Room Redo

Have you been feeling a bit overwhelmed lately? The end of summer can be hectic with squeezing in that final vacation, kids going back to school and planning for Labor Day. Maybe a little Feng Shui can help. Feng Shui helps us create spaces in our homes where we love to be…where we feel most balanced, relaxed, at ease and at home.

Try these simple ideas:

Remove your shoes before entering your home - Make it a ritual to leave the stress of your job, traffic jams and bad days outside. The simple act of removing your shoes is symbolic of casting off the worries and troubles, as well as the dirt, of the outside world. An added bonus is that it saves your floors!

Clean your space and clear clutter - Clutter disrupts your life. When it’s rampant, you feel stressed about everything. You can’t find your keys, important letters, the right belt or a cherished memento. Disorder creates mayhem and hinders your ability to find peace. Make sure that your bedroom, closet and bathroom are in order. If you can begin your day with calm, you have a better chance of feeling centered as you go out into the world.

Surround yourself with light, fresh air and greenery - Open the doors and windows and invite nature in. As night draws near, avoid bright light for at least an hour before bed. Instead allow your body’s natural cycle to slowly move towards night. Use soft light in the bathroom and place dimmers in rooms you spend a good deal of time. Plants are relaxing both inside and outside the home.

Get more sleep by creating a wonderful place to rest your head at night - The best position for your bed is in the back corner of the room, diagonally opposite from the door. This site provides grounding because of the solid wall behind the bed, the expanded view of the room and door, and protection from fast moving energy entering the space.

Choose colors that help you unwind - Incorporate blues, lavenders, greens, peaches and other soothing earth tones into your home. Whether on walls, linens, artwork or decorative objects, soft, neutral colors provide a sense of calm.

You don’t have to live on a beach to get coastal style! Bring the look into any home with rattan or white furnishings, slip-covered furniture, stripes and nautical memorabilia and a color palette of marine blues, sea greens and turquoise.

For creating a relaxing atmosphere nothing compares to adding natural accents such as seashells, coral, sea glass or even rocks. Try combining them with subtle nautical accents such as tailored canvas slipcovers or blue and white striped pillows.

It’s surprisingly simple, a white base to start, combined with stripes in red or blue and elements of wicker and hemp as accents. Black and white photos of sailing ships or water scenes are also unique and affordable for art.

Coastal style largely originated from modest summer rentals. Mix vintage items with simple and economical pieces. Add a jar of seashells on a shelf, some grommets on drapes, a few stripes on the pillows, and you have simple, coastal living that’s easy to live with and can make you feel like you have a summer house even if you are staying in the burbs.