How to Improve Your Child's Bedroom With Feng Shui

Feng Shui, the 4,000 year old Chinese practice of arranging our homes to be in harmony with the earth?s energy (chi) so we are balanced with the forces of nature, can be a surprisingly useful tool for making kids feel comfortable in their bedrooms and well rested after a night?s sleep.

Just applying a few Feng Shui principles can make a child?s bedroom feel restful, considerably warmer and more secure.

Colour

The walls of your child?s bedroom and the soft furnishings that you add should be in relaxing colours. Neutral naturals such as blue, light pink, light yellow, beige, peach and green are all calming. Avoid using energising colours like red, dark blue and bold yellow as these are too stimulating for a bedroom. Bright colours are good for playrooms but bedrooms need to be more subdued.

Furniture

Be careful not to cram too much furniture into a child?s room, especially if the space is small anyway. Use furniture that is on a small scale so that your child does not feel dwarfed by their surroundings. Place the bed headboard against a solid wall but avoid positioning it under a window. Also try not to place the bed under skylights, beams or shelves full of books and games.

Lighting

Always provide enough light by using lamps and light fittings. Natural lighting is also important so throw the curtains wide and let the sunshine in. Also, open the window regularly to allow fresh energy into the room. Make sure that your child cannot reach the open window if they are in the room by themselves or without adult supervision.

Linen

Bed linen should be soft and soothing to the child. Brightly coloured sheets are a no-no. Try soft blues (not cold blues) or tone the colour to the paint on the walls. If you would like to add a splash of brightness during the day, throw a cover on the bed that you remove at night.

Possessions

A child?s bedroom should be kept simple and clean. Limit the toys and books that are kept in the bedroom and remove unnecessary clutter. Store out of season clothes and donate items that are not being used or have been outgrown. Keep the bedroom floor clear of objects as energy needs to circulate the room. Also be sure to clear out the space under your child?s bed frequently to prevent the ?sticking? of energy. You are aiming for a room that your child can feel focused and energised in. Too many objects create distractions and stifle the space.

Four Items to Add:

Place a hanging crystal in the window ? it will reflect colours over the room.

Buy a good quality bed, preferably wooden.

Stick stars on the bedroom ceiling to create a night sky effect.

Positioning a family photo near the bed reminds children of their loving family.

Four Items to Remove:

Never keep rubbish in the room. Place the waste basket outside.

Don?t allow a phone in your child?s bedroom.

Nocturnal pets make too much noise at night to be in a bedroom. Fish tanks should also be removed.

Computers, games consoles and televisions do not encourage quality sleep. At the very least place these devices in a cupboard or behind a screen at night time.

Stella Winstanley is the producer of a children's bedtime story CD that is specially designed to relax youngsters and encourage restful sleep. Visit http://www.dreamtimetales.com for more articles on helping children sleep better and tips on how to improve their bedroom.

Decorate Your Bathroom Using Feng Shui

For some people their bathroom is just the room where they get ready for the day, eliminate waste, and store their hygiene products. Still others like to transform their bathroom into a personal spa. While no one likes to talk about it, the bathroom is a vital, necessary part of all homes. For those who practice, or want to practice, Feng Shui in their homes, this room absolutely can?t be ignored. Certain decorating strategies are necessary to ensure that this room is in accord with the ancient Chinese philosophy. While bathrooms weren?t part of the original Feng Shui tradition, since it was created before indoor plumbing, you can still arrange your bathroom to complete the benefits involved in Feng Shui. Feng Shui and bathroom design will further provide a calm, soothing home for all of the occupants.

The good news is that in Feng Shui and bathroom usage, the bathroom is closely related to the element of water. Let?s face it; the majority of purposes in the bath are connected to water in one way or another. Water represents cash flow and prosperity in addition to the career aspect of life and prosperity. Ensuring that this room is designed in the Feng Shui tradition can help improve those areas of your life tremendously.

On the other hand, it can?t be ignored that the bathroom is also used for elimination. Whether it is through the toilet or down the shower drain, this room is used for getting rid of toxins. Luckily when the proper Feng Shui and bathroom practices are followed, you can reduce the effects of negative chi, while increasing the helpful water element.

The first thing that needs to be done to Feng Shui friendly your bathroom is to give the room a thorough cleaning. Products sitting on the sink or the back of the toilet need to find a proper home if they are essential to your hygiene. If not, it?s time to get rid of the unnecessary items. Clutter is counterproductive to a good chi flow, and especially in the bathroom it is vital to keep this space debris free. Don?t forget to include under the sink and any linen closets in this process. They count too, and leaving them unorganized is not going to help you in combining good Feng Shui and bathroom d?cor.

Now that you have the bathroom clean and ready for its Feng Shui makeover, let?s talk colors. There is no need to go overboard on elaborate color schemes. Bright colors are distracting and not beneficial to the Feng Shui and bathroom design. Your best bets are neutral colors like cream and light blue. If that isn?t going to work for you, at least use a color that is relaxing and muted.

As far as the fixtures in the bathroom go, it is very important that they are all in excellent working order. Leaking facets represent your money and prosperity flowing down the drain. Be sure the sink and bath tub facets shut off effectively. Noisy drains are an issue as well. If you have a problem with any of these plumbing issues, and can?t fix them yourself, don?t hesitate to call in a professional to get you started on your way. Feng Shui and bathroom maintenance work best when all of the fixtures are working properly.

The non water element fixtures serve a purpose as well. For example the mirror should be as large as the space above the sink allows. Since you prepare for your day in the bathroom, it is important for you to have a clear, bright vision of yourself every day. The recent trend of placing a mirror split in two in the bathroom isn?t in touch with good Feng Shui and bathroom design.

It is essential to make sure your bathroom is as pleasant as possible. This is one of the most effective ways to ensure that the negative aspects of the bathroom are controlled and don?t cause any problems with the flow of positive chi. The use of crystals is helpful in creating and activating good energy.

Another thing to watch out for is if your bathroom is opposite your kitchen. It doesn?t take a genius to determine why this is not good for the flow of chi. If you do find yourself in this type of situation, the easiest solution is to always keep the bathroom door closed. It is also beneficial to leave the toilet lid down when not in use. Anything you can do to keep the negative chi from escaping into the kitchen and the rest of the house is a step in the right direction.

Feng Shui and bathroom design and placement are an important part of providing your family with a harmonious environment. Color choices and fixture maintenance are essential in allowing a positive energy flow.

Candace Czarny,ASID,CFM,LEED AP, "Award Winning" Interior Designer, Feng Shui Expert & author. www.artofplacement.com is continually ranked "Top 10" in Google and Yahoo. Clients testify of dramatic results!