Maximize the colour in your home
The color of our homes plays an important role in our
lives, perhaps more than we know. In feng shui - the ancient art of arranging
colors, furniture and structures to best maximize energy and prosperity - it is
believed that colors can strongly influence chi (or energy) for better or
worse. The interplay of light with color has a lot to do with the way energy is
either absorbed or reflected from it. In general, feng shui promulgates using
certain colors in certain rooms.
One of my dear friend’s feng shui expert daughter
just came with her journal, we asked her to note some basic tips you can
use to maximize chi in your home through the use of color. If you follow the
below tips, you should notice a difference in the quality of your energy, your
mood, your household relations and maybe even your finances. It’s amazing what
a few tins of paint or some colorful decor can do!
Colors play a significant factor in altering our moods
and well-being. A beautifully decorated room can do wonders for our health,
finances, relationships and energy.
• Use softer colors in bedrooms, such as beige, tan, cream, ivory, peach and
light green. These help us rest easier.
• Avoid strong colors in the bedroom, such as orange and red.
• Earth colors are best for kitchens. These include brown, green, orange and
yellow.
• Avoid using blue in your home. It is a water color and can make people feel
cold and introspective. If you love blue and want it in your home, it is best
left to a meditation room, and in dark shades such as indigo and violet at
that.
• To make small rooms appear larger, use light and pastel colors. The opposite
is true of the colors red, yellow and blue, which make rooms appear smaller.
• Use red to stimulate activity and provide energy. A room need not be painted
entirely in red. The addition of red decor is sufficient enough.
• Lighter colors on your ceiling are better than darker colors. Chi circulates
better when your ceilings are light in color.
• It is best to start designing a room one color at a time. Choose the dominant
color first, usually the color that the walls and ceilings are painted. Next,
the colors for the carpet and furnishings should be chosen. Finally, a third
color in the way of decor can be selected that harmonizes or compliments the
first two colors.
• Use orange colors to where people convene and talk. It is also a good choice
for a study.
• Yellow is an uplifting color and good for studies or where a lot of creative
activities take place. Use it sparingly though, as too much of it can cause
over-stimulation.
• Green is a great color and can be used in any room where relaxation takes
place. It is in the middle of the color spectrum and promotes healing, peaceful
thoughts and tranquility. Green plants scattered throughout the home are a
wonderful way to use green.
• Black is considered to be associated with money in feng shui but should be
used sparingly, as it absorbs all other colors and does not strongly promote
the flow of chi. Black can make a magnificent decorative statement when used in
reason, especially in bathrooms, living rooms and hallways.
• Avoid too much of the same color. If your walls, ceiling and decor are all
the same color the results will probably be bland and not stimulating.
• In rooms that need stimulation, instead of painting an entire room a yang
color like red or orange, try using decorative items that have yang colors.
• Imaginative use of light in the way of natural light and lamps can manipulate
and change the colors in any room. Try using soft and strong lighting in a room
and notice the difference in color. Also try position lamps in different
locations in the room.
Some style tips
• Create a stylish,
sophisticated and moody feel by pairing brown with a limited palette of
neutrals.
• Add a highlight of green
to brown schemes to lift the mood and provide a point of interest.
• Green and brown are great
together but choose one as the hero and the other as a support. Colours can be
lost when applied in equal amounts.
• Brown is a nostalgic
colour; keep it contemporary by mixing nostalgic pieces, such as art and
antiques, with modern furniture, lighting and accessories.
• Adding a touch of pink to
an all-green colour scheme can give it a modern edge and draws on inspiration
from spring blooms.
• For a touch of luxury,
add metallic highlights of gold and brass.
Hopefully all,
some or even one of these tips will prove to be helpful and effective for you.
In summary, keep in mind that all colors are either yin (negative and passive)
or yang (positive and active). We are happiest when we can achieve a balance
between the two. Orange, yellow, red and black are yang colors. White, blue,
green and beige are yin colors. Purple and indigo can be either yin or yang,
depending on how much red or blue is in them. Have fun, experiment and see what
works best for you.
