The summer time is thought by many to be ideal for outdoor activities. Why spend all of these beautiful days couped up inside? Sometimes, however, being active outside can be a bit much and you really just want to relax. The porch or patio of a home is often the first choice of location. But you may be wondering how to keep feng shui energy flowing and relaxing in such an open area. Well keep reading!

If you are building a home or making an addition to your current home which will include a patio or porch, it helps to research the feng shui bagua - which is also known as the energy map of your home. But assuming you are working with what you have, we will focus on the decor.

Starting with furniture, be willing to accommodate everyone. Have an assortment of seating with consideration of the needs of potential guests. This will promote positivity, as all parties present will be comfortable.

Also in the name of comfort, if your porch happens to be uncovered, keep umbrellas easily accessible to protect your party from the sun. Or once the sun goes down, have candles or some other light source readily available to keep the conversation and visibility alive.

For a covered space, the architecture can sometimes feel rather harsh. While the use of soft and fluffy furniture can remedy this to an extent, you can also use foliage. It is true that you are outside and there is likely plenty of greenery already around, but extending that to columns and beams is a great way to soften the atmosphere and provide a much more relaxed environment for some summer relaxation.

Assorted Seating - Photo: MarylandDecksAndPorches.com

There is likely a book or two (or fifteen) about decorating a room for an approaching baby. It is definitely an exciting time in the life of a soon-to-be-parent, and has the potential to be rather stressful. Here are a few small but crucial tips to keep you sane and your baby’s room beautiful.

If you are still in the dark as to the gender of your baby, or even if you are fully aware of it, keeping a generally neutral color scheme is usually quite helpful. By makings use of neutrals like beige and green, you leave room to add accents of color later. You can do this with pillows, a single piece of furniture, an area rug, or really anything else that can have its color easy changed.

As far as furniture, remember these two things: Keep it simple; keep it safe. In a newborn’s room, there are really three essential pieces of furniture: a crib, a dresser, and a chair for you. As stated before, you can use a rug, art and accessorie for pops of color. You can also use fabric to add softness to an otherwise physical harsh room such as one with hardwood flooring. In addition to the floor, be sure to pay attention to sharp or protruding edges and do whatever possible to make them more baby friendly. Even though your child is months away from being able to make it to one of those danger zones on his or her own, once they possess the skill to move, they will become experts on every dangerous thing in your house.

Decorated Nursery - Photo: HGTV

It’s the time of year that many couples decide to settle down and pull themselves out of the dating game. Wedding season is definitely a time that dress and cake makers look forward to like Christmas is for the rest of the retail world. However, the feng shui of a wedding should be a little different.

How about lighting? As with many aspects of your home, natural light is almost always ideal. If your ceremony is outdoors, then you really have no choice. But that’s a good thing! In the case of an indoor ceremony, look for a venue with large windows allowing for a massive flow of natural light into the area.

Onto the color. Unfortunately for Western tradition, a white dress is not the best choice of color as white is a color of mourning in the Chinese culture. Off-whites are still fair game if you want to stay as close to tradition as possible. On the other hand, you may be please to know that black and white is a fairly common and acceptable color scheme. These two colors serve the same purpose as the yin and yang, representing balance and harmony in ceremony and the continued relationship. Another great color to use – in moderation – is red. In the West, red is a color of love and romance as we can see when February 14th rolls around. In terms of feng shui, red represents luck and happiness. So combining traditions will bring about some of these aspects to your new way of life with your new spouse.

Black and White Wedding - Photo: TheSavannahWeddingPlanner.com

You can look at it however you want – collaboration, keeping the peace, showing your love – but when it comes to designing for his and hers, it is really about compromise. Now that may sound a bit cynical, but in reality both parties can’t have their ideal design as everyone has different tastes. But that is not to say that you can’t make things work and be exciting for everyone.

Personally, when I think of “His & Hers” design, I immediately imagine double sinks and monogram towels. The bathroom really is the easiest place to think about such design considering men and women often have different routines in there. In designing a vanity for two people, size really does matter. There needs to be ample space for both parties as well as room to place or store their various hygiene “equipment.” Secondly, bigger is better with mirrors. Though it may not be as budget-friendly, one large mirror spanning both sinks has a few advantages over two separate mirrors. For one, the extra reflective surface allows you to see much more of the room behind you. If you both happen to use the space at the same time, you have a better view of your partner as he or she prepares for the day. Also it is much easier for men to flex in front of a large mirror when they are alone.

