Filed under: Beautiful Home
After a long day at work, most people want to come home to a place of complete calm. Some crave this solace of relaxation so much, that they're willing to dole out boatloads to pay someone to do it for them.
At Black Voices, we figure, why add the extra stress? This quick and easy guide to Feng shui (which translates to "wind and water") will have your good chi going in no time.
Since you spend the bulk of your time (albeit predominantly while unconscious) in your bedroom, this is a fantastic place to start. Our sister site Shelterpop had a bunch of great ideas to get us going.
Although Feng shui is about more than just rearranging furniture, the placement of the bed is important. While the bed should be positioned as far from the door as possible, it is good to put it on the solid wall across from the entryway to create a sense of security. A solid headboard helps the chi enter your body as you sleep.
And about that chi... stick to bedside tables with rounded edges. Pointy corners send the negative energy straight your way.
Feng shui in the bedroom is all about keeping things calm. Shield desks or exercise equipment out of sight with a folding screen and paint your walls with calming light blues, greens, lavenders, tans and browns. (Touches of pink, purple and burgundy are acceptable to amp up the romance!)
Shelterpop also has some great living room advice.
First of all, avoid clutter. This is a Feng shui mantra, so get used to it. There's no need for oversized chairs or other obstacles that can obstruct the flow of the room.
When re-examining furniture placement, keep in mid that you should never have your back to a doorway. Place your chairs and couches facing the entrance... not each other. This puts unnecessary pressure on guests.
Hide the TV. It can still be in the room (preferably in an armoire) but try focusing on a fireplace instead.
Like a good recipe, kitchens can seem difficult, but come out great if you follow the instructions.
First of all, paint your walls with calming whites, blues and light greens as opposed to volatile pinks, reds and purples that can cause disputes among the chefs.
In terms of appliance placement, the stove should face the door since you never want your back to the entrance while cooking. Triangle models-in which the refrigerator, stove and sink are six to eight feet apart-are ideal, and fire elements (microwaves and stoves) should be separated from water elements (sink, refrigerator) by wood.
Mirrors are key to most Feng shui spaces-when used properly. They are great for bringing light into dark corners, but if placed opposite a door, you risk reflecting the chi right out of the room. Furthermore, avoid placing a mirror across from your bed (stop snickering) because they'll make your problems seem bigger than they actually are.
Family photos are also tricky. While they are strongly encouraged to be placed throughout the house-a symbol of true happiness, a family portrait will brighten any living room-avoid them in the bedroom. Bedrooms are for you time. A place of relaxation and romance. Perhaps hang up a piece of your favorite artwork instead, so it's the last thing you see before falling asleep.