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If you are looking into adding some fresh ornamental touches to your house, a neat place to start is with your window treatments. But it could be a bit disconcerting to your position to buy window treatments for a whole room. But there are several window treatment choices available you can do yourself, and you never ever have to pick up a needle or thread a stitching machine. With a little bit of imagination and some straightforward connectors, any piece of fabric can quickly and easily be changed into a window treatment. So find a fabric that is a match for your home decor and private style, and select something that already has finished edges, like a vintage linen or released sheet. Then select a grommet, clip, hook, or wire to hang it with, and you could have a beautifully straightforward and cheap window treatment that reflects your private style and creativeness. Grommets, slipped over wall hooks, produce a straightforward, crisp window treatment. Sometimes , a hammer and a grommet tool works at least as well for setting just one or two grommets.

The grommet prohibits the hook from ripping thru the hole.

You can thread rayon cording thru grommets and tie behind the grommets to form loops to hang from a wooden dowel or hooks above the window. There are trendy clips that may be found at flea markets and antique stores that simply latch onto the fabric. Home decor and import stores also carry clip-on rings to hang curtains from. You may even use buttons on curtains. Simply thread fine wire thru the holes and sections of ribbon and simply twist the wire on the back side to make easy ribbon loops to hang the curtain with. Let your talents be your guide, and you can craft window treatments that reflect your character and style. You are only constrained by your own imagination.

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It is universally preferred that bedrooms must be rectangular in shape. A square shaped bedroom follows this preference then come the bedroom that is irregular in shape. This is so because the rectangular bedroom is the easiest way to decorate. Most items and furniture that goes inside the bedroom are rectangular and the decoration and items are better suited for that which takes on the shape of the room.  The more irregular the shapes of the room, the more discomfort the occupant of the room feels, sometimes for reasons that are really not easy to dip a finger into.

For Feng shui experts, these could be explained in several ways and takes into consideration a lot of variables. But first things first. The most important room in the house is the master's bedroom. This is the room where the Don Juan Tenoso of the house is bedded, the chairman of the board finds solace and the supreme pontiff rests. What happens in the main bedroom will affect to a very large extent the harmony all over the house, its well being and its finances. And so for Feng shui experts, this is a room that is taken very seriously.

To make this bedroom fit for the one who exerts the greatest influence in the household, careful considerations are placed. Examples are:

The direction of the bedroom in relation to the general house design, its sector from the point of the compass, and its shape. The position of the bed, the colors that are and should be employed including the decorations that are most appropriate.  For Feng shui experts, this goes without saying that even the smallest of detail must have relevancy similar to how a modern interior decorator does in making judgments and decisions.   

The shape.
While it is often best to have a rectangular bedroom, there will always be the personal preference of the occupant. If the room happens to be irregular in shape, screen dividers that signify good fortune are often employed. The fun thing though is that, often these screen dividers will be placed in such a way that the configuration of the room will be altered to a semblance rectangularity. While mirrors are often placed in posts to direct flow of the chi, these are not employed in the bedrooms as Feng shui cures.

Positioning the bed.
In Feng shui every individual has a Kua number. This determines the best position for the bed and is decided by Feng shui experts. If the best position cannot be achieved because of the location and direction of the room, the next best direction is chosen. As mentioned the kua number is a more personal thing and so the Feng shui expert is in a position to make the determination as this also involves placements of the kua trigrams in the eight direction of the room where each represents a family member and their individual directions.

The Color.
As bedrooms are places of rests, it is not wise to make rooms, decorations, sheets etc. to be brightly colored. Muted colors are preferred. Some aspects of these though could be changed depending on the personality of the occupant and which side of the character needs to be augmented. The general rule though is not to make the room appear neither too yin nor too yang.

For decorations, Symbols of love placed in the direction of the South and the West is believed to enhance relationships and love.

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We spend the good part of our lives in our bedroom doing a variety of things but most importantly sleeping. We are at our most vulnerable when sleeping therefore our bedroom needs to be safe, secure, and intimate.To help you achieve harmony in your bedroom, which will lead to positive effects in other aspects of your life, I have compiled a list of tips to follow to Feng Shui your bedroom.