As far as the rest of the home, possibilities are endless yet restricting. Ideally, both people need to agree on the way to design their living spaces. Sometimes this can result in so many compromises that the home turns into a bland, no-one-got-their-feelings-hurt kind of beige. Not to knock it if beige is your favorite color. The point is this: look for ideas together and put them into motion together. Communicate with one another about what you like and don’t like. Hopefully this will lead you both with less of a feeling of “I can live with this” and more “I want to live with this.”

Ballard Designs' His-Hers Pillows - Photo: ScorpionDisco.com

Seasons come and go. It is hard for us here in Houston to notice, though, as we often feel as if we are stuck in a perpetual Summer. On a possibly positive note, the imagination and reality are finally coinciding with one another as Summer actually approaches. Here are a few feng shui tips to help you enjoy it!

Not surprisingly, this time of year is highly associated with the fire element of feng shui. Characteristic of fire itself, this element symbolizes movement and energy which can be translated to a season of activity. To this end, make use of bright and energizing colors to help motivate you and your family to be more active.

At some point during your super active day, you will likely want to cool down. You can physically do this by swimming or doing some other water activities. You may also want to incorporate some kind of water feature into your home. This is cooling and calming in almost every sense of the words – literally, figuratively, physically, mentally, etc.  Of course, drinking cool beverages like water and iced tea will also help as well as stocking up on and indulging in some fresh fruit — good habits any time of year but especially refreshing during our upcoming long, hot summer!

Feng Shui Backyard - Photo: KenLauher.com

With the summer at hand, many people like to take activities outside to enjoy the sunshine. Be it some quality time with the family or entertaining friends or neighbors, time spent in your backyard should be as wonderful, fun, or relaxing as it is inside your home.

One thing that can up the enjoyment factor outside is outdoor furniture. On the other hand, something that can greatly reduce that enjoyment is the prospect of needing to maintain or replace said furniture. Metal chairs and tables tend to be durable and stand the test of time, but they are also quite talented in the art of conducting heat. Alternately, you can invest in wood furniture. In this case, furniture constructed of Cedars and Teak have proven to be the best because of the woods’ durability and resistance to warping or rotting. What you choose to top these pieces of furniture with is, as always, completely up to you. You may choose to leave them bare to show off the beauty of the wood or metal. Or you may choose table cloths and cushions for a more comfortable environment physically and visually.

Getting down to the business of actually eating outdoors, I recommend bringing the indoors outdoors with regard to utensils and eating surfaces. Rather than using paper plates and plastic forks, have a set designated for use on your outdoor furniture. This way, eating outside will still feel like you are at home, but with a bit of a twist!

Outdoor Furniture - Photo: GardenDesignForLiving.com

If you are like me, you love food. It is a love we have all shared since even before birth. If we are hungry enough, sometimes we don’t even care where in the home we dine or we might even grab the quickest snack while on the run.  However, as often as possible, a meal should be shared with good friends and family. I fondly remember family dinners from my childhood.  Whether MAD  MEN style with Dad still at the office or big Sunday dinners at Nana’s house, along with good food and conversation, there was generally an etiquette lesson.  I know families have less time for those dinners now but we should all make a point to do more of them.  Luckily in the design world we have a special room for that – the Dining Room!

One way to quickly sum up the feng shui of the dining room is as follows: rectangular room with a round table. To elaborate, let’s begin with the rectangular room. An enclosed dining room is ideal to provide an intimate and relaxing atmosphere. Closing this room off from others also eliminates the chances of distraction and promotes conversation between the occupants. A round table assists in the smooth flow of energy through the space. If a square or rectangular table works better for your particular room, be sure to acquire a table with rounded edges. The same roundness can be used in plates and bowls to achieve that flow, but ultimately all specific shapes revolve around your personal preference.  Play around with it and see if a few curves smooth things out in your home.  According to feng shui, a round table will always improve relations.

Round Dining Table - Photo: Gandana.com

Right after spring cleaning it’s nice to brighten up your spaces.  Changing out accessories like rugs, pillows and poufs is a quick and fun way to update your interior decor.

Let’s review a few, fun trends to make your design fresh as springtime:

Blue Mood – bold jewel tones and brave indigos are coupled with eye-popping metallic and white, working in any room in your house.

