although some Instagram commenters disparaged the notion or cite concerns about the candles in close proximity to the notes, many found solace in the notion of a quiet space. "I want to live in her affirmation closet." commented one reader.

Rather than being confining, claustrophobic, or a place to hide from life, a small meditation space can make it easier to withdraw from all the distractions and come back to yourself. Settling into that designated space isn't unlike taking a long soak in the tub with the lights dimmed or sinking onto the couch when no one else is around. It's simply more deliberate.

Curiously, the concept of a meditation closet has gone largely unnoticed by most design hubs, despite the increasing awareness around meditation and its benefits in recent years. The term draws barely any mentions on Pinterest. It's even eluded the design gurus at Apartment Therapy and their closet makeovers and sanctuary corners.

Whereas Domino seems to think your meditation closet needs a $75 candle to be complete, a personal meditation space can be whatever you want, need, and can afford. One Instagram commenter noted, "All those words on messy scraps of paper--this room would stress me out. I think I'd prefer blank walls and a nice lil notebook." The beauty of creating a space like Drew's is it's yours. Do with it what you will.

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