Do you feng shui? Tips For Decorating a Home
I recently learned about an interesting method of interior design. It’s called feng shui, and it is derived from the ancient Chinese. Literally translated as wind-water, feng shui takes into consideration every aspect of exterior and interior design including architecture, space, weather, and astronomy! Feng shui is said to have tremendously beneficial effects on a person’s physical health, financial position, and interpersonal relationships. Wall hangings, furniture position, even color play an integral part in creating feng shui harmony. Every aspect from the doorway to the staircase has its own science to design and decorating.
Feng shui interior design involves looking for places with good qi (chi), which is loosely translated as a flow of energy. Animals also play a large part in feng shui decorating. Turtles (stability, support and longevity), dogs (protection), birds (new opportunities), as well as all the animals that symbolize the calendar (year). Feng shui has five basic elements, which correspond to various colors and shades. The element of fire, for example, correlates to red, strong yellow, orange, and purple, while wood works best with green and brown. The other elements are metal, water and earth.
As bizarre as it all sounds, feng shui can actually be viewed as a geographically sound form of architecture and design. Consulting feng shui is just the same as building your house upwind, down stream or off a fault line to avoid natural catastrophes and to cull ecological benefits. It is simply stacking your cards according to the environment. Make sense, right?
Other aspects of feng shui seem a bit more abstract and contrived, (though I’m not one to criticize other ways of life- different strokes for different folks). I struggle with concepts such as a winding staircase is a bad omen, and red apples suppress anger in the world of feng shui. The direction in which you sleep can bring you prosperity or shame depending on the alignment. These certainly don’t speak to the pragmatic skeptic within me.
Putting aside the seemingly arbitrary notions found in this interior design approach, the main goal of feng shui is harmony between man and nature. Which brings us to another completely logical notion founded in feng shui. Our surroundings have an enormous effect on our emotional state. If we surround ourselves with dark rooms, drab colors, and ornaments of death, naturally we will feel depressed and will physically be unproductive. If, on the other hand, we occupy our living space with light, air, and symbols of prosperity and hope, both our emotional and physical states will follow suit.
I wouldn’t start remodeling your house based on this slightly superstitious form of interior design. However, there are several practical aspects that anyone can use to enhance their living space.
- Natural air purifiers: Feng shui strongly believes in the energy powers of plants, especially as natural air purifiers. Fill creative furniture items made from pleasant wood such as a wishing well or planter boxes with all sorts of palms including bamboo palm, English ivy, and Boston fern, to name a few, to infuse your home with fresh energy and life.
- Dark corners and cramped spaces- It is said that within these pockets that dormant qi will gather, creating countless ailments and other negative repercussions. Cramped spaces are symbolic of an unsmooth flow of life. In our own lives we know that dark and cramped areas are unappealing and can upset our schedule.
- Hang a mirror on either side of a long & tight staircase to give it light and space.
- Use light-colored furniture in smaller rooms.
- Hang wind chimes to revitalize a stale corner.
- Paint walls a light color or white to expand the room.
- Lights, lights, and more lights.
- Get rid of clutter in those cramped areas.
- Hang pretty pictures and mirrors to visually enlarge a space and add color and vibrance to a room.
No one will argue the importance of a pleasant living area. Colors, furnishings, and wall hangings can certainly enhance or stifle a mood. We can take advantage of human nature when decorating, and interior design ourselves into a healthier frame of mind.
4 comments July 15th, 2007