Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Tips on Feng Shui in Restaurant Design

Feng shui has much to offer restaurants, helping owners to create a balanced and inviting environment. Thoughtful design helps guests to relax, encouraging them to stay longer and come back again. Different restaurants create different types of ambiance, from trendy to family style, and all of them can use feng shui principles in their design.



Entryway
The entryway must communicate warmth and openness, allowing easy access for all guests. As the Spirit of Design website says, the entryway is the Mouth of Qi, which draws life force energy inside. Thus, a comfortable waiting area, with ample room for other guests to enter and exit the building, creates a great first impression. However, it should be separate from the main dining space to create a transition zone, so new guests don't feel that everyone is watching them, says Sally Fretwell in "Feng Shui: Back to Balance." Decorate the entryway with artwork or other interesting items that fit with the restaurant's theme, suggests the Spirit of Design website.

Layout
The layout should create the feeling of openness as well, with wide-enough aisles for people to move through the restaurant without disturbing diners, as the Spirit of Design website says. Also, arrange tables so people can easily navigate to the restrooms or exit without walking through a maze of tables. Likewise, in the kitchen, make sure people have ample space to work safely and well, and always make safety a first priority. Furthermore, the entire layout of the restaurant should afford a sense of balance, say Regina S. Baraban and Joseph F. Durocher in "Successful Restaurant Design." A fairly symmetrical building and outdoor environment will maintain this equilibrium.

Acoustics
In many restaurants, people have to struggle to hear each other, which doesn't create a harmonious environment. Use strategies such as smaller rooms that flow into each other, or large wall hangings, to absorb sound and allow for easy communication.

Colors
Warm colors like orange, red and pink increase appetite and conversation, says Fretwell. They also create a welcoming environment that helps people to feel relaxed. According to Lillian Too in "Lillian Too's Easy-to-Use Feng Shui," blue colors, as well as water elements like fountains, encourage people to consume more alcohol. Consider how this relates to your priorities, minimizing or maximizing these elements as desired.

Lighting
Soft lighting enhances the comfortable, welcoming feel that warm colors create. A restaurant using feng shui principles should use lighting that has a soft glow, but allows people to see each other and their surroundings well. Candles create a romantic mood, while softly brightening the immediate environment, which can create a comfortable feeling of semiprivacy.

Other Elements
Well-placed mirrors and artwork can contribute to a restaurant's ambiance. Make sure mirrors reflect pleasant scenery, and consider using them to create the effect of a larger room. Artwork that features scenes of people happily interacting creates a welcoming environment, as Fretwell says. Always choose elements that correspond with the style of your particular restaurant.

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Tips to Feng Shui a Bathroom in the Area of Wealth

Feng shui is the ancient Chinese art of arranging your surroundings to maximize good fortune. In feng shui, a space is divided into nine areas (called guas). Each gua represents a different aspect of energy. The gua for wealth is in the far left corner of the area as seen from the primary entrance. Feng shui means "wind and water" in Chinese, and water is associated with cash flow; therefore, managing the wealth gua in the bathroom is important to keep your financial energy from literally being "flushed away."



Movement
Chi is the word that describes the life energy flowing through any space. In order to let the chi flow freely through the area of wealth, keep the area free from clutter. If the toilet is located in this area, keep the lid closed whenever it is not in use to prevent the chi from being diverted away from the room; the same goes for sink and shower drains. Keep the bathroom clean and shining, particularly the chrome and mirrors; these will "reflect back" positive energy if they are pristine and divert it if they are dirty.

Decoration
Red is the color associated with wealth in feng shui, so paint the bathroom a warm, clear red. If this is not possible, use red in wall hangings, or display red flowers or other accessories. Water is a powerful wealth symbol, so hang a print or a photograph of flowing water--it is particularly useful if it shows white foam, such as ocean waves, rapids or waterfalls.

Corrections
Multiply the perception of water in the room by placing mirrors so that they will reflect faucets; however, never place a mirror where it will reflect the toilet. If the toilet is in the wealth gua, hang a small round mirror on the ceiling above it to counteract the water flowing down. Stabilize the area of wealth by placing "earthy" objects in this corner such as crystals, lucky bamboo plants or pottery bowls. If the bathroom is on an upper floor, locate a spot downstairs beneath the bathroom's wealth gua and add a bird, butterfly or tree to the area (paintings, figurines or real) to encourage the chi to flow upwards.

Personalize
Since the chi in your home is a reflection of you, decorate the wealth gua with things that symbolize wealth to you personally. This may take the form of a painting of a grand house, a framed gold coin or a model car. Try to give the whole room a feeling of luxury and abundance, beginning with this area. Display a ceramic bowl filled with scented soaps or an assortment of bath salts in crystal jars. Be selective to avoid clutter.

Monday, July 29, 2013

Feng Shui Room Colors Tutorial

Optimizing the use of color in the home is critical when adhering to the principles of feng shui. In feng shui, colors are associated with the five elements: fire, earth, metal, wood and water. It is important to find a balance with all of these elements in the home, along with choosing colors associated with each element. Achieving a balance in your home is possible by ensuring that all elements are represented, with no one element overpowering another.



Color Association
Each element is represented by specific colors. The color red is associated with fire. Yellow and earth tones, along with gold, represent the earth. White and pastels are associated with metal. Blue and green represent wood tones. Black is most commonly associated with water.

It is important not to have an overabundance of one element in a room. For example, bathrooms have water as their primary element, so it is best to avoid the overuse of black or other very dark colors that are associated with the water element. In this instance, it can result in feelings of passivity or indecision for those who live in the home.

Wood in the Home
Along with the water example, many times there will be too much wood used in the home. This can be in the form of hardwood floors, cabinets and furniture. If wood is paired with the colors blue and green, it can feel overwhelming. Too much of one thing is not a good practice in feng shui. If your home features a lot of wood surfaces, make sure to balance these surfaces with metals, a water element, like a fountain, candles, and an earth element, like stone. Also include the associated colors in small touches to balance too much wood. Add some pillows in red or yellow and flowers in pinks and whites. This will help to offset the overwhelming feeling of too much wood.

Bagua
A key component to the practice of feng shui is the concept of bagua, which is the layout of space within a home, corresponding to specific energies or life areas. Focus on specific life areas by enhancing them with the appropriate colors. Below is a list of life aspects and their corresponding colors:

Fame and reputation are enhanced by the colors purple, green, blue and red.

Marriage, love and relationships are enhanced by pink, white and red. Paint your bedroom a soft shade of pink to relax and calm your love relationship.

Health and family is also enhanced by pink, white and red.

To spark your children's creativity, paint their rooms in yellow or earth tones.

A rocky mountain sheep ovis montana
Kids' Room Painting


For knowledge and learning, choose white.

For your career life aspect, choose blue, green or black. You might want to paint or accent your home office with these colors.

Sunday, July 28, 2013

How to Make My Bedroom Feng Shui for Teens

The teenage years are a time of transition, confusion and emotion fueled by raging hormones. Designing a teen bedroom using feng shui principles can help bring some calm to an otherwise chaotic life. This Chinese philosophy, thousands of years old, is based on promoting relaxation, success and a constant flow of qi or energy. Feng shui principles are impossible to learn overnight, but if you are redecorating a room for your teen or for yourself, you can constantly make amendments to improve your connection to the bedroom environment.



