In most small homes, and even in many larger homes, there is always a room which challenges our decorating creativity because of limited space. Relax, look around the room, and consider the many possibilities. It might be the best time to declutter the room. Not only will you gain space, you will also enjoy a feeling of liberation. If you don't need it (and if you are honest with yourself, you'll know if you don't need it), give it away, or throw it away. See Annette's Feng Shui article about clutter.Select only the pieces of furniture which you must have, and look into larger pieces. Fewer, but larger-scale furniture, instead of many small pieces, can create a spacious feeling.Even if what you want is a cozy and inviting look, good visual flow is important. Choose colors which you love and repeat them throughout the space. Motifs and colors which are repeated from one area to another will add a sense of smooth movement and will be visually appealing. Adding bold patterns can make a small space seem larger, and definitely more interesting.Use multifunctional furnishings. A classic example is the large ottoman which also serves as a coffee table, as well as extra seating. Another great piece of furniture is the armoire, with it's contemporary interpretation as entertainment centers and hideaway offices. Other well known space "enlargers" are mirrors and glass. Mirrors reflect light and beautiful views, glass pieces, such as glass-top coffee and end tables eliminate visual obstructions, such as that created by a more visually solid piece of furniture, such as wood.Following some of these tips will not make the space larger, but it will appear and feel larger.
It's easy to find this and other style ottomans to choose what best suits your needs.
This beautiful secretary, comparable office/computer armoires, and the ottoman above are alike, in that they serve a dual purpose: they are space savers - they organize all your clutter in one spot (read about clutter below), and they can be decorative - you can close up the "office" and prevent disruption the order in your home. If there is no separate office or room available, or if the room serves as more than office, this, or other similar pieces, can easily be installed in any part of the home, the living/family/media room, a guest room, even a large hallway, and can add a great deal to enhance many styles of home decoration.
This
piece
and its mate are ways to bring more three-dimensional art to the wall,
Sculpture does not always have to be on a table or pedestal, though these
pieces of wall art will give that formal feeling, such as a piece of sculpture
on a pedestal would.
Here is another example of the use of materials other than paint or reproductions
of paintings. This piece, where the featured material is straw, promotes
a feeling of closeness to nature.
Clutter:
Clear
Away Clutter and Reclaim Your Energy.
Clutter - a number of things scattered in disorder, jumble; confused or disorderly state of collection . Litter. Those are literal definitions of the word clutter. Clutter can be papers, old boxes, damaged furniture, or just anything piled up high, or stored in those places that can affect your lifestyle in a substantive manner. i.e. disorganization in closets where "stuff" are in a "jumble," cluttered basement, junk rooms, clutter stashed on top of closets, clothes that are no longer worn. Clutter can be furniture or large objects placed in areas that correspond to life situations according to the "bagua." Clutter is oppressive.
The bagua is a grid that can be placed over the plans of your home to show which areas relate to the different aspects of your life. The categories of the bagua are as follows: Career, Relationships, Family, Prosperity, Health, Helpful People, Creativity/children Knowledge, reputation/Fame. Five of the bagua areas have assigned elements. These are fire (reputation): metal (children); water (career); wood (family); earth (health). Each sector is identifed with a different kind of luck and has its own specific attributes. Clutter in any of the above areas indicates problems in the corresponding areas of one's life, manifested by stagnation and/or confusion in relationships, career, creative projects, learning, and problems with one's health. Reduce clutter and you will notice changes for the better in these areas.
Advice:
Analyze the space in your home and identify areas where there is clutter,
and whether there is a pattern in the placement of clutter. Identify the
direction of clutter relative to the location of the 5 elements. The analysis
of this information will lead you in the right direction to begin organizing
what is useful and discarding what is not.
Question: My front door faces north, how will this affect me?
Answer: Bad feng shui is generally caused by the bad positioning of doors and by the inauspicious location of rooms and doors. All doors, taken from the inside of the house looking out, should be aligned to face the most auspicious direction for you personally - you, being the chief breadwinner of that household.
The
direction of the main door is pivotal in determining the best outcome
of your feng shui. This is because the main door is considered the point
of entrance for chi and should be positioned to attract good chi. There
are several guidelines on auspicious doordirection. The main ones are:
1. It is based on the birthdate of the chief breadwinner
2. It should match your most auspicious direction, based on your
"Kua" number.
HOW DO YOU GET YOUR KUA NUMBER?
The
Kua number is derived from a formula that is gender based. A man uses
a different formula from that of the woman. The formula works foranyone
born before the year 2000. After 2000, the formula changes.
If the chief breadwinner is a man, he must add the last 2 digits of his
lunar year of birth. Add the digits until it is reduced to a single digit
then subtract the single digit from 10 and the answer is your Kua number.
For those born after 2000, instead of deducting from 10, one deducts from
9.
If the chief breadwinner is a woman, she adds the last 2 digits of her lunar year until it is reduced to a single digit then adds 5 to this number and the answer is her Kua number. For those born after 2000, instead of adding 5, one should add 6.
If your Kua number is 4 and your are male, then North is good. This isnot always the same for each gender. For example, if your Kua number is 5 and you are male the direction will be Northeast. If you are female, the direction is Southwest.
Season's Thoughts
-
Colors -- think of flowers, trees and skies.
-
Furniture -- wicker and light upholstered pieces. Slipcovers in large floral prints.
-
Accessories -- plants, lace and sheers, colorful pillows.
|
Wall Art is one of the easiest ways to add the finishing touches in your home. A mat or two will increase a picture's sense of depth and perspective. Your room's accent color can be raised to eye level with the use of mats, adding drama and interest to your art and the entire room.When hanging art remember the piece(s) will show off better at eye-level. Art looks best when hung about about a hand-span above furnishings. When hanging groupings, select and arange the pieces on a flat surface (e.g., the floor) until you arrive at an eye-pleasing combination. Use a geometric shape as a guideline to create a balanced look in the grouping.A large piece of art, particularly an impressive or important piece, can become the focal point of the room when hung alone.As you choose your art, remember to select pieces that you really like and which reflect your personal style
$$$ And Sense
$ Decorating Within Your Budget$
Have a plan! Follow your plan!!1. What do you want to do? Do you want to remodel, refurnish, rearrange, retouch?2. Which rooms do you want to work on, one room, two, the whole house?3. Who are you decorating for - adults, teens, children? What activities will the space be used for - entertaining, eating, studying, games?4. When do you wish to complete this project - in three months, six months, one year, two years?4. How much do you want to invest during that period of time, and when will the funds be available?5. Based on all the above, what is most important now, what can wait?
Now that you have an investment amount, the time frame in which to make such an investment, and what you need or want to begin with, get started, follow your plan, dream about the end results, and watch it happen pretty much as you anticipate it will! Yes, plan for adjusting the plan too!!
Coming in next issue:
- Lighting: It Makes a Difference
- The Home Office
- Carpeting
- More about Feng Shui and Answers to Your Questions