ATLANTA INTERIOR DESIGNER: Feng Shui: The Bedroom Episode...

I have had some specific requests for more Feng Shui tips so I decided to move into the bedroom!

Tips for creating a Fung Shui bedroom

• No television, exercise equipment, or computer (unless there is a separate room or sitting area used for an office).
• Open the windows often to fill the room with fresh air & push the stale oxygen out!
• Use several levels of lighting including table lamps & overhead lighting.
• Use appropriate & soothing colors. Some Fung Shui followers suggest using "skin-tone" colors in the bedroom which can range from an ivory, to pinky-beige, to chocolate brown & everything in between. See this post for help with paint colors.
• No mirror directly across from the bed or where your body will lay at night.
• Keep all the doors closed while you sleep. This way the energy can roam freely within the boundaries of your room all night and will strengthen your health and the health of your relationship (if two are sleeping in the same room).
• Have the bed easily approachable from both sides.
• Two bedside tables to create symmetry and balance.
• Use a large area rug if you have a hard floor (hard wood, tile, etc.)
• Avoid having the bed directly in line with the door.
• Live plants always help improve the energy of a space.
• Keep a clean & organized bedroom at all times so they energy of your room flows instead of stutters :)

Examples of Good Feng Shui in the bedroom

For more Fung Shui tips visit here.

Happy Chi!

Heather

ATLANTA INTERIOR DESIGNER: Positive & Negative Colors...

"I deeply believe that a beautiful decor can have a beneficial influence on our lives." Albert Hadley 

Here's my directory of colors & the positive or negative energy of them. I sincerely believe that colors affect our moods dramatically...and since this is the year we are returning to color I figured a little cheat sheet might be of some use!


 Blue

Soothing & Calming. Powers of healing & relaxation. Since it is the color of the sea and sky, Feng Shui associates it with adventure and exploration. Navy blue is considered the color of intellect and wisdom.

Blue paint of the day:

Sherwin-Williams Blue Mosque

Black

Black symbolizes money, income, power, and emotional protection. Great for careers...think it's perfect for a home office?!

Black paint of the day:

Sherwin-Williams Tricorn Black

Orange

The color or organization and strengthens organization. Feng Shui uses this color to show a sense a purpose.

Orange paint of the day:

Sherwin-Williams Marquis Orange

Purple

Important  color in Feng Shui, since it's at the end of the spectrum. Tends to be the color of physical & mental healing.

Purple paint of the day:

Sherwin-Williams Plummy

Yellow

Yellow represents sunbeams, warmth, motion, cheerfulness and friendliness. However, according to a noted 'Color Feng Shui' consultant, prolonged exposure to large amounts of intense yellow can cause anxiety. I have always been taught that yellow in a nursery can cause Colic and major anxiety. It's a little too intense for my taste... I would love to hear your thoughts.

Yellow paint of the day:

Sherwin-Williams June Day

Red

The Feng Shui energy of color red is the energy of arousal and always signifies richness and luxury.. It is hot, passionate, rich and celebratory. Chinese color of luck. If used too much, though, it can bring restlessness, bursts of anger and over stimulation. (Much like yellow).

I've heard theories of why most fast food chains use red and/or yellow in their marketing. (Think McDonald's, Burger King, Chick-fil-a, Wendy's) One, because it makes you want to "hurry" and that red also makes you hungry. Hence "Fast-Food". Not sure how much truth there is to this but definitely goes along with what I've learned about these colors & what Feng Shui says...

Red paint of the day:

Sherwin-Williams Poinsettia
(This one is looking more pink on my screen than it actually is)

This week pay attention to the surrounding colors you live and work in daily, how to you think they affect your different moods or feelings? For more posts about Feng Shui click here.

Happy Designing!

Heather

Resources:

www.thespiritualfengshui.com/feng-shui-color

fengshui.about.com

Blue Room: decorologist.com
Black Room: ElleDecor

Orange Room: Decodingdecor.com

Purple Room: Leslie Fine Interiors

Yellow room: thedesignophile.com

Red room: idesignarch.com

ATLANTA INTERIOR DESIGNER: Feng Shui...