Clean out the bedroom to get rid of any clutter or unnecessary objects. If feasible, remove as many electronic devices from the space as possible; if this is not feasible, make a conscious effort to shut off all electronics at least one hour before bed time.

Paint the walls earth tones or neutral colors, such as brown, beige, taupe or ivory. If possible, incorporate this color scheme throughout the room, such as within the bedspread and flooring.

Position the bed so that it can be accessed on both sides and so that it is not in a straight line with the doorway.

Place a side table on either side of the head of the bed.

Stand in the doorway, facing the inside of the room, while consulting a bagua chart. Octagonal in shape, the bagua chart will help you map specific areas of your room as they relate to life characteristics and the five elements. The career/career prospects portion of the chart corresponds to where you are standing in the doorway. Alternatively, you can be technical and use a compass to line up the chart according to the cardinal directions; in this case, the career prospects portion of the chart corresponds to the northern part of your room. The Buzzing Kids World and Feng Shui Room Design websites have bagua charts.

Decide which areas of the chart are most important to you and place related items in the area of the room that corresponds to the chart. For example, if you would like to focus on your creativity, place art supplies or items related to another passion, in the western portion of your room or at a 45-degree angle toward the right from the door. For the recognition and fame portion of the chart, directly opposite from the career section, you can set up awards, candles or plants.

Place mirrors so that you are not facing them while you are in bed; hang them beside or behind your bed.

Open the windows to let in fresh air; incorporate other aspects of nature, such as a soothing water fountain or a mini Zen garden.

Saturday, July 27, 2013

Feng Shui Ideas for a North Facing Front Door

Feng shui is an ancient Chinese practice that aims to optimize the flow of positive energy into a building. Feng shui places great importance on the direction of your front door. Energy, also called chi, needs a clear path to flow through your home. The front door is also one of the first things guests see when they come to your home. The way your north-facing front door looks affects the amount of positive or negative chi that comes into the home. Learn the best colors and material for the front door to maximize the positive chi in your home, according to the principles of feng shui.



Color and Material
Your front door's color is vital to creating harmony in your home's entryway, according to feng shui practitioners. North-facing front doors look best when painted blue, black or white. If your door faces northwest, paint it gold, yellow, white, silver or magenta. For northeast-facing doors, choose purple, yellow or orange. The type of material your door is made out of is also important. A wooden north-facing door is best. Terra cotta is an ideal material if the door faces northeast or northwest.

Water Designs
A north-facing front door lies in the water element, according to feng shui beliefs. The water element is responsible for guiding chi into your home. To take advantage of this, decorate the front door or the surrounding area with wave-like patterns. Hang pictures of fish or the ocean near the front door. If possible, get a fish tank or aquarium and put it by the door. Place a fountain, birdbath or other water element on the left side of the front yard. A stream that flows toward the front door is also advantageous.

Mirrors
The sun is a major source of chi, but unfortunately, north-facing front doors are not in the position to take advantage of this energy. To capture the sun's energy, hang a mirror in your front yard. Hang the mirror about 20 feet away from the front door on a tree or pole. This directs sunlight toward the door.

General Front Door Tips
Keep your north-facing front door in good condition to attract positive chi and opportunities, according to feng shui practitioners. For example, keep the area around the door clean. Remove yard debris outside and clutter inside. Install bright porch lights and replace the bulbs when they burn out. Grease any sticky or squeaky door hinges. Wash the door regularly to remove fingerprints, dirt and scuff marks. If washing does not improve the door's appearance, give it a fresh coat of paint.

Friday, July 26, 2013

Feng Shui Living Room Colors

Create balanced energy and a pleasant and welcoming space by applying feng shui principles to your living room. Color plays an important role in feng shui design and can help you create a space that is fun and energetic, restful and soothing, or creative and inspiring. Bring color into your room with paint, fabrics and accessories to create a living room that suits your personality and needs. Aim for a balance in your feng shui living room by combining both colors and materials to create a space that incorporates the cool and warm energies of fire, water, earth and wood.



Cool Colors
Shades of black, blue and gray are associated with water energy. These colors are soothing, restful and encourage calm contemplation. Shades of blue not only relax, but also encourage adventure and exploration, since both the sky and sea are blue. Black is associated with money and income, so it may be better suited for the office than the living room. Use water colors to balance a more energetic space or on their own to create a tranquil living room suited to quiet time and activities. Connected to wood energy, green is ideal for spaces supporting healing, creativity or revitalization. Bring green accents into any room with living plants to add cool color and ground the space to the earth.

Warm Colors
Shades of red evoke fire energy in the room. A room that is predominately red will be lively and energetic, keeping you on your toes. Appetites, heart rates and respiration may all increase in a red space. Earth energy is represented by shades of yellow, ranging from paler tones to bolder ones. Yellow is ideal for a gathering space, bringing cheer and conversation into your room. Too much yellow may cause anxiety, according to Jayne Pelosi of Renaissance Interior Design.

Portrait Of Adele Bloch Bauer I
Painting suit for Living Room

Blended Colors
Blended colors have their own meanings in feng shui. These colors can be an ideal choice if you are looking for a predominant color for your living room. Salmon tones will create a warm, conversational space. It will feel welcoming, as it combines both fire and earth energy. Shades of turquoise blend watery blue and earthy green, to create a space well suited to movement. Lavender creates a quiet and spiritual space, but will not encourage activity or conversation.

Thursday, July 25, 2013

How to Create a Romantic Bedroom With Feng Shui

Is your bedroom giving you the blahs? Has your love life gone down in (lack of) flames? Give your room a feng shui makeover and transform it into a romantic retreat. In the Chinese culture, romance begins in the feminine (yin) essence and vibration of the room but it uses the balance of male (yang) and female energy to energize the chi completely. Feng shui is all about balance. There are several easy things you can do to get that romantic energy flowing through your room and through your relationship once again.



Clear out the clutter first of all. Your bedroom should be peaceful and relaxing and filled with positive energy, not a pile of junk, books, or dirty clothes. These do nothing for your chi and they don’t contribute to sexy, romantic feelings either. A major area to focus on is under your bed. It should be free and clear of any clutter so the energy can flow under, over and around your bed clearly.

Ditch the computer and dispose of the TV. These are horrible energy suckers and don’t belong in your bedroom. If they must remain, invest in cabinets that can house your electronics and be closed at night. Armoires and computer cabinets with doors are great ways to hide those electronic energy sappers.

Toss out the exercise equipment, another feng shui bedroom blunder and major no-no. Exercise equipment is work and is male energy; it is not relaxing or conducive to a romantic environment. Do you even use that stuff for anything other than a clothes rack? Ditch it.

Create a love shrine dedicated to you and your lover. Use symbols and items that remind you of love and passion. They could be paintings, photos (especially romantic ones of you and your honey), even statutes of two people intertwined. Heart-shaped items are another great symbol for love and passion.

Arrange everything in twos. One is the loneliest number and that applies to feng shui as well. For romance, passion, and love everything should be in twos. Two paintings, two photos, two candles, two nightstands, etc. Photos of the two of you together are positive images that should be displayed around the room as well.

Watch out for water elements in the bedroom. Not only can these put a damper on the flames of passion it can cause financial downfall, and we all know nothing kills the romance like money troubles. Water elements can be symbolized by fish tanks, fountains, even paintings and photos of lakes, streams, ocean, beaches and more. Get them out of the bedroom.

