Feng Shui Decorating Tips

Feng shui decorating tips are perfect for those looking to reduce clutter. Feng shui, an ancient Chinese design philosophy, might be the answer. Feng shui practitioners believe that the proper arrangement of living and working spaces will aid the flow of chi, a type of cosmic energy, which they believe will improve inhabitants' fortunes. Regardless of what you believe about invisible forces, feng shui can help you organize your home.

The Idea of Chi
Chi is the Chinese word for universal, or cosmic, energy. Some believe that everything has Chi-even the computer you're using to read this article. Like the more familiar yin and yang, chi is about harmony. Feng shui practitioners believe that it has a profound effect on everyday life, but it could just as easily be viewed as a principle of good design. If your interior décor is well-balanced and free of clutter, you will enjoy your living space that much more.

What is Feng Shui?
Feng shui is an old art that has never gone out of style in China, and which recently has recently achieved popularity in the U.S. Modern methods have a three hundred year-old pedigree and have changed with the times.

"Feng" is the Chinese word that means "wind" and "shui" means "water." In Chinese cosmology, these elements correspond with good feelings and feelings of balanced harmony. The idea behind feng shui is to bring the physical world-the world of places where we live and work-into a closer relationship with the cosmological flows that water and wind represent.

You should let energy flow through your house as easily as water flows through a river.

Feng shui also deals with the balance between the elements of Chinese cosmology, fire, earth, metal, water and wood, each of which interacts with each other in certain ways. These elements can be represented by different materials, colors and even shapes in your room. The combinations, balances and counterbalances can be endless, but keep in mind that harmony is always possible. Even if your spouse or roommate won't let go of that velvet Elvis painting.

For a full feng shui makeover, it's best to hire an expert to give your home a thorough examination. But, if you want to put the principles of feng shui to work today, there are a few simple steps you can take to make your home friendlier for chi and for you.

Feng Shui in the Kitchen
The kitchen holds a special place in feng shui practice.

The kitchen should not be visible from the entrance of your home. Obviously, you might not be able to control where the kitchen is located in your floor plan, but, if you can see it from the entryway, try to put up a beaded curtain or a tasteful screen to obscure the view.

Your oven and stove should be located in such a way that the cook has complete command of the kitchen. If you are working at the stove, you should be able to see every entrance to the kitchen without straining. Pots, pans, spatulas and spoons should be within easy reach, and you should have enough space behind your work area to move without running into anything.

Another way feng shui makes cooking easier is the appliance triangle. If you can, arrange your kitchen so that there is an unimpeded triangle from your stove to your sink to your refrigerator and back.

Some feng shui designers believe that the cooking island presents the ideal kitchen configuration, but you don't have to go that far. Anything that makes cooking easier and more comfortable will increase the chi in your kitchen.

Feng Shui in the Bedroom
Modern bedrooms give feng shui experts headaches. Beds crammed against the wall, laundry on the floor and a blaring television in the corner each counteracts the proper flow of chi-and probably of your sleeping cycle.

The bedroom should be a place of repose and relaxation. Leave the television, the computer and any other distracting electronic device in the living room. You might find that simply getting rid of the TV will make your room feel like a different, calmer place.

An overlooked, but vitally important, element of the feng shui bedroom is the lighting. Make sure that you have several lighting sources that can establish different ambiances. When you are getting dressed in the predawn hours, you will need more light than when you are relaxing with your loved one and getting ready for sleep.

Never block the windows of your bedroom. A stuffy bedroom isn't just bad for chi; it's bad for your sinuses as well. Allow natural light to fill the room during the day, and, when possible, open the windows and let the fresh breeze pass through the bedroom.

Most feng shui experts suggest positioning your bed so that it is approachable from either side. Makes sense; you want to be able to enter and leave your bed from any direction. Less obviously, feng shui suggests moving your bed out of alignment with the bedroom door. It's a good idea whether you want the chi to flow or not; you won't be distracted by noises in other parts of the house while you get your sleep.

Feng Shui in the Bathroom
When you are designing your feng shui bathroom, go with a neutral color scheme. Feng shui practitioners believe that this will ease elimination and help you to avoid digestive distress.

Place rocks in your sink. It sounds weird, but feng shui teaches that chi flows right out with the water through open drains. The rocks in your sink will add a classy touch to your bathroom and will transport your imagination to relaxing days on the river shore each time you wash your hands.

Feng Shui in the Living Room
The living room, with its many distractions, is the hardest part of the house to fix with feng shui. The first step is good lighting. Feng shui teaches that shadows and hidden alcoves promote negative energy. They also leave your living room looking less homey. Light the room to avoid any shadowed areas, but stick with warm lighting to keep the ambiance relaxing. Placing a few candles in strategic positions is always a good idea.

Plants belong in the feng shui living room, and you should use them to brighten up areas that are cluttered with televisions and a/v equipment. Don't buy plants that have thorns on them for use inside the house. They promote negative energy and can scratch you.

Keep the living room free from clutter. Many modern living rooms suffer from too much furniture. Keep only what you need for entertaining-and showing off your keepsakes-and hold a garage sale to get rid of the rest. Less really is more when it comes to feng shui design.

When you arrange your furniture, make sure there are clear paths to every point of entry. It keeps the chi flowing through the room and will spare your shins the indignity of bruises.