"Does the front door facing my staircase create bad Feng Shui?"

I've probably been asked this more in the last two months than ever before... and the short answer, is yes.

The main door of your home in Feng Shui, is called "The Mouth of Chi". Feng Shui followers believe that having the front or main door of the home facing a staircase directly can create bad energy. This allows the 'energy' or 'chi' to rush up or down the stairs, thus leaving the main floor without enough energy nourishment. You're basically letting all the good stuff fly right out the front door ;)

Fengshui.about.com states "In case of a big foyer with a staircase further from the door, the energy can settle in and nourish the space, gradually and harmoniously finding its way to other areas of the house. When the foyer is small, though, and the staircase is facing the main door directly, the energy takes a rushed and fragmented quality, being forced to quickly rush up or down the stairs."

 

Interior Design practices to promote good energy in a foyer will sometimes include adding elements to slow down the energy so it can settle in a nourish the space. Ideas would be adding a live plant, area rug, mirror (although never facing the entrance directly- which reflects the energy out, instead of inviting it in), or strategically placed artwork.

Bad Feng Shui

My tips for this space would be to take steps to "create" a foyer area and slow down your energy by;

1. Add an area rug in front of the door as well as in the living room area.

2. Create a symmetrical picture or art work arrangement to the right of the door.

3.  Remove the current table and lamp to the left of the door. In it's place add a taller foyer style table, with mirror hanging above. A rounded or demilune table will allow the energy to meander around it, rather than shoot off squared or straight edges.

Good Feng Shui

I love this space...period. But for the focus of good Feng Shui, notice the symmetry of two wing chairs and two floral arrangements complete with area rug to slow the energy down and allow it to nourish your space. Also, staircase (complete with rolling arm rails) not directly facing the front entrance.

To see how we started this topic visit the Feng Shui section of the blog.

Happy FRIDAY...which to me usually means tomorrow is my Monday...but you can at least enjoy it for me. Have a great weekend!

Heather

Pictures from feelgoodhomedesignblog.com

Feng Shui 101...

Get your Qi on!

An interesting topic came up today at work today with the other designers...Feng Shui. I've had a couple of clients over the years ask me to incorporate this concept into their own homes but I've never truly studied it. I figured I could take this opportunity to start a Feng Shui section of the blog and help you and myself learn a little more about this ancient system. 

For the purpose of Feng Shui in Interior Design I'll try to focus on Modern Feng Shui as it relates to us.

Feng Shui (fung- shway) is a Chinese system of geomency believed to use the laws of both Heaven  and Earth to help one improve life by receiving positive qi. The term feng shui literally translates as "wind-water" in English. Historically, feng shui was widely used to orient buildings—often spiritually significant structures such as tombs, but also dwellings and other structures. Depending on the particular style of feng shui being used, an auspicious site could be determined by reference to local features such as bodies of water, stars, or a compass. Feng shui was suppressed in China during the cultural revolution in the 1960s, but since then has increased in popularity.

Qi (chee) is a movable positive or negative life force which plays an essential role in feng shui. In Chinese martial arts or other activities such as yoga, Qi refers to energy.

In pre-modern China, Yin feng shui (for tombs) had as much importance as Yang feng shui (for homes). For both types one had to determine direction by observing the skies and to determine the Yin and Yang of the land.

Many believe it is important and very helpful in living a prosperous and healthy life by either avoiding or blocking negative energies that might otherwise have bad effects. Many of the higher-level forms of feng shui are not so easily practiced without either connections, or a certain amount of wealth because the hiring of an expert, the great altering of architecture or design, and the moving from place to place that is sometimes necessary requires a lot of money. Because of this, some people believe it is only a game for the wealthy. Others, however, practice less expensive forms of feng shui, including hanging special inexpensive mirrors, forks, or woks in doorways to deflect negative energy and create a positive atmosphere in their homes.

For now, I think I'll just end with the basics. However, I promise I'll definitely be going more in depth with this topic (such as what in the world the diagram I started with means!) and how to incorporate into our own homes & designs!

I would like to thank Wikipedia for being much more knowledgeable than I on this subject :)

Happy Designing!
Heather