Increase your passion with the right colors. Reds, pinks, and burgundies are fabulous colors for a bedroom, very feminine and passionate. Avoid white (which symbolizes death), grays, blues and other cool pastel colors.

Pass on the polyester and go for all natural. From your bedding to your furniture skip the synthetics and go for the real goods: cotton, bamboo, hemp, and silk for the bedding is fantastic and real wood for the furniture is a sure thing.

Keep it gender neutral. Even though you want feminine energy you don’t want to overpower the man with frilly, lacey, girly stuff. Keep it simple and pleasurable for you both. Stick the stuffed animals elsewhere as they are not sexy.

Stir the flames of passion with actual fames. Light some candles, throw some logs on the fireplace or burn an oil lamp. Fire is good for romance.

Add some visual aids and sexy symbols. Rev up the romance with some erotic visual stimulation. It could be paintings of lovers, erotic statues, even a few erotic novels on the nightstand may do the trick. Make sure to put red objects on the woman’s nightstand and copper on the man’s. This will increase sexual libido in each partner.

Feng Shui Bedroom Painting Ideas

Feng Shui is the ancient Chinese art of balancing the energy -- or chi -- in a space, ensuring positive energy flows easily and the inhabitants of the space enjoy good mental and physical health, and good fortune. Color is one of the most important aspects of Feng Shui because it directly affects a person's mood. Using the right colors in the bedroom not only aids sleep, but also creates a refreshed and positive feeling upon waking.



Yin Colors
In Feng Shui practice, yin colors represent healing and relaxation. Yin colors are black, white, purple, blue, green and pink. Black is symbolic of power and money, so best avoided in the bedroom. White is a calming color that represents purity, and purple is associated with spiritual awareness, making both of these colors good bedroom choices. Blue is calming, soothing and peaceful, but also represents adventure and exploration, so should be used sparingly. Pink is ideal for the bedroom as it represents love, and is often teamed with another great bedroom color -- green. Green represents renewal, new beginnings and fresh energy.

Yang Colors
The yang colors are red, orange, yellow, maroon, lavender and gold. These colors should be kept to a minimum in the bedroom because they are very stimulating. They make it difficult to fall asleep and prevent restful, relaxing sleep. They can even cause anxiety. However, small splashes of yang colors add warmth, life and energy to the room. Combine small amounts of yang colors with white, pink, green, blue or purple. A bedroom color scheme should contain three to five colors, with one color more dominant than the others. For example, use green (yin) as the main color, pink (yin) as the secondary color, and splashes of maroon (yang) and lavender (yang).

Compass Direction
Compass direction plays a big part in choosing the right colors for your bedroom. Draw the outline of your home on a piece of paper and then divide into nine sections. Use a compass to label each box with the correct compass direction. North-facing rooms benefit from blue and black. Northwest or west-facing rooms benefit from white. Northeast, central and southwest rooms benefit from earthy colors and yellow. South benefits from red. Southeast and east-facing rooms benefit from green. Although the corresponding colors may not be suitable for the bedroom, a small splash of the relevant color is sufficient, a candle or flower for example.

Your Personality
Your personality is another area that plays a large part in choosing the correct bedroom colors. If you have a very fiery personality, use a color that opposes this such as calming blue or white. If you feel you lack energy, introduce small splashes of yellow or red. If you have a dreamy personality and you find it hard to focus, add a little orange to the room as this color helps focus the mind and encourages concentration. If you are single and looking for love, use plenty of pink as this color represents love and matters of the heart.

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Feng Shui Tips for a Small Bedroom

Decorating your small bedroom according to the beliefs and practices of Feng Shui may make the room feel more spacious and inviting. Feng Shui is the ancient Chinese art of how to best place the furniture and items in your home to let the energy flow through your home, bringing balance and order to your life.



Bed Placement
Bed placement is one of the most important factors in situating your small bedroom. Your bed should not share a wall with the door, a bathroom or be placed under a window or mirror if at all possible. Placing your bed against a wall that's shared with a bathroom is draining and chaotic like the water that's constantly flushing and moving. If there is no other wall that you can place your bed against, hang a mirror above your bed so that it reflects the flushing and draining back into the bathroom.

If the bed is for a couple, it should not be shoved up against a wall where one person has to climb over the other to get out of bed. Instead, leave just enough room for a walkway and place a small bedside table on that side. If the bed is for a single person who's looking for love, the same rules apply. For a child or teen, it's okay to place the bed against the wall to allow for more space.

Do not place the bed directly in front of the door, but in the farthest point you can that's opposite from the door. You should have a clear view of the door and the entire room from your bed, which is sometimes called the king's position.

Mirrors
Properly placing mirrors around your small bedroom can help make it seem larger. Cover the mirrors at night when you sleep if they reflect your head or upper body. If your bed is placed where you cannot see the door, hang a mirror that allows you to see the reflection of your bedroom entryway.

Colors
Soft, pastel colors are best for smaller bedrooms as they can help the room seem larger and airy. Create a focal point by painting one wall a couple of shades darker than the others. Choose a soft color that makes you feel at ease.

Accessories
Water should be avoided in the bedroom as it's constantly in motion and doesn't allow for a peaceful rest. The chaos of any water features may be magnified in a small room as there's less space for the energy to be dispersed. Keep water fountains, pictures of waterfalls and aquariums out of the bedroom to make it a peaceful place where you can rest and rejuvenate.

Hang pictures that reflect the way you want to feel. If you're single and want to attract a partner into your life, hang images of happy couples. Avoid pictures of hostile animals or single people. This is especially important for any images you hang above your bed, as those images are said to rule your dreams. In a small bedroom, there is less wall space to display pictures, which makes the images that you choose even more important to the mood and energy of the room.

Keep your room tidy and free of clutter. If you have little storage, keep out-of-season clothes or blankets under your bed--only if there is no where else to store those items.

Monday, July 22, 2013

What is the Significance of a Red Door on a Home?

Painting a front door red is often associated with the traditions of Feng Shui. The tradition of using bright red paint on a front door circles the globe and has a variety of meanings, depending on the country and the culture.




History
In the American frontier, settlers painted their front doors red to inform travelers that they were welcome there. Travelers knew that when they saw a red door, the family would invite them inside. Red doors in Scotland meant that the homeowners had paid their mortgage in full.

Culture
Feng Shui traditions say that certain colors bring about emotions and feelings. The front door to your home is the spot where energy enters your home. Painting a door red helps bring more energy into the home and creates a welcoming feel, according to Feng Shui.

Religious Implications
Old Catholic churches used red on doors to remind parishioners of Christ's blood and for them a red door symbolized hallowed ground and a place free from evil.

Good Paint Colors for Energy & Love in the Bedroom

Before choosing a paint color for your bedroom, consider the emotional backdrop you want to create. Paint a bedroom, especially one that you share with your spouse, in colors that promote energy and love.

Describing Colors
Learn to describe color shades clearly by using a system based on the properties of color. Following name trends such as "coriander," "aspen" or "ice" can be confusing, especially when the season changes and new descriptions appear. But the essential properties of color never change. The three main properties of color are hue, intensity and value.

