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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.