Interior Design and Feng Shui

FENG Shui can be a complex practice and if you are uninformed it can leave you more stressed and confused than relaxed.

Feng shui

FENG Shui can be a complex practice and if you are uninformed it can leave you more stressed and confused than relaxed about how to create a peaceful and harmonious environment.

There are many things to bear in mind when applying the Feng Shui principals to your home, office or life. The main goals are flow and energy within the house i.e. positive and negative, wealth, health, relationships, colour, shapes and objects.

Then there are the elements such as wind, fire, earth and water. If you have an interest in Feng Shui but you’re not sure where to start, have a look at the essence and the overall ideals of this practice.

The basic principals of Feng Shui are about creating an environment that enriches, nourishes and enhances your life, which is also the direct aim of Interior Designers.

You don’t have to completely redesign your home to introduce these elements. Just a few simple changes can be enough to create an instant change.

Where to start?

Clutter - Clutter is an instant negative.

If your space is cluttered it is not only visually cluttered but can cause ‘emotional’ clutter.

This can create wasted energy on worrying about a situation that can eventuate exhaustion and a feeling of being constantly drained. Give yourself small projects to start with (so you don’t feel overwhelmed) and build on this each week.

Colour – Match the colour to the situation.

There is enough on the psychology of colour to fill a library but how to choose your colour can be as simple as the mood you are trying to reflect.

Red – incites passion, power and motivation

Green – reflects harmony, nature, growth and prosperity

Blue – is known for imagination, the ocean, serenity and calm

White - reflects purity, innocence and freshness

Energy and Flow – This is as simple as the ‘blocks’ put in front of you.

Bold feature walls or contrasting couches, such as a black leather couch on top of off-white carpet might be vibrant and energising in a large open plan room or warehouse setting but move that into a small, single room and it becomes confronting and blocks your energy and thoughts.

You can eliminate blocks by placing a darker rug under the couch so there isn’t such a severe contrast to the carpet. Or change the red wall to a more restful white like the carpet to maintain a feeling of softness and give an illusion of flowing space.

Light – Introducing natural light into your environment adds to the quality of the mood within your home and cuts the cost of your energy bills.

Opening your home with vast windows and inviting the outdoors in creates calm and harmony with nature and your environment.

To get a true reading of your home and how Feng Shui can enhance your life get an individual reading from a professional Feng Shui master.

Everybody’s house is different so this will give a true indication of what your needs will be.

Interior designer Shaynna Blaze from the LifeStyle Channel’s Selling Houses Australia is an expert on home makeovers and can answer all your questions on interior decorating and design ideas at www.lifestyle.com.au/shaynna.