Hue refers to the basic color. You'll recognize the names of hues, which include blue, red, yellow, green, orange and purple.

Intensity (or chroma) describes the quality of brightness or dullness of color. Scarlet is a high-intensity red and rust a lower-intensity red.

Value (or saturation) refers to the lightness or darkness of a color. A pastel pink is a low value, while midnight blue is a high value.

Color and Emotion
Although most people react to color in similar ways, some people may have personal likes and dislikes that differ from the majority. These idiosyncratic reactions often are related to experiences associated with particular colors.

For most people, high-intensity colors are exciting, and low-intensity colors aren't. Be careful with deep reds, which might be romantic but may also promote high blood pressure, tension and aggression. A lower value of red (pink, for instance) has a calming effect.

Feng shui, the Chinese system of harmonizing space, recommends pink for love. Interior decoration sites also advise a lower value of red for bedrooms. Sherwin-Williams even suggests a specific paint, "rose-colored," as a romantic color. Pink promotes energy, too. Red, even at a low value, is an energizing color.

To create a rose color yourself, begin with a red hue, lower its intensity ever so slightly with a pinch of brown, and mix in white to lower its value to your taste.

Choosing Your Paint
Choose your paint color with an eye toward your personal preferences. Don't use any kind of pink if either you or your spouse hate pink. Or try adjusting the shade of pink to one you will enjoy. For instance, add blue to create a pinkish-lavender shade. Add yellow to create a peach color.

Sunday, July 21, 2013

How to Choose Paint Colors for a Front Hall

Changing the color of a room's walls can completely alter the look and feel of a room. The front hall of the house is generally an overlooked spot when decorating. You should spend time trying to find the right shade of paint for the front hallway since it is the room that greets you when you arrive home. Choosing a color of paint is a matter of personal taste and preference, but there are some tips you should consider when buying new paint.



Choose a color of paint based on the size of the hall to downplay the negative aspects of the size. For instance, paint an area that is too small in light colors. The light colors will add more depth and brightness to the hall's look. For spaces that feel too large and cold, give them a coating of dark paint to make the areas appear smaller and more contained.

Paint an accent wall in a boring area. An accent wall is a brightly colored wall among neutral walls. For instance, instead of painting a whole room bright red, paint three of the walls a neutral color such as tan and paint the last wall red. This will make the red wall pop and adds a new and interesting dimension to the room.

Mimic the foliage, plants and nature that are outside of the front hallway. The front hallway connects the home to the outside world. You can choose to paint the hallway in a color that reflects the outside world, such as green for plants or light blue for the sky. Alternatively, paint the hallway the same color as the room it leads into to make it seem more connected to the rest of the home.

Paint a small section of a wall with your favorite colors to see what it will look like once the walls are painted completely. View the paint in different types of lighting since different lighting will alter the look of the color. The paint will look different during the day than it does at night under an incandescent bulb.

Pick a neutral shade--such as various shades of white, black or brown--if you can't decide on another color. These plain shades will complement the other walls in the house.

Friday, July 19, 2013

Feng Shui Tips on Where to Hang Pictures

The ancient Chinese art of feng shui aims to bring harmony, balance and positive energy flow to a home through the specific placement of objects. Feng shui's principles apply to everything from choosing a building lot to where to place furniture. You can even use feng shui in hanging pictures in your home or office. By deciding what aspects of life are important to you and choosing artwork appropriate for those concerns, you can enhance your comfort and chances for success.



Map Your Space
Think of the room you want to decorate as having eight sectors: the four compass points and the four corners, the latter representing northeast, northwest, southeast and southeast. In feng shui, this is the principle of BaGua (eight areas). Stand in the center of the room and use a compass to determine where each sector lies. You might want to draw a small map as reference. Each sector relates to a different aspect of your life, and by picking the correct pictures for your room, you can increase the positive energy flowing toward that aspect, whether it is wealth, relationships, career or fame.

The Four Points
The northern side of a room relates to career. Hang pictures of fish, the ocean or other water-related scenes, as well as your own mementos of success, here. The east side governs family and health, so good choices include images of healthy plants or paintings and photos of family members. Fame dominates a room's southern end, making that wall a great spot for placing any award certificates or plaques you have received. If you are decorating a west wall, choose pictures of children or a special piece of art, since this area governs children and creativity.

The Four Corners
The northeast corner, which governs education, is a good spot for hanging your degrees and other educational awards. The northwest corner is all about mentors and bringing helpful people into your life. You can hang photos or pictures of people who have inspired or aided you. The southeast corner deals with wealth and prosperity. You can enhance your positive energy here with pictures of goldfish, which are a Chinese symbol of prosperity, or another symbol of wealth, such as coins. In the southwest corner, marriage is the key, so pictures of happy couples would find a good home here.

Other Considerations
When choosing which pictures to hang and where to place them, think of the areas of your life that are most important to you. In other words, don't try to decorate every spare inch of wall space on the theory that you will maximize your qi, or positive energy. The result can be chaos, confusion and conflict as too many elements compete with one another. Instead, decide on a few judiciously placed pictures and consider adding them one at a time to allow you to test each one's effect on your life.

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Feng Shui Tips for a Study Desk

Feng shui is an ancient Chinese art form used to bring balance and harmony into your life. Objects such as plants, chimes, mirrors and furniture arrangements are all thought to bring positive energy into a room, increasing harmony. Feng shui techniques can be especially important in a study room to reduce stress and increase creativity and productivity.



Clean & Organize
Start by cleaning your study desk of unnecessary clutter. At least half of the desk should be visible at all times. A messy desk is distracting and causes a sense of unbalance, making it harder to concentrate when studying.

Use organizational tools such as paper trays and pencil holders to keep things tidy and in place. Keep important papers and other items in the desk drawers, using file holders and small trays.

Furniture & Color
Rearrange your study desk so it is situated to allow the best energy into the room. Place the desk facing the entrance. Do not sit with your back to the door, which can allow negative energy in. If possible, place your desk in a corner farthest from the entrance, with your back toward facing the wall.

Color is another factor in feng shui. Add color by painting a wall, hanging a colorful picture in front of your desk, or adding a colorful chair or chair pad for your study desk. Some colors to consider: yellow stimulates creativity, red is energizing, and blue and green are soothing.

Accessories
Use accessories to bring a positive, balancing energy to your study area. Place wind chimes in front of a window or over an air duct to attract energy. Set a small cactus or bamboo plant on your study desk to protect the area from negative energy. Or place a small indoor water fountain next to your study desk to create a soothing feeling.

Feng Shui Business Colors

Feng shui is an ancient Chinese method of placing objects--in your home or office--in a certain way, to achieve harmony and enlightenment. In feng shui there are also certain colors that bring positive energy to you. When decorating your business or office, you may want to select certain feng shui colors that will encourage positive energy, creativity and business growth.



Blue
To yin energy, as well as a calming feeling, paint your business or office blue. The color blue, often seen in spas, is said in feng shui to have relaxing and healing powers. The color has exhibits feelings of trust, which may help client/business relationships. To reflect intelligence, paint your wall navy blue. The color blue is a good choice for an office or conference room.

Purple
In feng shui, purple is said to produce physical and mental healing powers. The color can also bring spiritual awareness to those who view it. To induce clarity and feeling of well-being, paint your office or business a light purple color. You may also want to consider painting a waiting room or sitting room purple for your clients to "feel" clarity before they step into your office.