1.It is ideal to choose your bedroom in the room furthest away from the front door. On a subliminal level, this gives you the extra feeling of protection, stability and security. They say that the worst possible place is to have your bedroom facing or close to the front door, however being realistic, sometimes you don't have much choice- so follow the other tips I have listed and do the best with the space you have.

2.To create a cosy and welcoming atmosphere paint your bedroom neutral colors such as terracotta, cream or peach, colors like light blue, green or lavender will create a tranquil vibe and invite healing energy. If you are looking to spice up your love life stick with pinks and reds, which will increase the romance in your life, although limit the use of such color to slight accents; bright color such as red, or orange, yellow etc, are often associated with Yang which can be too stimulating for the bedroom.

3.Position your bed as far away from the door as possible and out of the direct line of the door. Avoid putting it under a window, which lacks the symbolic support and protection of a solid wall and can lead to fitful sleep as energy enters and exits through the window. Invest in a wooden headboard as it can provide strength and support to your head.
Whatever you do, make sure your feet don't point out the door while in bed. In traditional Chinese culture, this is called the "Death Position" because the deceased are carried out feet first. Practitioners believe sleeping this way can drain your life force. If you can't avoid it, use a foot board or a substantial trunk or other piece of furniture at the foot of your bed. Finally, leave enough room around the bed for energy to flow freely, and for each partner to get up with ease. Always use curves not corners, sharp corners on bedroom furniture act as 'poison arrows' directing positive energy away from you and creating an uneasy environment. To alleviate this drape fabric over the sharp edges to create fluidity.

4.De-clutter! Clutter in your bedroom prevents the free-flowing of Chi. However, don't solve the problem by putting everything under the bed. This will block energy and lead to stagnation in life. Consider the objects that you have in your room, remove any work related items, and any objects that hold past memories that are best forgotten; as teddy bears from a past relationship.

5.Tip: Place a plant in the corner of your room to prevent energy stagnating there and increase the Zen by limiting what's on your night stand to a lamp, a couple of inspirational books, a picture you love and a plant or fresh flowers.

6.Remove items such as TVs, exercise equipment and computers, they take up a lot of energy and can distract you from rest and romance. Further to this although having a few books placed on your nightstand can encourage your Zen, having shelves loaded with books all calling out to be read and thus distracting you from rest. If you must have these items in you room then it is best to use a screen to hide them whilst sleeping or keep your television set in a cupboard so that it can all be shut out.

7.If your single and wish to be partnered up then decorate your room as if you already are; place side tables and lamps on both side of the bed. Accessorize in pairs and ensure that everything is symmetrical. For those already in a relationship consider the bed your love shrine, place loving items on the bedside tables such as a photograph (the photo should not be a family pic but of you and your partner), a pair of candles and a rounded (not spiky) leafed plantremember to place a few pink or red accent in and around the bed to encourage romance.

8.A common Feng Shui trick is to place pictures, art or items around the room that represent what you would like to see in your own lifesuch as inner peace, love or success. A carefully chosen piece of art can have an impact on your own personal achievements.

9.Do not to place a mirror opposite, next to, or over the bed. This will bounce too much energy around the room to allow for good rest, and will magnify problems and worriesand it is thought that mirrors in the bedroom can invite a third party to interfere in your relationship. The only cure to such a dilemma is to hang decorative material or curtains in front of the offensive mirror, cover them up when you retire for the night or if possible turn the mirror away from the bed.

10.Lighting is an important factor in Feng Shui, encourage natural light into your room by using blinds that can easily be opened in the morning encouraging the light and shut at night blocking out the dark. Balance light from a ceiling light with several low-lying lamps which will cast a softer glow across your room; calming the energy of the space down at night.

Archers Sleep Centre
Archers produce a wide range of bedroom furniture, ideal for creating a Zen environment.

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FengShui your Bedroom

We've all heard about the ancient practice of Feng shuithe Chinese art of placement. Ever thought about using the art of feng shui in your bedroom?

By Deborah Lambeth

The goal of feng shui is to create a pleasant surrounding that supports health and invites happiness. Simply put, feng shui is a decorating belief that our surroundings influence us. And no room in your house should have more influence than your bedroom, since you spend more hours a day there than anywhere else in your home.

