Room Redo

Color is a powerful Feng Shui cure and an easy design upgrade. Painting a room a different color can have a profound effect on you. Review the warm color hues below and see if one might suit you, your style and your life goals.

Red – Originating from with the fire element, red is all about passion, excitement and anger. Use red to boost energy and draw attention.

Orange – A combination of optimistic yellow and passionate red, orange creates harmony. It encourages creativity and expression. Orange is great for diversity.

Yellow – The color of the sun, yellow boosts morale and lends cheer. Considered life-giving, use yellow to lift spirits or find clarity.

Pink – A combination passionate red lightened up with white, pink creates romance. Pink will help you feel loved, nurtured and cherished.

You can experiment with these colors by adding them in small doses as well. Try a pillow, slipcover or even fresh flowers and see what blooms in your world. We will review the cooler hues in our next Feng Shui tip.

While designing my client’s homes, I am often shown the children’s rooms. Moms and Dads frequently say the children do not put away their clothes, are always glued to the television, can’t concentrate, etc. Here are some simple Feng Shui remedies to help kids be their best.

For young children, have their back to the wall when they write. It is important there should be a solid wall behind a children’s writing table or desk. This provides the support to sit there and study longer. All of us tend to move around after about 30 minutes if there is no solid wall behind our back.

Try to avoid having children sleep in bunk beds full-time. Even if it takes up more space, it is better and healthier for a child to have his own bed with good air flow around it. Sleeping on the bottom bunk, beneath a sibling is the worst and can cause health issues for the child below.

All beds should have a solid wall behind them as well. This is important for good rest. A solid wall ensures deeper sleep and enables you to wake up fresh and well rested. This helps children at school and in sports and helps adults in all walks of life.

Choose a species of hardwood by thinking of the type of traffic you expect in the area; the color by thinking of how much wear and everyday dust/dirt will be tracked in; and the finished look such as edge detail, smoothness or texture by thinking of the style as well as ease of maintenance.

Expect color variations, as hardwood is a natural material. Also, expect wood to change color over time as it oxidizes and ambers, caused from air and light conditions in your home.

Use DRY mops or vacuums (such as Swiffer brand) to keep your new hardwood flooring clear of dirt/dust, and mild products such as Bona brand cleaners made specifically for polyurethane floors. DO NOT use Murphy’s oil, Endust or other wax-based cleaners or harsh detergents that will dull the finish, leaving a film or build-up on the floor. NEVER mop or damp mop your hardwood floor.

Regarding scratches and dents, check your pets’ nails, watch for wheels and things on children’s toys and take care with athletic spikes or high-heels.  The softer the wood, the better the chance of these items indenting the floors.  Felt guides are suggested on pressure points of chairs and furniture to protect your floors, and breathable rug pads with approved backings are important under your area rugs.

Remember wood is a product of nature, that has a comfort level similar to our own. It performs best when your home has a relative humidity between 35% to 65% and a temperature range between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. When floors dry out, they shrink slightly and when floors absorb humidity they expand.