 You need to be cautious, though. These brief telecasts may lead you
to make assumptions, and you could miss the real definition and
benefits of feng shui.
You might have seen something like a homebuyer refusing a home
because the staircase faces the front door and that is bad feng shui.
That is correct: no staircases facing front doors. But there is so
much more.
What is feng shui? It is an ancient Chinese lifestyle science
used to create spaces that produce the best energy for a given area:
energy that feeds the soul and produces a more balanced life.
The literal translation means "wind and water," relating to two
of the earth's most basic elements. Figuratively, it means light and
energy, which are the basis of the science of feng shui.
We all want to find balance, and following the rules of feng shui
can help you to achieve that in your home.
In reality, unless your home was designed and built by a feng
shui architect with all the elements in their proper spots, you're
going to find that achieving true feng shui is really not possible.
However, there are some "cheats" that can help you through it.
The best thing to do is start with one room. Then with a little
homework, see how you can improve other spaces in your home.
One of the most important rooms in the home to have good feng
shui is the bedroom.
A good feng shui bedroom is one that promotes a harmonious flow
of nourishing and sensual energy. It is a room that is inviting; it
calms and excites at the same time, and is a fun and pleasurable
place to be.
Beginning tips
1. When creating this space, get rid of all the work.
If your bedroom doubles as your home office or workout center,
make a new place for those things. The exercise equipment, the
computer and even the television have no place in a feng shui
bedroom.
2. Bring good air into the room.
Fresh air through open windows is the best, but if that isn't
possible, there is a "cheat" you can use. Buy a good-quality air
purifier.
When you lie down to sleep, it is not healthy to sleep in air
with toxins or pollutants. Keep the air fresh, and you will breathe
easier and sleep better.
One thing you should not do is add potted plants to the bedroom,
unless you have a very large room where the plants can be placed far
from the bed. While plants do help purify the air naturally, they
also draw the energy away from you and to them.
3. Play with light.
Create several levels of light in the room. For best feng shui,
candles are very important, but be careful that the candles you use
are not toxic. Keep things as close to nature as possible.
Other good ideas include installing dimmer switches so that
lighting can be adjusted according to the mood.
If you can, take advantage of the windows in the room. Natural
light is the best. Open up those drapes and raise those blinds in
the daytime and enjoy the natural lighting in the room.
Now having said that, be warned, because if that window is on the
same wall as your bed, you may have to choose not to use natural
light.
4. Use calming colors.
In the science of feng shui, color is very important for
achieving the proper energy in the room. The proper energy in the
room depends on which room it is.
Feng shui uses reds, oranges and vibrant yellows in rooms where
high activity is common.
However, in the bedroom, the idea is rest, relaxation and
achieving restorative energy. Thus, the desirable colors are those
that are more calming. In the science, these are referred to as the
"skin colors" and range from a very pale pink to a deep chocolate
brown.
Using pale colors on the walls will increase the sense of light
in the room, which will feed the good energy. Dark accents will add
a comforting component that is conducive to relaxation and good
sleep.
5. And the last tip: Choose art that makes you happy.
The best guideline here is to hang a picture that depicts a place
you would like to be. Whether it be a painting of a lush forest or a
calm beach, make it something where you can see yourself in the
picture.
Don't hang art that promotes being melancholy, as it will zap all
your good energy and replace it with bad energy.
One of the best parts about feng shui is that it doesn't dictate
what style of furnishings you use. Your bedroom can be vintage,
early American or super modern and you can still achieve feng shui.
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There are a few good rules to follow, especially when considering
your bed. The bed is obviously the most important piece of furniture
in the room, so it needs to be treated as such.
-
For the body to
get optimum rest, it needs optimum support. This starts with the
headboard. The bed in the perfect setting will be wood, with a
strong wooden headboard.
-
The mattress of
the bed should be one that suits your particular comfort level,
so that when you lie down, you feel the support of the mattress
on the full length of your body.
-
There should be
good air flow to promote good energy while sleeping. The best
bed will have legs so that air can pass under the bed. Beds with
platform foundations or storage drawers under the box springs
will not promote good feng shui.
-
Along that same
line of thinking, the bed should be approachable from both
sides, meaning that you can get between the bed and the wall.
Pull the bed 5 to 6 inches away from the wall and you've
achieved that part of the goal.
There should be night tables on both sides of the bed. In a
narrow bedroom, this can be a little tricky, but once again, there
is a "cheat" you can use.
You really don't have to use a table per se. You can simulate
that space in some very creative, inexpensive ways. For example;
visit some area thrift stores, garage sales or take advantage of the
annual book sale at the Lincoln Public Library and purchase some
appropriately sized hardback books.
Spray paint the books in the appropriate "skin colors," or if you
think they might make good future reading, just leave them as is.
Stack the books beside the bed until they reach the top of the
mattress. Top off with a lace doily or a linen napkin in a matching
color, add a large candle, and you've accomplished your goal.
And finally, placement of the bed in the room with relation to
other furnishings, windows and doors is very important.
-
The head of the
bed should be on a strong wall. This is a wall with no breaks in
it such as windows. In some rooms this could be very difficult
to accomplish. But again, there is a "cheat" you can use.
For a wall with a window, consider hanging a drape that would
cover the wall entirely, effectively creating the illusion of a
solid wall with no breaks.
-
The foot of the
bed should not be in direct line with a door.
There really are no cheats for making a door disappear. So, just
do the best you can. Consider what would happen if you move the
bed slightly to one side of the room or another. And, if you
have to compromise, do so with the door and not your strong
wall.
-
Do not allow
mirrors to reflect your bed. This, too, can be difficult, but
manageable.
If your dresser with its large mirror is facing the bed,
consider whether or not it can be moved to another wall.
If that isn't possible, then give some thought to how much you
actually need the mirror. Is it vital to the furniture?
Remember, the bedroom is the place for rest and re-energizing,
not the place to dry and curl your hair or apply makeup.
If all else fails, use a large floral arrangement or some other
decorative item you like, so that when you are in bed, you
cannot see yourself in the mirror.
If by chance you have closet doors with mirrors and those doors
face the bed, you can use your drapery cheat here as well. Hang
the drapes over the doors, then slide them open when you want
access to the closet.
Oh, and by the way, a tidy closet is a key to good feng shui in
the bedroom. Make sure items that belong in the closet are actually
in the closet and not on the floor adjacent to it, and that the
doors are closed when you're not in the closet, mirrors or no
mirrors.
The most important thing to keep in mind about feng shui is that
it is about feeling good. You want to rest well, wake up energetic
and ready to face the day. This will happen when you wake up in a
room that gives you pleasure.
The elements of feng shui aid in creating personal energy in your
personal space. The objective, as much as anything, is a state of
mind. When you see your bedroom as your oasis of rest, restoration
and healing, then you have achieved your ultimate goal.
[By NILA SMITH]
LDN 2013 Spring Home Improvement
Magazine
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