Black and White
The color black will be very important to your business as is represents money and income. Combine black with metal--like frames, and vases to boost your career quickly. White, like in many different cultures, represents poise and purity. To create a calming feeling, combine white with gold or silver. The combination can be used in a reception area or waiting room, while black--or black and white--should be used in your personal office.

Yellow and Orange
Yellow orange colors represent the yang colors in feng shui (blue, purple, black and white being the yin colors). These colors represent motivation and enthusiasm. Yellow is said to make you and your clients feel happy and warm. To avoid too much yellow--which, according to feng shui, can cause anxiety--paint the walls a soft butter color. Orange, on the other hand, is said to make you concentrate better and induce creativity. Use orange where you and your employees work or in a conference room.

Feng Shui House Paint Colors

The ancient Chinese theory of feng shui entails the placement of items in a space to harmonize with your personal energy or chi. Its energy theory combines the five elements of nature--wood, fire, earth and metal and water--each of which represents a specific color. The purpose of feng shui is to achieve balance between your inner self and the environment, making your home an extension of your energy.



Five Elements
Feng shui's five elements represent natural components that are related and dependent. Wood symbolizes growth and renewal while the earth represents stability. Metal results in heightened purity and mental prowess. A fire element means power and intensity, and water inspires and relaxes.

Creative Cycle
Feng shui strives to establish a balance of the five elements in a creative cycle. Wood feeds a fire and its ashes make the earth. Metal or minerals come from the earth then the metal makes an object to hold water. Finally, water nurtures the wood or trees as the cycle continues.

Wood: Green
New growth is the meaning of green, a healing color that rejuvenates the human spirit. Jade crystals placed in a bowl in a room is a favorite feng shui technique. Bedrooms--especially for seniors--kitchens and living rooms commonly utilize green hues.

Fire: Red
Red is the color of fire and represents vitality, strength and warmth. It can invigorate an area in the form of red pillows, a red chair and a lampshade and candles. A study and a dining room are both appropriate areas for red. Since red is a powerful color, feng shui uses it sparingly.

Earth: Yellow
Yellow is an earthtone color that signifies balance, stability and health. It is associated with the sun, which disperses evil forces. Yellow's uplifting effect works well in the living room and kitchen. Soft yellow is the best choice for an adult bedroom, while a brighter yellow makes a good choice for a child's room.

Metal: White
The color white represents purity, spirituality, intellect and cleanliness. White walls and accessories result in a calming effect that makes it an excellent selection in a bathroom. White is the best color in feng shui to accent all other colors in accessories such as frames, towels, pillows and more.

Water: Blue
The color of water, blue creates a relaxing and clarifying effect. The word associated with blue is stillness, as in the calm necessary to gain insight. Blue is the most common accessory color in feng shui and combines well with yellow or white. Blue is a good choice for the bathroom or any room with less activity.

Feng Shui Bedroom Paint Colors

Feng Shui decorating involves organizing and decorating your home in a way that invites positive energy and promotes an atmosphere of peace and balance. Certain colors are used in Feng Shui principles to invoke feelings of peace and harmony, each one having a special meaning. Painting your bedroom is a fast and inexpensive way to begin the journey. Find out which colors will help you attain peace, harmony and a good night's sleep.



Blue
The color blue, representing the sea and sky, is calming, relaxing, and promotes feelings of trust and peace. Cool blue walls are associated with the flexibility and calmness of the ocean, setting the stage for meditation and encouraging restful sleep. Blue is synonymous with a quiet energy.

Green
Green is the color of renewal, freshness, healing and inspiration. In Feng Shui, this color signifies wood and gardens. Soothing green walls in a bedroom bring nature into your space. Like the color blue, green is a cool color which is thought to promote deeper sleep. This color also symbolizes good health and helps you to feel refreshed upon waking.

Pink
Pink is a version of red, which is a very important color in the practice of Feng Shui. In Asian cultures, red signifies good luck, warmth and energy. A strong red may be too stimulating for a bedroom, causing feelings of restlessness and making it difficult to relax and wind down. Feng Shui practitioners choose shades of pink as a substitute, which symbolizes love and marriage.

Colors to Avoid
Other colors associated with Feng Shui may be too intense for a bedroom, interfering with sleep and relaxation. Black represents money and career; deep purple signifies royalty and spirituality; yellow is the color of cheerfulness and motion. Avoid painting a bedroom with these colors as this space should encourage restfulness and peace. If you feel strongly about using any of these colors, choose them in softer hues. White corresponds to the element of metal in Feng Shui and is deemed too cold to use in a bedroom; white is better suited for bathrooms and kitchens.

Monday, July 15, 2013

The Feng Shui Ruler

The Feng Shui ruler is used to measure dimensions and proportions of rooms, doors and furniture, because certain measurements bring good fortune while others bring misfortune. According to Geomancy.net, the Feng Shui ruler determines which proportions and dimensions are auspicious and which ones should not be used because they bring bad energy to the household.



Take your Feng Shui ruler or diagram and notice that it is divided into eight sections: four that have red ink and four that have black ink. The red sections are auspicious, while the black areas are unfavorable.

The Feng Shui ruler is 43 centimeters or 16 and 15/16 inches. According to AbsolutelyFengShui.com, this is based on the imperial foot dating to its origin in 960-1128 AD during the Sung dynasty where it was used to measure windows, doors and furniture for the imperial palace. Notice the two sections of measurements: one on top of the ruler which is used to measure Yang houses, or houses of the living, and another set of measurements on the bottom of the ruler which are used to measure Yin houses, which are coffins and grave sites.

The Feng Shui foot was derived from the side of a square where the length of the diagonal is the square root of 2. This is considered mystical by the Chinese, according to Geomancy.net. Western mathematicians call this the "magic square."

Looking at the top Yang (houses of the living) measurements, you will see that the ruler is divided into eight sections within the Yang area, four of which are auspicious, and the other four inauspicious.

AbsoultelyFengShui.com identifies the four good sections (in red ink) as the first, fourth, fifth and eighth sections. The first is called "Cai" and signifies wealth. The fourth section is called "Yi" and means noble justice. The fifth portion is referred to as "Kuan" and means official. The eighth section is called "Ben" and means basis or origin.

The four unfortunate markings, which are symbolized with black ink are: the second, called "Bing" meaning sickness; the third called "Li," signifying leaving or separation; the sixth, called "Jie" which means robbery and disaster; and the seventh section called "Hai" meaning harmful.

Each of the eight Yang sections are further subdivided into four sections measuring 0.525 inches or 1.34 cm. Again, four of the subsections are good, and four bad, according to AbsolutelyFengShui.com. For measurements longer than a Feng Shui ruler, a Feng Shui measuring tape is used, on which the eight original sections are repeated every Feng Shui foot.

The first section, in red, auspicious "Cai," which means wealth, is further broken down into four sections: fortune, resource, harmony and prosperity.

The second section, in black, inauspicious "Bing," which means illness, has four subdivisions: losses, bad encounter, imprisonment and widowhood.

The third section, in black, inauspicious "Li," which means separation, has four parts: wealth denied, loss of wealth, cheated and total loss.

The fourth section, in red, is auspicious "Yi," meaning noble, and is broken down into the four sections: gain descendants, profits, talented offspring and great prosperity.

