SmartHomeOwners

Feng shui decor can easily be achieved in your home by making just a few changes.  It's really not about beauty...but about creating peace and tranquility in your home.  It's about bringing balance to every room to calm the soul and help your family to relax. 

As an ancient Chinese practice, feng shui is considered to be an art that involves strategically placing objects in a room to create harmony or a positive flow of energy.  And though the Chinese have used this practice for thousands of years, many homeowners in North America now enjoy the harmony created by feng shui home decor.  Let's explore some ways to create a positive environment in your home using simple feng shui techniques.

Encourage Air Flow

Often referred to as "Qi" by the Chinese, air flow is important in creating a relaxed, calm environment.  Imagine living in a stuffy home all the time with no air flow!  Everyone in your family will begin to feel tired and irritable after a while.  Just think about how wonderful it feels to be outdoors when a nice breeze is blowing. 

Feng shui rooms are often spacious with free-flowing air where the seating and walking areas are located.  Place your furnishings, tables and decor accessories where there is no clutter.  Consider adding live green plants to increase oxygen production and flow in the room.  Use heavy objects in corners for stability.  Add soft light lamps and calming fragrances (such as aromatic candles or incense). 

Water and Sound

Feng shui also includes decor items that have running water or create sounds.  Add a table fountain for the sound of water flowing and to produce a cool, fresh mist throughout the day.  Soft or classical music can increase a room's positive flow while entertaining guests or even when you're all alone.

Reflections

Use prisms to reflect colorful light in a room.  These can be in the form of table figurines, hanging prisms for windows, lamp shade trimmings, etc.  Glass or crystal prisms reflect the light in rainbow-like colors and work great for formal living areas or bedrooms.

Kitchen and Bath Feng Shui

Kitchens need plenty of space to move and breathe.  The cook in a family spends many hours there slaving over hot meals.  There needs to be ample ventilation to keep the air flowing.  For eat-in kitchens, try to create a barrier of some sort between the eating area and the cabinets, stove, etc.  This will give the feel of your own small dining room.  Also, allow for walking space in the kitchen without cluttering the floor with objects.  Kitchen decor should be simple and cheery.  Avoid placing too many items on counters or shelves.  These should remain uncluttered to allow for preparation and serving room.

In the bath, create a positive feng shui atmosphere with calming colors and decorations.  Decorate in lovely florals or another favorite bath theme, but don't overdo it.  Baths can be a place of isolation and relaxation.  Use warm, soothing colors for your personal bath (where you want to relax) and bright, vivid colors for the guest bath.  Use candles for warmth and scent, and add bright lighting that enables you to see clearly while grooming each morning.

These feng shui ideas are just a starting point, but there are many ways to incorporate feng shui into your home decor and create a positive effect!