'Feng Shui Away'

There are those that believe in karma, harmony, destiny and the spiritual world. While I am no fanatic, I do believe that certain elements contribute to our own sense of inward balance.

How many of us feel irritable when we come home to a messy bedroom, kitchen or living room? I, for one, cannot sit down to write in my home office knowing that my house is in disarray.

Feng-Shui is simply that.

The ancient Chinese practice, dating back 7,000 years ago, believes in the energy “chi” force of both the animated and inanimate world. And that by harvesting this energy through feng shui, we may directly contribute to our health, prosperity, success and love.

Now, it’s highly certain that you have heard about feng shui through decorating before, probably discussed using obscure terms (wait, in what compass direction is the bed supposed to face away from the door?). Feng shui, in my opinion, should not be so complicated. After all, the goal is to ensure our home is a place where positive energy can flow through.

The most basic feng shui principle:

This one is a no-brainer. Removing clutter is one of the most basic feng shui principles, and the first place to start.

The only items that should be exposed are those that you deem useful, sentimental and aesthetically pleasing. It is difficult to think, let alone live, littered with clothes/dirty plates/cans, etc., crowding your walls and floors. Sift through the rubbish and sort, store, recycle or throw it all out. Just last weekend I re-organized my walk-in closet and afterwards it felt like an enormous weight was lifted from my shoulders. The point is to clean on a regular basis and to make sure that not only is your lighting adequate, but that your windows are not left dirty.

You will need to make sure that nothing blocks doors and windows, being that energy from the outside flows into the home from these openings. Hanging crystals, for example, is a popular feng shui method to hold energy in one place. Mirrors facing windows and entrances deflect negativity outside. Foyers and entrance ways, similarly, must be kept open and free of clutter.

Whether you decide to position your furniture at an obtuse angle or hang a mirror inside your hallway, begin first by removing clutter. Finding a sense of renewal in your home through feng shui doesn’t have to be difficult.

-S. Gonzalez

*Luxuryinteriordesignroom.blogspot.com and bedzine.com