The fifth section, in red, is auspicious "Kuan," meaning official, and it is subdivided into: abundance of food, indirect wealth, better income and riches.

The sixth section, in black, is inauspicious "Jie," meaning disaster, and is broken down into: death, loss of descendants, leaving home and loss of money.

The seventh section is inauspicious "Hai," meaning harm, and is divided into: calamities, possible death, sickness and quarrels.

The eighth section is auspicious "Ben," meaning capital or source, and is subdivided into: wealth, promotion opportunities, arrival of wealth and abundance. (See Reference 2)

Sunday, July 14, 2013

Feng Shui Consultant

Feng shui is a practice that began in China about 3,000 years ago. Today, feng shui consultants apply age-old principles to modern life by helping people redesign their homes and offices. If you have an interest in design and are willing to study feng shui, you can have a rewarding career as a feng shui consultant.



Read everything you can about feng shui. Look on the Internet, visit your local library and check out Amazon or your local bookstore. Learn about the different types of feng shui and determine if you have more than a passing interest in the topic.

Complete a feng shui training course. There are many options to choose from, such as distance courses and classroom courses at schools around the country. Find a list of courses at one of the societies' websites. Look for a list of consultants and see where they studied, or ask some feng shui consultants who you might know.

Join a professional society. Being a member of the Feng Shui Society or the American Feng Shui Society gives you access to courses and events and lets people know that you are serious about your profession.

Market your services. You will need business cards. You might want to do mailings or join local business organizations to let people know about your services. Websites are also great ways to promote your business. Of course, word of mouth is best, so you will want to ask your clients to spread the word if they are happy with your services.

Saturday, July 13, 2013

How to Feng Shui Landscaping

Feng Shui is all about balancing the elements around you to create a harmonious environment. Creating an atmosphere of positive energy will give you energy and peace. It can help your landscaping coming alive both physically and spiritually for you. Make your landscape harmonious and a welcome retreat for yourself and your guests by utilizing these steps and following Feng Shui principles.



Remove all clutter in order to begin bringing about the Feng Shui energy (ch'i) balance. For a garden, you want to remove weeds, dead plants and tree branches that have fallen. Anything that takes away from the beauty blocks the positive energy that you are trying to attract.

Include something metal in your landscaping to call on that element of feng shui. Metal is an important element, and it could be a metal sculpture or a bird bath.

Make sure the soil is fertile and well-maintained. This takes care of the "earth" element in feng shui.

Let some form of water run free. It can be the water that you use to fertilize the soil, but it's better if it takes the form of a decorative fountain or bird bath. Water is the third element in feng shui.

Include wood in your landscaping. This can take the form of a bench or a wooden pagoda overhead.

Take advantage of the last element of feng shui which is fire. A fire pit or candles in your landscaping bring this to life nicely.

Discourage negative energy. Placing garden items that have square or blunt edges are not welcoming to good ch'i. Benches should have rounded corners; if you have paver stones as a walkway, they should be rounded. Pots should be of natural materials and naturally colored. A fence in the middle of a garden in never a good idea. That would only block energy. You need to keep energy flowing. Steps 2 to 6 need to be in careful balance with one another.

Provide intimate seating areas throughout, even if it is for one person. Energy moves constantly; providing varying places to sit will take advantage of the levels of energy as they shift.

Friday, July 12, 2013

Feng Shui During The Full Moon

The age-old techniques of feng shui when the moon is at its fullest promote happiness in your life. Certain easy feng shui rituals can help improve your mood and your increase your wealth. Learn what people have been doing for centuries to improve their quality of life from the following simple steps.



Place a glass bowl outside on the night of the full moon. Fill the bowl with water. Add a few sage leaves and a few drops of lavender oil. The power and energy of the full moon is trapped in the water. When the sun rises, pour the water into a spray bottle and spritz the energized water on the furniture and curtains of your house. The lavender oil will provide a fresh energizing scent.

Place your wealth Buddha outside on the night of the full moon. The Buddha will absorb the moon's rays and its power will increase. In the morning place the Buddha back inside your home facing the door.

Place all your crystals and gemstones on your windowsill. They will get energized by the moon and help you increase your happiness, luck and wealth when you wear or use them.

Sit somewhere inside or outside your house from where you can see the full moon. Light incense and candles. As you light the incense, make a pure wish of something you want or intend to achieve. Meditate on this for a while. When the incense burns out, finalize your intention by blowing out the candles.

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Build a House Using Feng Shui

Proponents of the ancient Chinese placement and design system feng shui believe that buildings possess an inherent energy; depending on various elements, the building's energy, or "chi," can be either supportive or destructive. Since these energies are established when the building is first erected, many who are interested in feng shui draft building plans with the system's many tenets in mind.



Concentrate first on which direction your home will face. Ideally, place the home at the foot of a gently sloping hill, with the front of the home facing away from the raised area. Eschew home sites in cul-de-sacs, as negative, forward-surging energy called "sha" flows into homes built there. Sha is also attracted to triangular-shaped lots. If there is any running water nearby, situate your home in such a way that the water is rushing away from, and not toward, your house. Your facing direction has the most energy, so place footpaths, windows and your front door in this area for the best chi.

Plan to build a square house, which will conform easily to the Feng Shui grid, which is composed of nine equal squares. When considering the placement of your front door, choose a spot that is, ideally, clearly seen from as well as facing the street. Build only one front door; double doors are undesirable. Design ceilings that are of medium height, preferably without exposed beams, which can disrupt chi.

Determine which rooms in which you plan on spending most of your time, and plan the placement of the rooms inside your home accordingly. In Feng Shui, the center of the home has the most power, so take advantage of its powerful properties; put a home office in this area if you work from home, for example.

Avoid common feng shui pitfalls, such as long hallways, which can create a surging chi, or placing your front door in view of the backdoor or upstairs hallway. Also avoid adding too many entrances and exits to interior rooms, because those doorways will "argue." Small rooms trap chi, so plan for large windows in those rooms to open up the space and free the chi.

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Feng Shui a Dorm Room

By nature, dorm rooms are crowded and cluttered; it's part of the whole college experience. But too much clutter and unnecessary debris can also clutter your mind, making concentration and studying more difficult. Feng shui offers solutions to opening up a space without spending a lot of money or making many changes to the room. By applying feng shui placement techniques, you might find your grades improving quickly. Read on to learn more.



Move your books so they do not face you while you sleep. Feng shui says that books act like sharp instruments, cutting though your sleep patterns and good vibrations.

Attach molded rubber table corners to sharp edges on your desk or bureau; it will help soften the effect of the furniture in your dorm room.

Hang soothing posters on the walls to brighten your moods if you cannot paint the walls a soft, pleasing color. Pictures of your friends and family also can help reduce the starkness of dorm walls

Dangle a crystal in front of a window, no matter how small it may be. Use fishing line or a heavy string to attach the crystal to the top of the window to allow the light to move through the room. If you don't even have a window, then hang the crystal above your door, high enough so it won't hit your head. This crystal will enlarge your space.

Stack your papers neatly every night when you are finished with them and when you leave the room. Clutter breeds clutter and waking up to or walking in on a mess will set off a negative spark to your time in the room, even if you clean when you first wake up.

