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| Change
your Space, Change Your Life!
By
Mary Dennis
| | In
the midst of current make-over mania and growing interest in creating nurturing,
harmonious environments, the decorating enthusiast turns to the ancient art of
placement called feng shui. This art
has had a profound influence on decorating
values since gaining international media exposure.
Using feng shui brings
about feelings of safety, healing and soul-satisfying décor. This unique
approach creates an interior attunement that harmonizes the person-place connection
and looks at the environment as a support system that nurtures our intentions
Feng shui dictates that what surrounds us does affect us. The principals
correlate health, wealth and happiness with how we design and decorate our home
and work environments.
Have you ever walked into a room that just didn't
feel right? What influenced the way you felt? Was it the color of the walls, the
placement of the furniture or were the ceilings too high?
What you were
feeling was the energy of the space or the living environment. This invisible
energy,
called chi, is the essential ingredient of feng shui. Although invisible,
chi is in everything, animate as well
as inanimate. From our pets to the antique
mirror you bought at the garage sale, our world is alive with chi.
As
you begin the journey of redesigning your home, I invite you to begin to look
at your rooms as alive with energy. Every accessory, furnishing, color and placement
is significant because of its silent influence on our well being. Each element
supports or depletes your personal energy.
| | Let's
start in the living room. When re-designing any room that has furniture in it,
clearing the clutter is imperative. The daily image of our home needs to be in
order for clear thinking to take place. Too many items, organized or sloppy have
an effect on the way we feel, think and function. The more we clear the clutter,
the more we create room for new experiences and new opportunities to come into
our lives.
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Look at the entrances to the space, as this will determine some of your walk
patterns or chi flow. Three feet is wheel chair friendly and incorporates a universal
design accepted standard. It is important when re-designing your room not to place
furniture in this path. I like to use masking tape to mark off this 3-foot chi
walkway, as it helps me to see the open design area remaining.
Note the
pathway left unobstructed behind the sofa in the sketch.
 | | | | Look
to see if there is an established architectural focal point such as a fireplace,
alcove or bay window that will be the center of your design. If not, create a
focal point. It could be a beautiful painting, piano, or entertainment center
depending upon the room's purpose.
In the picture of the empty room, the
primary focal point is the fireplace. A secondary focal point was created by adding
the entertainment center on a perpendicular wall so both focal points can be viewed
when sitting on the sofa.
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Once you have determined the focal point, place the largest upholstered piece
facing that point. This position will assure you visual access and balance
The
exception to this rule is if the focal point is opposite the entrance. In this
case, place the sofa perpendicular to the focal point. You do not want to walk
onto the largest piece of furniture nor have your back to the entry. This will
give the person sitting on the sofa a feeling of unrest, as he would not be in
a command position. If the sofa has to be placed in this vulnerable position,
be sure to place a console table behind the sofa to create mountain supportive
energy as shown in the photo. We all feel more comfortable when we know there
is a support system to enrich us. If your quarters are small, a simple throw on
the back of the sofa can affect the same results. Be sure the throw lays half-way
down the back of the sofa. 
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Next, place an area rug for easy direction and movement. Area rugs hold the
grouping of furniture together, anchor the chi flow and can be used as a color
palette for the room. It is best to bring a color from the area rug up into the
room. You can do this by adding throw pillows to the sofa or adding a ribbon of
color to the leading edge of the draperies. At the School of Graceful Lifestyles
we call it "Marrying up the Room" as it gives off a feeling of wholeness
and completeness.  | | | |
To
create a conversation area, connect other pieces such as a cocktail table and
chair to the sofa. This begins to form a circle that lends to the feeling of community.
This conversation area should be no more than 12-14 square feet, as more distance
between seating will make the occupants feel unconnected to each other. Be
mindful to place your seating within comfortable cross-your-leg distance from
the cocktail table. This could change according to the height of the family members,
but you can always be safe with 26 inches. Your seating in any size living
room should be a minimum of six seats: a sofa, two chairs and an ottoman are the
easiest and most flexible solution for redesigning a living room. The ottoman
can always go in front of the fireplace, entertainment center or television because
of its low seating and armless design.
End tables are used as
connectors and do well between two chairs or between a sofa and one chair or loveseat.
A chair placed without a wall as a support should be grounded. Anchor it with
a magazine basket, plant or accent table. Even an unusual accessory will do. This
connection, visually and subliminally, aids in bringing the room together.
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Be mindful not to line up all your furniture against the walls. Too much open
space in the tai chi position, or center of any room, feels floaty and unprotected.Replace
furnishings largest to smallest. Be mindful of your scale and dimension. The message
of Yin Yang is balance. The balance of colors, shapes, size of furniture, patterns
and design is the key to your success in any environment. Curved smooth lines
are considered Yin and feminine and straight lined furniture is considered Yang
or masculine.
Add your accessories, art work and plants last and remember
that all things contain energy or chi. If you look at something and it brings
up an uncomfortable memory, ask yourself if you really desire to have that influence
in your surroundings.
 Finally,
if you need to buy a new recliner or an accent table, remember to shop with Green
Design in mind. Stay healthy; buy products that are sustainable and earth friendly.
Mary Dennis is the Executive Director of the School of Graceful Lifestyles,
a
Feng Shui Interior Designer & Educator, and an Allied member of the American
Society of Interior Design (ASID). | |
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