First ask yourself these questions, is your bedroom a peaceful haven? Is your bedroom a retreat for you to rest? Is it a place for romance? Is it a place where you feel refreshed and renewed? If not, a little feng shui may be just the thing your room needs. Jayme Barrett, author of Feng Shui Your Life, says that in the bedroom, "feng shui helps you arrange the space to support your best rest and connection with your partner and with yourself,"

Here are nine approaches you can take to turn your "nothing" bedroom into one that exudes comfort, serenity and peace.

1. Make use of color. We all would agree that colors play an important part in our reactions when we walk into a room. Warm, rich earth and skin tones such as terra cotta, copper, coral, cream, peach, tan and cocoa tend to create a cozy and inviting atmosphere in the bedroom. Light, natural colors like light blues, greens and lavenders make the bedroom a tranquil place as well as invite healing energy. Pink and red are the colors of romance and using them sparingly around the can enhance the romance in a relationship. Other colors like burgundy, magenta, and deep purple are also colors that can be used to create the same effect. "There's no doubt that color impacts our psychology and our physiology," says Kennedy.

2. Where you put your head, where to put your bed. In order to give you a sense of safety while you rest the best place to position your bed is as far away from the bedroom door as possible. The corner of the room diagonally opposite the door is usually best, since it distances you from the door and keeps the bed out of direct alignment with the room's opening. Positioning your bed under a window, which lacks the symbolic support and protection of a solid wall, can lead to fitful sleep as energy enters and exits through the window, Kennedy says. "Headboards, especially solid ones made from wood, are considered good feng shui because they provide additional strength and support behind your head." Footboards, on the other hand, are seen as blocking forward progress in life. Your feet should not point out the door while in bed. In traditional Chinese culture, because the deceased are carried out feet first, this is called the "Death Position." Make sure in the positioning of your bed to leave enough room around the bed for energy to flow freely, and for each partner to get up with ease.

3. Cut corners. If you're looking for bedroom furniture, choose pieces with soft lines and curvilinear forms. "Square corners have too much pointed energy and can create a 'sharp' environment," explains Jayme Barrett, author of Feng Shui Your Life (http://www.jaymebarrett.com). The "poison arrows" formed by right angles are thought to cause a feeling of uneasiness.

5. Close the door to the world. Rest, reflection and intimacy is what your bedroom should exude. Exercise equipment, office desk, computer, tv, boom box, etc. all indicate "busy-ness" and do not foster calmness which needs to prevail in your bedroom. You need a place where you can de-stress and your bedroom should be that place.

If your bedroom has to function as work or exercise space, use a folding screen or beautiful fabric hung from a ceiling-mounted curtain rod to conceal them. Only keep a few books on your nightstand, turn off the ringer on the phone, and if you simply must have a tv in your bedroom, keep it in an armoire or cabinet. "Shutting the door" gives a sense of calmness in order to have a peaceful sleep. Fabric draped over the TV when you're not using it will serve a similar purpose.

6. Create a space for two. "Having only one nightstand or space on only one side of the bed to climb in and out is very symbolic of solitude, and can actually hold your single status in place," says Terah Kathryn Collins, author of The Western Guide to Feng Shui Room by Room. "Single people also tend to have accessories and art that depict solitude, [like] a single flower in a vase."

One way to decorate if you're single is to visualize two people in the room. Place nightstands and lamps on both sides of the bed, and accessorize in pairs or multiples. Replace that one flower with a bunch of flowers in a vase and use art that emphasizes romance and unity.

7. Opening and closing your eyes. "The last thing you see before you go to sleep and the first thing you see when you open your eyes should be something that makes you feel joyful and inspired," explains Barrett. In deciding what that "thing" will be, think about things you'd like to see reflected in your lifesuccess, love, inner peace, joy, etc. Most feng shui decorators will suggest not putting family photos in the bedroom. The bedroom should focus on you (and your partner).

8. Use the right light, not the nightlight. During the day, in the feng shui bedroom, you want lots of natural light. There should be soft light in the evening and darkness while you sleep. Aside from the positive energy it imparts, sunlight in the morning increases serotonin levels and can influence you for the rest of the day. When choosing window treatments, choose coverings that can easily be opened to welcome the day and pulled closed for privacy and an embracing ambiance after nightfall. Put all the lights in the bedroom on dimmers to that you can manually create a sense of calmness.