Put purifying sage in a bowl with some uncooked rice. This mixture will soak up the negative energy in the room.

Place your desk against a wall that faces east if at all possible. Feng shui says that east is the direction to point when you want to build wisdom.

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

How to Make a Feng Shui Wealth Jar

Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese method of arranging furniture and possessions in your home to attract health, prosperity and general well-being. Feng Shui philosophy believes that by balancing how energy, or qi, flows through your environment, you live in harmony with nature and manifest positive results in your life. Strategically-placing certain objects in your home is recommended in Feng Shui theory, such as the Feng Shui wealth jar, which symbolizes never-ending wealth and helps create financial stability.



Select the container for your Feng Shui wealth jar. It can be a plate, vase, bowl, jar or pot. You can can also order specially-designed wealth jars from Feng Shui distributors over the Internet.

Fill your Feng Shui wealth jar with items that symbolize wealth, good-fortune and prosperity. You can purchase imitation gold nuggets, pearls, gold bars and gold coins from Feng Shui distributors. Include in your wealth jar imitation or real jewelry, checks filled out to yourself with high dollar amounts and other items that represent prosperity to you. Use your wealth jar as a piggy bank and fill it with real money. Load up your wealth jar until it's packed to the brim with symbolic and actual treasures.

Place the Feng Shui wealth jar in your living room in the southeast corner for creating wealth and financial stability. If you're searching for a job or other money-making opportunities, put the wealth jar in the northwest corner of your living room to increase your luck in finding high-paying employment. The wealth jar should ideally be placed so it faces the entrance of your home or living room.

Put a Feng Shui wealth jar in your office for help in manifesting financial success with your career. If you run a business, place a wealth jar near the cash register to attract customers.

Monday, July 8, 2013

Feng Shui to Attract Your Husband

Love is a mystery and most of the time it is very difficult to cope up with the problems of relationship. If your relationship troubles do not seem to go away at all then maybe it is because of the bad cycle of negative energy that is generating in your house which is affecting the relationship between you and your husband. You should apply the teachings of feng shui to ensure the flow of positive energy and the removal of negative clusters of energy from your house to make sure you and your husband live a happy and fulfilling life. The following are some methods that you can apply to attract your husband using the practices of feng shui.



Remove all clutter from bed room:

The bedroom is an essential place for rest and romance. Any kind of clutter in the bedroom results in the accumulation of negative energy. Also too much furniture in the bedroom will block the flow of energy all together. Therefore make sure that your bedroom is clean and tidy and has ample space for the energy to flow all around. This will ensure that there are no centers of negative energy developing and radiating the bad chi all over the house and into your relationship.

Green spherical vase filled with white flowers:

A green spherical vase filled with vase is known to attract men. Place such a vase in the correct sector of your bedroom. This will result in the energies appealing to your husband and creating a peace of mind and harmony between you and your husband.

Make sure that the vase you choose is spherical and not cylindrical. This is very important. Also you can use flowers of other colors but be sure to avoid very dark colors. Remove any wilted flowers immediately. Also always ensure that there is a majority of white flowers among the rest of the flowers in the vase.

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Feng Shui Exterior House Colors

According to feng shui, the Chinese practice of arranging the home based on the flow of chi and the patterns of yin and yang, color can have a major effect on a house. Some colors create feelings of warmth and prosperity, while others encourage sadness, coldness and life complications. Feng shui practitioners recommend paying attention to color not only on the inside of a house, but also on the outside.


Blue
According to The Voice of Color, blue is associated with spirituality, consideration and loyalty. Blue is related to the element of water and is best used on houses where the rear wall faces southeast or east and the house faces northwest or west.
White
White is associated with mourning in Chinese and many other Asian cultures. The color is less frequently used in Chinese homes than in Western ones. Feng Shui Diva recommends white or gray for homes with a rear wall facing north, northwest or west and for a front wall facing south, southeast or west. White and gray are associated with the element of metal.
Green
The color green represents peace, balance and equilibrium and is considered the color of growth. However, according to The Voice of Color, too much green can inhibit productivity. This color is related to the element of wood and is best used on homes in which the back wall faces south, southeast or east and the front wall faces north, northwest or west.
Red
In Chinese culture, red is considered the color of happiness, virtue, passion and life. This tone is thought to radiate energy and encourage prosperity and is associated with the element of fire. Red works well on homes with back walls facing south, northeast or southwest and front walls facing north, southwest or northeast.
Gold
Gold or yellow was once restricted to the Emperor and his family since it is thought to represent wisdom, control and mental energy. This color is also associated with tolerance, patience and the element of earth. Yellows should be used in homes with back walls facing northeast, northwest, west or southwest and front walls facing southwest, southeast, east or northeast.

How to Feng Shui Paint Your Bedroom Walls

According to feng shui, the ancient Chinese art of harmonizing the living space with nature, the bedroom is the most important room in the house. It's where you dream, where intimacy occurs and where each day begins. The colors you paint the bedroom walls can affect you on a deep level, so you should choose them with care to create balance and harmony. Feng shui ascribes certain objective qualities to each color, but in the end, color preferences are largely subjective and depend on the mood you want to create as much as on aesthetics.

Paint the walls pink if you want to create an feeling of intimacy. Pink contains red, which denotes fire and passion, and white, which is a metal element and stands for love, joy and romance. Feng shui consultant Ken Lauher says that it is considered the best color for a bedroom.



Use soft pastel tones rather than dark or primary colors. Softer colors make the room feel lighter. The feeling of lightness will be enhanced, in most cases, if the ceiling is white.

Paint the walls light blue if you like to meditate and relax in your bedroom. Blue is considered an ethereal, spiritual color. Light green is a tranquil color that is also good for a bedroom because it creates a feeling of freshness and a sense of hope. Avoid using too much red or orange. They are passionate colors that may mitigate against a restful atmosphere.

Limit the color scheme to a primary color and one secondary color. Too many colors may overstimulate you and create a sense of confusion.

Choose colors to balance your moods and appease your personality traits. If you are a fiery person, soft greens and blues may be a restful contrast to your usual psychological state. If you are prone to laziness or indecision, vibrant oranges or reds may inject some needed passion.

Harmonize the colors with room decorations, your bedspread and the views through the windows. Create an environment in which all colors create a montage that reflects your aspirations while providing a restful and soothing retreat from the world.

Saturday, July 6, 2013

How to Feng Shui Your Study Area

Feng shui refers to the Chinese art of arranging your surroundings to optimize energy in the environment. Some students may benefit by using the philosophy to organize their study areas. You can apply the concepts to work areas on the job as well. All it takes is a willingness to rearrange your furnishings, objects on your desk and other decorations in the room.



Move your desk if it's up against a wall. You should be facing the entrance to your room when you're at work at your desk. This will give you a sense of security because you can see everyone who passes by, and it gives a welcoming feeling to you and others who pass by your room.

Make a definite line between your studying area and your personal area. You can use a mat to make this difference. People will feel the need to stop before the mat before they "enter" your study area.

Buy shelves and folders to keep your desk area organized. If your desk gets too cluttered, your mind could follow. Remove any unnecessary items.

Place things that make you feel good about yourself around your desk. These may include ribbons or certificates you have been given. You should be able to look around when you are feeling down about the paper you are writing or the test you are studying for and gain reassurance that you are a good student.

