Feng Shui Decorating: Placement of Objects in the Home
How you place or where you place objects in your room affects your surroundings. Most people believe it is best to create open spaces where you can walk freely.
More than once, we talked about how important it is to remove clutter when possible. In Feng Shui, the goal of placing objects is to stimulate the movement of energy, called "chi" in any room. This brings positive feelings and prosperity.
Here are some simple steps you can take to create a sensible, practical and useful flow in your living space:
Always use your intuition when placing objects throughout your home, and chances are you will design your home in a pleasing way. You may find you place objects and move them frequently until you establish a comfortable working environment. This is perfectly normal. You may also find with time you have a need to change the way objects are placed in your home. Do what you feel is right at the time, and you can't go wrong.
Some say when it comes to Feng Shui, it is best to make small changes first, so you can observe how your body reacts to them.
If for example, you paint a room, move your sofa and place a new fountain in a corner on the same day, and feel different, how can you be sure if all or one of these actions caused your feelings?
When decorating and moving objects around your home to improve the flow of energy, be sure you take your time. This is the best way to create a quiet and peaceful environment. If you want, rearrange the furniture in your home and walkways several times, to make sure the interior of your home reflects your true personality, wants and desires.
If you want to learn more about creating a positive and spacious environment, check out a few books on Feng Shui from the library. You can also Google the term and find a wealth of information on the Web.
Here are some simple steps you can take to create a sensible, practical and useful flow in your living space:
- Make sure all walkways are open and spacious so you feel you have more space and do not trip on objects.
- Do not block doors, and ensure they can open freely to allow warmth and prosperity into your home.
- Avoid clutter in any area of the home as this can create feelings of chaos or an unstructured environment. It can also block positive energy.
- Try to allow air to flow freely through rooms, using ventilation or by unblocking or uncovering windows.
- Avoid placing a bed directly across from a door or mirror as this can interrupt your natural sleep cycle or rhythms according to some.
- Make sure mirrors reflect positive or aesthetically appealing objects, so when you stare at them you feel relaxed and calm.
- Use plants to create an environment filled with life and animation, and to provide a sense of calm when working in a hectic environment.
Always use your intuition when placing objects throughout your home, and chances are you will design your home in a pleasing way. You may find you place objects and move them frequently until you establish a comfortable working environment. This is perfectly normal. You may also find with time you have a need to change the way objects are placed in your home. Do what you feel is right at the time, and you can't go wrong.
Some say when it comes to Feng Shui, it is best to make small changes first, so you can observe how your body reacts to them.
If for example, you paint a room, move your sofa and place a new fountain in a corner on the same day, and feel different, how can you be sure if all or one of these actions caused your feelings?
When decorating and moving objects around your home to improve the flow of energy, be sure you take your time. This is the best way to create a quiet and peaceful environment. If you want, rearrange the furniture in your home and walkways several times, to make sure the interior of your home reflects your true personality, wants and desires.
If you want to learn more about creating a positive and spacious environment, check out a few books on Feng Shui from the library. You can also Google the term and find a wealth of information on the Web.
Expert Design Tips For Beginners
Now that you have a basic understanding of what design is all about, it is time to review some ways to bring your home together. You should always work to create a home that seems balanced. You do not want to decorate your home so that you feel you live in a chaotic environment. You can easily decorate and create positive balance by following the techniques outlined in this section.You know you can buy inexpensive pieces to furnish your home. You can also mix and match. One key to creating a homey environment is to buy one or two key pieces you like, even if they are expensive, and complement the rest of the area you plan to decorate with simple items that cost much less.
Mixing and matching works well as long as you have some design element in mind. For example, if you want to mix antique furniture with some contemporary pieces, you can do so, just make sure the pieces complement each other in some way, or match the overall style you want to create within your home.
Two Basic Ways to Decorate for Success
If you look at interior design as a philosophy, there are two major ways to decorate. You can keep things clean, simple and streamlined (as one might if they wanted to use the principles of Feng Shui), or you can create a natural, upbeat and abstract environment that matches your personality.Some people prefer to use exotic or fun pieces throughout their home to create an entertaining and lively environment. Others want to create a peaceful and tranquil environment. Still others buy pieces reflecting their cultural heritage. No one way is the right way, because everyone is different. How you decorate should reflect how you feel and who you are.
You may find you want an exotic theme or style in your bedroom or the family area, but tranquil and balanced in the living or home office area. You can mix and match, though most people tend to stick with one theme or another. Key to your success is your ability to have an open mind, and have fun.
Make sure you do not use too many pieces when designing. If you have the idea to place family photographs along a hallway for example, as a way to decorate your walls, do so, but do it simply. Try using the same frame style for all the pictures you use. If you mix and match too many different styles, you will create a chaotic looking environment.
Candles Décor
Some people decorate with candles and color alone. Candles come in many shapes, sizes, colors and scents. You can buy small tea candles for less than a dollar, or larger candles for $10.00. You can use candles to accessorize or candle lamps to substitute artificial lighting in your home. If you want an environmentally friendly home, you may want to buy organic candles.The key to making candles work is finding proper holders for them. These you can find anywhere. You can buy sets of candleholders and use them to decorate an entire home, and save money by investing in more rather than less.
Just make sure if you plan to light candles, you replace them regularly. Tea candles are best used as lighting sources because they are inexpensive. You do not want to buy a $200 decorative candle and light it, having to replace it monthly. That gets expensive.
On the other hand, you can use the larger piece as décor in your home, and light tea candles to allow a pleasing glow and aroma. Most people find a combination of techniques creates just the right feel and appearance for their home. One word of caution - If you do buy candles, make sure you invest in candles that have safeguards. You do not want to burn down your beautifully decorated home. Always make sure you put candles out when you are done using them.
If you are sensitive to scent, try using unscented candles. Many candles come in powerful scents, so be sure you check the candle's ingredients BEFORE you buy so you do not bring on an allergic reaction when decorating your home.
As you continue to use your imagination and adopt new techniques, you will find new ideas inspire you to change the look and feel of your home. When this happens, go back to your goal-setting list and create new goals for your home. Ultimately, this will allow you to create an expertly designed home any time you want, without spending a fortune.