9. Create your own little space. It's important to create a beautiful bedroom, but it's also important to create a space that appeals to things you love to smell, touch, taste and hear. "Make the bedroom your sensory treasure box," says Collins. Using nice linens, playing relaxing music, hanging a wind chime outside your window or lighting candles will all bring tranquility to your bedroom so that when you go to bed you are relaxed and when you wake up, you are refreshed and renewedready to face the new day!

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According to feng shui, decorating your bedroom does not only involve choosing the right furniture and colors, but also on following feng shui tips when decorating the room. The main thing kept in mind in feng shui while decorating a bedroom is to improve the romance and partnership in a pair, and to help a single person find a partner. Feng shui tips suggest to first take an objective look at the bedroom and to make sure that there are two of everything in the room to promote pairing. This means even the candles, end tables and statuaries too should be in pairs here. And if the furniture is meant for a single bed, at least have a double bed placed in the room.

The artwork in the room should have couples and not lone figures of a man or woman. Bed sheets should always be clean while the decoration made according to your taste, and your partner's taste. To ensure the free flow of energy in the bedroom, feng shui tips include removing all stuff under the bed and to remove work related material like computers and exercise equipment from the room. This is because work should be in the work place, and not in the bedroom.

The bedroom is an important room of the house as this is where you get to get a good night's sleep. With the help of the right feng shui tips, it is possible to make this night's sleep a much better one. The color of the decoration of the room has an important role in feng shui. Preferable colors to use for the bedroom are red, pink or shades of pink as these are all colors of the relationship area of bagua. As these colors may not always suit guys, you could also consider using darker maroons and mauves in the room. While round and oval shapes are encouraged in the room, sharp angles are not as they don't promote harmony.

To get a good night's sleep, be careful of what is found at the head of the bed. Too many books on a bed bookshelf leads to clutter and confusion at night. Televisions have to be covered for a good night's sleep as its eye staring at you will not give a good night sleep. Wooden beds are better then the electricity conducting metal beds. Feng shui tips suggest using lighting that is not too dim or bright in the bedroom while too large mirrors should be avoided as this will only startle you at the middle of the night. The bed headboard should always be against a solid wall and not windows, for better support. The bed should be placed where it is possible to easily see people entering the room. With all these feng shui tips, sleeping should be more enjoyable in the bedroom.

Author: Siang Kwang Foo

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You’ve probably heard of feng shui, the Chinese system for arrangement and placement of furniture in a room. It’s often used in businesses and homes as a way to create positive energy in your environment. Even if you’ve never used feng shui in your own space, why not consider it for your baby’s room? Feng shui is now making its way into the nursery, and for good reason, too. Feng Shui proposes that by arranging and aligning the room correctly, energy will flow better in the room. Positive energy flow will create an environment to thrive for people of any age, especially a baby.

To maximize the energy in baby's room, there are several important factors to consider, such as room location, safety, colors, and furniture arrangement. Using feng shui in the nursery will help to make babies less fussy, who will feel more comfortable in their surroundings, and who will be healthy and flourish. What does it take to accomplish this? Following some basic considerations will help both baby and parents create a room that makes them both happy.

First of all, put the baby’s room in a good location. A new baby should have a bedroom that is not over a garage or has an empty space below. The bedroom also shouldn't be located where there is excessive noise that might keep the baby from sleeping, such as close to a living room where the TV is on, or close to a noisy street or neighbour.

The bed should not be against a window or be directly in line with the door. Make sure the baby does not sleep or is placed against a slanted wall. Avoid placing the baby against a wall that is shared with a bathroom, toilet, storage, or utility-type room.  Create good, but soft energy and movement, with mobiles hung close to a window to move gently in the breeze and keep soft music playing in the room. 

The baby’s nursery should always be clutter free.  Nothing at all should be underneath the crib.  Few things should line the walls, keep it minimal.  Each night, the dirty diapers should be taken out so a clean, fresh smell circulates.  A small air filter can be placed to ensure clean crisp air 24/7.

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