Getting your home ready for the market can involve many tedious steps from putting away your clutter to picking out new paint colors to give the home a fresh look and feel. Taking things one step further, sellers today may also want to consider using some Feng Shui decorating tips to make sure the home’s harmony is maximized and the home is attractive to even more buyers. A Chinese discipline practiced for 4,000 years, Feng Shui is based on the belief that a vital life energy, ch’i, flows everywhere-in nature, buildings, and people. Design and proper placement of dwellings and furnishings direct this vital energy to flow harmoniously in your surroundings and in you. The results? Better health, greater prosperity, and serenity.Feng shui has quickly grown from an ancient belief to a staple decorating phenomenon widely practiced by professional decorators throughout the world. Decorating with Feng Shui principles involves the movement of energy and moving blocked areas so energy moves at a balanced pace around the entire home. Feng Shui practitioners will use all types of tools to move this energy. This could involve decorating with mirrors, water, plants, color, sound, scent and more.
The influence of color is an important aspect to decorating through Feng Shui eyes. Red is frequently on the front door, as the color symbolized good luck. Yellow and purple are also frequently seen in the décor. Yellow has been considered an Imperial color that many Feng Shui masters find more beneficial than red.
Wealth area and family area are the elements of wood. In Feng Shui, decorate with plants that have broad healthy leaves. Silk plants are allowed, however, do not use dried plants because they symbolize ill health. Blue wallpaper is good because this represents water and water allows wood to grow. The career area is represented by the element of water. Too much water is like a flooding bank and brings negativity. However, decorating with small amounts of water is excellent. A small water fountain or aquarium is good in this area. Bring in a painting with a water scene.
Some basic Feng Shui ideas for decorating and designing rooms and houses include: avoiding floor plans with small cramped rooms, keep the design free flowing. Avoid long hallways because the energy moves too quickly down the hall. Avoid excessive overhead lighting. While decorating with Feng Shui, keep sharp corners to a minimum. Place healthy plants in a decorative manner throughout the home. Arrange couches and chairs in a way that allows people to see the door and for easy conversation. Be careful of too many knick-knacks. This can mean decorative clutter and it can quickly get out of control. Decorating through Feng Shui principles is easy to follow, just look at the space you have to work with and attempt to make the living space one that flows freely and feels comfortable.
Chris Kamali is a TriValley Real Estate Agent, helping clients buy and sell homes in Dublin, Pleasanton, San Ramon and Livermore.