Prints Charming – mix and match prints with solids for a grown-up yet whimsical style.  Anchor exotic patterns and softer florals with solid brights.  When paired with clean, modern pieces, prints completely refresh you.

Vitamin C – sharp citrus colors give an instant energy boost.  Patterns are fresh but drawn from the classics – think tiles, medallions and rug designs.  Their organic touch provides Bohemian flair to the bright, sunny hues.

Mad Men Mod – Mid-Century Modern is all the rage.  Make your pad hipper-than -thou with clean lines, big graphics and bold mixes of vintage color.  Think acid green and bright orange, tempered with chocolate and caramel – yummy!

Seeing Spots – polka dots are just cute.  Both feminine and graphic, an egg-shape can serve an edgier aesthetic.  Whether in primary colors, brights or black and white, dots and splotches create charm.

Poppies Pop – I recently just reveled in the bright orange-red poppies sprouting gloriously over the Pennsylvania countryside.  Nothing could be happier looking.  Both the poppy-inspired hues as well as the look of the flowers themselves are hot-hot-hot in design today.

Birds of a Feather – feathers and bird motifs are everywhere.  Let your style soar to new heights and float gently around you.  From brazen Peacocks to delicate Wrens, balance the bright birds with springy greens and soft grays.

Graphics To Go – Bold graphic designs, inspired by architecture and pop-art, get right to the point with intersecting lines, circles meeting squares and large-scaled scribbles.  Rather than being too in-your-face, graphics are elegant and easy to live with when placed on dark grays.

Source:  Style & Trend, Surya, Spring 2012

Rug by Surya - Photo: Surya.com

One of the most high functioning and heavily used rooms of every home is the kitchen. It is where we prepare our meals. Where we converse with the family. Sometimes even where we entertain. So it is only natural that the feng shui of this family hub should be as effective as anywhere else in your home.

Here are just a couple of tips to help the energy flow beautifully through your kitchen. Firstly, keep your kitchen simple. A streamlined design is beneficial in more ways than one. The less clutter in your kitchen, the more easily the energy can flow through the area. Having a clean and clutter-free kitchen also makes cooking a much more efficient process – eliminating the time wasted finding utensils, spices, pans, or whatever fine instruments of the culinary arts you happen to use.

Speaking of what you use in the cooking process, fresh and nutritional foods are recommended for many reasons. Not only are fresh fruits and vegetables good for you physically, they also eminate positive energy and help to keep your kitchen healthy. Keep a bowl of fresh fruits and vegetables in a central area, such as an island or table, so that they are visible and easily accessible. You may also incorporate a vase of fresh flowers or some other kind of live plant somewhere in the kitchen. These serve the same general purpose as the bowl, but are significantly less edible.

Kitchen with Green Plants - Photo: Trendzona.com

Do you like money? While asking that question might seem like I am making the opening statement in a pyramid scheme pitch, striving for wealth is almost a universal goal for people. Try using these feng shui tips to enhance your personal prosperity.

Not all of these tips necessarily apply to the home, but are things to consider regardless. Firstly, remember to “honor your money”. Respect those special slips of paper that sit comfortably in your pocket by taking good care of them. Flatten each bill and be sure that all of them are facing in the same direction. Then, stack them in either ascending or descending order of their denomination. All of these things will help you in a practical sense by making it easier to find the right amount of money quickly, as well as preventing yourself from dropping stray bills on the ground when grabbing things from your pocket.

Of course, they wouldn’t tumble out of your pocket if you have a wallet for them to call home. If you do not have one, invest in one. Purchase the nicest one that you can personally afford. This will give you a feeling of being wealthier every time you pull it out. The same rules of clutter that apply in your home also apply in your wallet – get rid of it. Keep your wallet clean and organized. Try your best to always keep cash in your wallet. It may be only a small amount, but keep it on you to promote prosperity.

Now I will take things back to the home. The Southeast corner of your home or office is considered the wealth and prosperity area. This is not necessarily where you take care of your financials, but taking care of this area will promote that wealth which we are all after. The feng shui element for this area is wood and its colors are blues, greens, and browns. Being wood, you should avoid the use of things associated with fire elements in this area. Bring in live plants or a water feature to give it a loost of energy.

Feng Shui Home Office - Photo: dbesthomedesign.com