Room Redo

When it comes to good Feng Shui for your baby, be guided by your senses. Think of the nursery as a special retreat for relaxation and bonding with your little one.  Let it delight all five senses.

Create a harmony of soft Feng Shui colors in the nursery. Look beyond the traditional pink or blue and choose the colors you really like, colors that comfort and soothe you and your baby.

Have different sources of light in the nursery to be used at different times of day and night.  This contributes to balanced energy.  Hint:  most children’s rooms have inadequate overhead lighting and often under-sized lamps.

Keep your baby’s bed away from the door.  Do not put the crib too close to the door or in line with it.  Limit the electrical appliances close to the crib.

Use natural materials whenever possible for baby’s bedding, nursery curtains, flooring, rugs, furniture and toys. Choose wood over plastic.  Look for soft and soothing natural fibers.

Treat your baby’s sense of smell with respect.  Open windows daily for good ventilation and empty waste baskets regularly.

A child’s room can be challenging. You want to stimulate creativity yet encourage rest and relaxation. Let your child pick a theme or color that will be the main focus of the room. Consider soothing wall colors, like light pinks, gray-blue, greens or lavender to provide an ease-into-sleep feel.

For fun art, allow one or two spots for posters or cartoon characters. To make it interesting, cut into even sections and frame. Chalkboard paint makes a fun, interactive backdrop for any bedroom. I also like to have a designated bulletin board area for mementos, photos, invitations, etc. This keeps the clutter in one spot but allows for lost of postings. Another idea: display your child’s artwork in clear acrylic frames that can be updated as often as you wish when new pieces are created.

If possible, give kids their own “office” space where they can do homework and keep supplies. If space is at a premium, try multi-function furniture. A dresser can work as both a changing table and storage for homework supplies.

Encourage reading by having seating other than the bed and adequate lighting. A small bookcase with favorite books is nice.

Keep closets neat with multi-pocket organizers on doors. These can hold anything from hair ornaments to sunglasses, trinkets or even art supplies.

Pets can generate wonderful Feng Shui, but did you also know they are affected by your home’s environment?  If you live with a furry, feathery or fuzzy creature, read the following tips to help you and your pets live in harmony.

Do get a pet if you feel tired, depressed or stuck in a rut.  Animals represent fire energy.  Adding fire energy will make you more passionate about life.  If you travel a lot, you can always get a low-maintenance pet, like a reptile or fish.  Aquatic animals can live in a fish tank and are ideal for your prosperity sector (the far left corner of your home).  Their gentle movement will stimulate new income.

Don’t neglect your pets.  When you don’t feed, bathe and nurture your pet properly, your Feng Shui will suffer.  A fish tank with dirty, stagnant water can result in financial loss.  A dog with a matted coat may prompt you to get overlooked for a promotion. An overweight cat may drive away romance. You may not realize it, but the way you treat people, pets and plants has bearing on your own self-image.

Do set aside an area for your pet.  Whether it’s a cage, bed or cushion, this will honor your pet in a way that benefits the whole household.  Make sure your pet’s area is clean and well maintained. The best spots for an animal are the near left corner or the center portion of the far wall of your home. When you designate a special spot for your animals, you might find that you are better recognized for your own talents and contributions.

Don’t let your pets sleep on your bed.  This can put a real damper on your love life and create intimacy problems for you.  Many animal lovers drive romance from their doors by putting their pets first in all circumstances. When it comes to relationships, people should come before pets. That doesn’t mean you should get rid of your cat or dog if you meet someone who dislikes animals, but it does mean that you shouldn’t treat your pet like a substitute lover or child.

We love our pets! Pet-friendly design encourages easy to clean and maintain homes so that you and your pets are happy and comfortable. Here are a few easy tips to make life easier:

DO use easy to clean flooring as much as possible. Ceramic tile can be a dog’s best friend.

DO use stain resistant fabrics. Add the stain-guard protection plan when purchasing new pieces. Also, think about whether your cat will want to scratch the fabrics that you are considering and whether or not you the fabric will attract and grab a lot of pet hair.

DON’T decorate with breakables. Fragile items and animals don’t mix. One bat of a dog’s tail or swat of a cat’s paw can be a small disaster. Display your favorite delicates on high shelves or in a china cabinet.

DON’T use flat finish paint. Animals like to rub and nestle up against surfaces and even the cleanest pet will leave smudges on walls and door jambs. Flat paint is difficult to clean. Use eggshell or satin paint on walls and semi-gloss on trim and doors. In particularly messy areas, like a laundry room where you wash your pet, you might even use semi-gloss on the walls. This will make clean up much easier.