Make a list of things you want to accomplish while you are in college, or just a list of future plans. Keep them in view while you are at your desk. This way you will know that you always have something to work forward to.

Clean up your area every night before going to bed. Turn off your computer and lay out your school books for the next day. When you wake up the next morning, you will have less to do and will be ready to begin your day.

Choose calming and inspiring colors for the study area, such as blues and greens. Create a feeling of the natural world by hanging a landscape picture nearby. Try to hide any sharp edges in furniture or in the room's construction, as they can create negative energy.

Feng Shui Paint Colors for Kitchens

Feng shui can help you choose colors that create the right mood and energy for the rooms in your home. The color palette in your kitchen is particularly important since it is the home's social center and should have a warm, positive feel. While there are several colors that work well in a feng shui kitchen, some should be used sparingly. Choose the right wall colors to ground the space, and add accent shades that help create the specific energy you want for your kitchen.




White
According to feng shui, white is an ideal wall color for a kitchen because it symbolizes cleanliness and purity. It is also the color of metal, so it works well with the main element of the kitchen, fire. Painting your walls white creates a neutral backdrop that allows the bright colors of fruits, vegetables and other food to shine. However, your kitchen may feel cold and stark if you use an all-white palette, so incorporate other shades to warm up the space.

Yellow
Yellow is a warm tone that works well for kitchen walls. A soft yellow or gold shade helps give the space a positive, safe feel. It is also considered a social color, so it promotes conversation and laughter when your family and friends gather for meals. Avoid using a bright, bold yellow color for the walls as the shade is extremely provocative, and may cause disagreements in your kitchen.

Brown
Earth tones like brown help create a warm, comfortable atmosphere. Brown may be too dark to use on the walls, but it serves as an ideal accent shade since it can soften the look of a white kitchen. Paint trim, molding and cabinets in a chocolate brown color to give the space a cozier look. If your kitchen receives a great deal of natural light, try an earth tone on the walls. However, opt for a light brown shade like tan, so the room doesn't feel too dark or dreary.

Blue
If you are trying to lose weight, incorporate blue accents in your kitchen. According to feng shui, blue helps curb hunger because there aren’t many naturally blue foods. Consider painting your molding, trim and woodwork in a soothing blue color. A light blue like sky or robin's egg usually works best because it promotes harmony and reduces stress, which may be beneficial in a busy space like a kitchen. However, do not use too much blue in a small kitchen because you run the risk of making your recipes less appealing to your family and friends.

Red & Orange
Unlike blue, red stimulates your appetite, so it works well to encourage eating in a feng shui kitchen. However, only use red as an accent color to avoid issues with overeating. Orange is another stimulating shade that you should only use in a limited capacity. To warm up a white kitchen, consider adding a red or orange stenciled design above your cabinets or to the cabinet fronts. You can also paint your kitchen table and chairs in a warm red shade.

Friday, July 5, 2013

Feng Shui Painting Tips

Painting is one of the most inexpensive ways to rejuvenate a room in to a well-balanced feng shui living space. Before you begin painting, it is important to understand how certain colors and choice elements will impact the feel of the room according to feng shui philosophy.



Color Therapy
Color therapy refers to how particular colors can visually impact your mood. For instance, many fast-food restaurants are painted bright yang colors, namely reds and yellows, which in excess invoke a sense of liveliness, in order to keep your experience fast-paced. Likewise, some prisons have taken to painting their walls pink because of its calming and sedative nature, a feminine color supposedly linked subconsciously to our time spent in the womb. Choose a color that invokes the spirit that you are looking to achieve in your daily life.

Elements
The elements play a large role in feng shui as well, as they are tied to Chinese astrology, and can be linked to strong colors and an individual’s natural traits. The Chinese elements are: water, wood, fire, earth, and metal. It is important to remember that everything physical is connected in Chinese philosophy, so individuals will be linked not only to elements, but to specific colors, elements, days, planets, directions, and so on. If your astrology is linked to wood, you might paint your bedroom green, the color for the element, which signifies wealth, prosperity, and creativity.

Yang Colors
Yang colors are comprised mainly of reds and yellows. Red is an upbeat and exciting color, which raises your pulse rate and stimulates the brain, and it is a great shade for rooms that you want to entertain in. It is also a great romantic color for the bedroom, though it is both powerful and overwhelming in excess and should be used perhaps as an accent color. Orange is a great color in rooms with a north facing wall or rooms you want to raise excitement. Orange has been used to reduce tiredness, depression, and pain as it is great for unblocking emotions and is associated with enthusiasm. Yellow, similar to orange, raises energy levels and dispels negative emotions. Yellow helps focus the mind and increases intellectual progress, though be weary of using it in bedrooms as it can be too energetic or intense.

Neutral
Green is a neutral color found in the middle of the spectrum, which makes it ideal for any room. It is a sociable color that signifies birth and innovation, and can create a sense of safety. You can use it to make a room feel larger, and to create a calm home environment from which to retreat from a busy lifestyle.

Yin Colors
Yin colors are comprised of shades that induce relaxation and healing, and when used as paint colors can enable those experiences. Pink is ultimately feminine, and has a calming sedative quality. Blue is said to lower your heart rate and blood pressure, as it is a soothing color that stimulates clear thought and effective communication. It is said to reflect love, and represents peace, trust, intellect, and wisdom. White stands for purity, and it effectively reflects light, but it can create a sense of isolation if not used in conjunction with other colors. Black is the color of emotional protection and power, and is great for promoting careers, especially when used in conjunction with metal, but it is not a color you would want to paint an entire room as it can be depressing as it absorbs all other colors. Purple is considered a psychic color attributed to meditation and healing. It creates personal introspection, and is a useful color if you feel emotionally or spiritually out of sorts.

Feng Shui Paint Colors

You may want to abide by the principles of Feng Shui when you decorate your home if you believe that colors can affect your mood or the atmosphere of your home. Different colors represent different feelings or emotions. In Feng Shui some colors are thought to be ideal for bedrooms while others are right for bathrooms or other rooms, depending on what the colors represent.



Red
In Feng Shui red is a color meant for rooms where a lot of activity goes on. Red is said to increase the pulse rate and brain activity. So if you have a game room or a den where you like to be active, paint it red. Red is also used to intensify emotion and stimulate the senses, so it is thought to help your love life if it is used in the bedroom. However, because red is such a strong color, use it sparingly. Paint only one wall red, or use the color to accent the room.

Chinese Peony Paintings 

Yellow
Yellow is a favorite color in Feng Shui because it is said to get rid of negativity, raise energy, lift your spirits and help focus the mind. Yellow is an excellent color for almost any room in the home. It is ideal for the living room, bathroom, hallway, office or den. But avoid yellow for your bedroom because the color is too energetic and might make relaxing difficult.

Green
Green is used for calming in Feng Shui. Green is supposed to be reassuring and make you feel safe. Green also helps reduce your stress level and reduces headaches. Choose green for your bedroom, bathroom or living room. However, green is not a good paint choice for home offices or anywhere you don't want to feel too relaxed.

Blue
Blue is another soothing color to use in just about any room of the home. Blue is said to reduce tension and stress, so choose it for your bedroom. This relaxing color is also a good choice for a spa bathroom. Because blue is supposed to help you focus and communicate effectively, the color is ideal for a home office as well.