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.

Feng Shui In The Past And The Present

Feng Shui, translated as ?wind and water,? is perceived as representing two symbols of the natural flow of nature. Feng Shui practices attempt to recreate this natural environment in which the life positive life force or energy known as ?chi,? flows as freely and easily as wind or water. An ancient Chinese art, Feng Shui is believed to increase the flow chi in any area, large or small. Its intent in enhancing the amount of chi, releasing it to flow freely throughout any area, permits any practitioner to achieve their personal goals. For several centuries, people have applied the principles of Feng Shui to attract success in many areas, including in the kingdom of the heart and in the business world, and to win friends.

Traditionally, the school of thought known as Feng Shui has been practiced only by experts. Originally, more than 3,000 years ago, it was fashioned by a spiritual master, a student of nature and the spiritual realm. In order to maximize the positive characteristics of an area, he designed a set of basic rules directed at increasing positive energy. The end result of his dream lay in the construction of homes, workplaces and other buildings that would be beneficial to the occupants, helping them to invite good luck and positive fortune while supplying them with the ability to make the most of good luck when it arrives. His wish is still alive and well today.

In China, the acceptance of Feng Shui was swift. It quickly gained popularity and credibility with certain people becoming skillful experts in the subject. This knowledge and positive reception soon spread to other countries, becoming world wide in scope. Today, many homeowners and businesspeople traditionally consult Feng Shui experts when decorating rooms or locating a business. These consultants can draw on several thousand years of tradition and investigation. Using any number of techniques, a Feng Shui an expert can alter the energy of any particular space or area.

Over time, several different schools of Feng Shui have become apparent, each with its own unique goals and approach. As a result, finding a Feng Shui pertinent to your own specific situation is not difficult. The process of increased specialization, moreover, simplifies the means and ability to incorporate Feng Shui it into their lives. A further benefit of the continuous evolution of Feng Shui is the increased exactitude. As a result, superior results are possible with less work and less cost than in the past.

Over the centuries, the art of Feng Shui has become refined into an increasingly adept mathematical science. With the implementation of this characteristic Feng Shui has become much easier to apply to a space today than it has in the past. There are now clear guidelines to facilitate in the process so that even an inexperienced amateur can apply Feng Shui to a home or office space, creating a feeling of balance and harmony in any space of any size. Furthermore, with the availability of Feng Shui guides and information through the internet, you can eliminate the need to consult an expensive Feng Shui expert before you undertake to practice and benefit from the rules of Feng Shui.

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