It seems like for far too long the world has suffered one tragedy after another, and now there’s a pandemic. The news is filled with death, senseless violence, and destruction….and more arrives every day. The question turns to how to keep your home and life peaceful when the world outside your door feels like it’s turned upside down.
No matter what’s happening, peace begins with you, where you live, how you live, and how you choose to respond.
Using feng shui in your home is a powerful way to create a respite from the difficulties outside your four walls to help you create a peaceful home environment no matter what’s happening in the outside world.
Your safe place in the world is your feng shui home.
You look to your home to provide a sensory reprieve, allowing you to unplug from the stresses of the outside, and the over-stimulating, often violent and troubled world.
A home such as this will nurture and refresh you.
However, your home shouldn’t be so “Zen” that it calms you to a point that you’re ready to fall asleep because a house that’s too quiet and still isn’t alive. Your home needs to be restful but not stagnant. It should provide you the elements that enable you to regroup so that you can take on each new day and function effectively in the outside world rather than simply withdraw from it.
But creating a calming, relaxing home isn’t as easy as it seems. That’s because the elements of a serene space aren’t always obvious.
Here are six elements that create a calm, peaceful, and refreshing environment that will help you create a feng shui home — a peaceful yet energizing sanctuary.
1. Make your home mentally restful.
A home must be a line in the sand between you and troubling world events, stress-filled work, and — this is important here — electronic demands. Here are some important tips for getting mental rest from your home.
Rein in the television. If your home is like many, the television is centrally-located and turned on regardless of whether anyone is watching it or not. This gives the TV superior status over the occupants in many homes. Cover it up, move it to a less-central or less-important location. Then, turn it on only when you’re sitting in front of it.
Get organized. Build in as many systems of organization you can. When your home is organized, it’s mentally and visually restful.
Be neat. After all the disturbing images we see online and from media, we need visual calm. Being tidy, putting away dishes and making your bed daily looks neat and helps relieve worry and stress.
Add plenty of light. Natural light is wonderful feng shui, but so are lamps and chandeliers. Keep your home bright to lift your energy.
Use the off button. Many computers, phones, and tablets are never turned off. The constant beeping and buzzing means that you’re always on demand. Silence your phone or tablet when you’re at home and check it only occasionally, or turn them off entirely when you’re with your family or dining together.
Window boxes are great feng shui, adding a vibrant touch of nature at your window
2. Make your home visually relaxing.
Create views. You must be able to see out and beyond in order to rest our eyes and spirit. This is what makes mountains and beaches so appealing for a vacation – we crave the kind of rest that only long, open distances can provide.
In your home, open shades and curtains or remove them altogether to view the garden or open spaces beyond. Even better, create near and far vignettes in the garden. Planters and garden statuary make for a beautiful view from indoors. If that’s not possible, select artwork that offers perspective and depth, such as those found in landscapes.
Use calming colors. One of the reasons people enjoy going to spas so much is because they not only provide sensory rest (massage, facials, etc), they also provide visual rest by using muted colors in the decor. Trim, walls, and ceilings may all be painted the same color and the monochromatic palette is relaxing. Or, they may be only a shade or two different from one another. Both are excellent calming decorative techniques. Look at colors found in nature for inspiration.
Make your home attractive. If you enjoy looking at decorating magazines with beautiful interiors, or enjoy being in beautiful spaces, you should try decorating your space so that it’s appealing to you. Beautiful spaces are always more enjoyable to be in than those that aren’t, and they impact us positively.
3. Make your home audibly soothing.
Keep TV sounds low or turned off. Do the same for beeps and buzzes from your electronics, and instead, add sounds that soothe your mind and quiet your spirit. These tips will help.
Just add water. Use a tabletop fountain or place a water feature in your home to add a soft sound. The gurgling, peaceful sound of water is extremely relaxing and enjoyable. More importantly, it creates a natural sound like that heard in nature.
Hang a beautiful wind chime outdoors. The large wind chimes that have low soothing tones are very relaxing and add to a peaceful atmosphere while clearing stale energies.
Listen to calming music. Classical or new age music is very soothing. Listen to this when you come home, while relaxing in the house, or before bed. Or, play it on a whole house stereo system.
Use your TV for beauty. Try playing a beautiful DVD of an ocean reef or calming nature scenes to stimulate your environment with positive, uplifting images. Look for DVDs of an ocean reef, ocean waves, fish, or even a fireplace. They’re really beautiful and enjoyable.
4. Make your home truly restful.
A restful home helps prepare us for the day ahead and the world outside our door. When your home rejuvenates your mind and spirit, you feel more relaxed and centered.
Make some clear space. Clear off the tops of counters, tabletops, and bedside tables to make rooms look and feel more serene.
Add a quiet space. Move a comfortable chair near a window with a small table where you can read, meditate, or reflect.
Place emphasis on the bedroom. Bedrooms are an especially important part of creating a restful home. Too many bedrooms are over-functional and overstimulating. Remove computers, exercise equipment, desks, or stacks of books, that divert attention from the two things that are most important in a bedroom, rest and romance.
Bedrooms designated for rest, relaxation, and romance are the ones that refresh and rejuvenate the best. Although many people think of the entire home as a “cocoon” away from the whole world, the bedroom should truly be the cocoon. Creating a tranquil space is key for being able to fully rest. What’s more, these spaces are also more romantically inspiring. Make your bedroom a comfortable and enjoyable room to be in.
•Select restful, earthy colors in the bedroom.
•Take mirrors off the wall if they reflect the bed. Mirrors are stimulating and can disrupt rest and sleep.
•Take the TV out of the bedroom if you have a tendency to watch news or programs with violence before going to bed.
•Use textures such as chenille, satin, or silk in the bedroom to give tactile comfort and enjoyment.
5. Make sure to incorporate natural elements.
Use natural elements liberally to create a relaxing, harmonious atmosphere, effectively bringing the outside in. Add a vase of fresh flowers in a single color to add impact. Or, use an orchid plant, or a pretty cluster of gems or a geode to add a natural touch to your space. Place a mirror opposite a window to repeat a view of the outdoors.
Another overlooked area in creating a calming home is your garden. It doesn’t matter if you live in a studio apartment or a grand estate. Focus on adding windows boxes to hold some cheerful flowers, or adding to your garden or landscape, such as improving your curb appeal or adding new flowers or an herb or vegetable garden. Create an outdoor living area where you can relax or entertain and enjoy a fire, a barbecue or simply watching fireflies.
Clean, clear countertops and tabletops create visual calm and mental rest
6. Make your home clean and comfortable.
Cleanliness is so important in feng shui, and not often talked about. Unfortunately, most cleaning is done is a large chunk of time on a weekend and can take several hours. It’s better to keep cleaning items in a bucket or basket close to the location (such as a bathroom) and take one minute each day to wipe off counters, or to do small, quick cleaning projects and picking up frequently.
A clean, sparkling home that feels good and smells good lifts your mood and makes you feel centered and grounded. Add natural or clean smelling scents rather than ones that are artificial or overly sweet. Try natural cleaners that use essential oils to create a relaxing, natural fragrance while you clean.
