Decorating your home

With an ancient tradition gives the look and feel you desire with a journey to the past

In our last feature we explored how the Chinese philosophy of Feng Shui can help you design your home and improve your personal environment. Using the Bagua map and other general guidelines to create comfort, harmony and security, Feng Shui homes take advantage of the flow of energy through living spaces to enhance the way we feelin our homes. This article, the second in our three-part series, applies the same principles of Feng Shui to the art of interior design, helping you choose furniture and decorating schemes to provide an overall sense of comfort and security in your home.

To begin, keep in mind that Feng Shui's top decorating priorities are comfort and security. Select soft, cushy and rounded furniture as opposed to hard materials or designs with sharp corners. Ideally, main decorating pieces such as couches, beds,and chairs should be neutral in color to allow for easy redecorating if you decide to change the color scheme or art in your home. Opt for tables, counters, and desks with rounded edges wherever possible to soften the look of your home and avoid injuries around the house. The placement of your furniture is important as well, and beds, couches and toilets should be situated with a view of the door but not located directly in front of it.

Lighting in your home can be used to make rooms look bigger, highlight important pieces of art, illuminate dark corners, and set a desired mood. Avoid fluorescent lighting, and instead integrate bright track lighting, mood-setting candles, and artistic lamps throughout the house. Mirror placement is essential to stimulate active energy and refract light through your home. All mirrors should be well-lit, and large, single-paned mirrors are best as opposed to mosaic or patterned ones. However, avoid large mirrors in bedrooms and other restful areas to minimize stimulation in areas intended for sleep and relaxation.

The colors and décor in your home should be chosen mindfully to inspire you throughout the house. Follow the guidelines of the Bagua Map to evaluate each room and decorate accordingly. The Bagua divides our living spaces into nine general sections intended to correspond to different areas of our personal lives. Bagua-inspired color schemes, decorating materials, and the strategic placement of photos, plants, artwork, and other decorating items can elp you improve different areas of your life. For example, health and familial relations may be improved by placing a vibrant green plant and family photos in the "Health and Family" area of the room. Hanging pink silk flowers and sensual paintings in the "Love and Marriage" corner can jumpstart your love life or help put the spark back into your marriage. By following the decorating guidelines of the Bagua, we can enhance our lives while beautifying and harmonizing every room in the house.



As a general Feng Shui rule, all areas of the home should be tidy and organized, free of cluttered surfaces, messy closets, or unkempt areas. Treat each section of the house as an actual room—including garages, laundry rooms, hallways and bathrooms—by painting and decorating them as you would any other living space. Artwork should be positive and inspiring to you and reflective of the function of the room. Bedrooms require paintings evocative of restfulness such as serene landscapes and tranquil images; whereas living rooms or home studios can house busier and more creative pieces including colorful cityscapes or tropical wildlife. Avoid dark or negative art including images of death or destruction.

Finally, liven up your home with simple touches of nature. Flowers and plants can help energize any room and are a great way to add a subtle hint of color to align a room's décor with the Bagua map. Take care to keep vases fresh with clean water, and be sure to dispose of dead or wilting flowers as often as possible.

Feng Shui interior design helps you create a comfortable and harmonious personal environment to inspire your senses and help you reach a peaceful state of mind in every room of the house.

In our next issue, the final feature of this series explores the ways in which the art of Feng Shui enhances your home's garden and outdoor landscaping.

For more information on using the Bagua Map and Feng Shui philosophy to decorate your home, visit our website at RealtyGuidecr.com.