Five Wallpapers for the Five elements

Here’s some of my new favorite wall papers that express the five elements!

FIRE ELEMENT

The Fire element is represented by the color red, and this is definitely a fiery wall paper.

This leaves form triangular shapes, which also represent the Fire element. Fire element is about inspiration, passion, and being recognized in the world.

Not only is this a statement piece for your home, it’s impressive how easy it is this put up this wallpaper. They take the headache out of a DIY wallpaper installation.

Available at: PHOTOWALL

special code: anjiecho25

for 25% discount on any product at PHOTOWALL good through May 29, 2020

WOOD ELEMENT

Wood element is all about new beginnings and is related the colors blue and green. This is a beautiful wallpaper, the blue is perfect to inspire the wood element in your home.

Also, Feldspar is a group of rock-forming minerals, one of which is my favorite Labradorite, which has a green/blue iridescence.

Gorgeous!

Available at: flatvernacular.com

WATER ELEMENT

Wavy patterns and very dark colors like black and charcoal invoke the Water element. This is an elegant example of both.

I also love that you can install it vertically or horizontally! Vertically it’s like a waterfall, and horizontally it feels more placid and still like a deep ocean.

Available at: Studioprintworks.com

EARTH ELEMENT

Earthy colors and neutrals are very supportive and stable. The square shapes in this wallpaper quiet and subtle wall paper also welcome the earth element.

It’s also good for your self-care because this “peel-and-stick” wall paper is forgiving and easy to install!

Available at: timberleaMineral-Etsy

METAL ELEMENT

We fell in love with this charming wallpaper. The cool and metallic colors as well as the circular shapes beckon the Metal element in your space. The metal element invites in beauty, joy and precision.

It’s lovely design is versatile and can be hung in a variety of rooms such as a nursery or foyer.

Available at: Aimee Wilder

by Anjie Cho

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Q&A Sunday: What Color Should I Paint My Front Door?

How do you know which color to paint your front door? 

Teri G., New York, NY

Hi Teri,

This is a question that comes up a lot! And I'm going to throw that question right back at you, because it really depends...on you. There is no magic perfect color, but I’ll go through some guidelines and ways to approach this decision.

First thought, best thought

What is the color you want to paint the front door? What’s the first color that arises right now? Remember: first thought, best thought. Don’t overthink it. It may just be the color that works best for you. 

Mundane matters too

Now think about the color that popped into your consciousness for your door color. Let’s look at this practically. Does it fit with the rest of the house? Colors have countless variations that can probably work with your home, and that’s where a designer can help you to find the option that works best. 

Have fun with it!

But it’s also okay if the color is maybe a little out of place. First of all, it’s just paint - you can always repaint the front door. Second, I'd like to share a story my teachers have told about Professor Lin Yun (founder of BTB Feng Shui). He told one of his clients to paint their whole house exterior purple! Now this is pretty extreme, and this person ended up becoming the talk of the neighborhood, which in turn created a huge business boom. I’m not suggesting you should paint your whole house fluorescent yellow, but you can have fun with the door and remember that painting a front door is not a huge commitment. You can always repaint it!

Try red or black

Red and black painted doors are good basic go-to’s for front door colors in feng shui. Red is auspicious and can attract life energy. Black also absorbs and also brings in positive qi. But this is the “Barnes and Noble” answer!

The mouth of Qi

With all of the above considerations, remember that your front door represents the mouth of qi. This is where energy from the world can enter your home and life. Maybe you do want a door that blends into the rest of your home and looks dignified and subtle. Or maybe you want to attract some energy, in which case a bright red door could look great and do wonders for your opportunities. Now we've come full circle to the first thing I mentioned, which is that the color really depends on you and your life circumstances!

In some areas of the home, there are certainly colors you might want to avoid. All black in any room can make a space feel smaller, and red in a bathroom can make relaxation difficult. But when it comes to the front door, anything is fair game. It's such a small area it can easily be repainted. Put some thought on your decision, and be willing to take a chance on trying a new color!

by Anjie Cho 

Thanks for reading our "Q&A Sunday".  We will be answering questions submitted by our readers. Click here to submit any Feng Shui or Green Design questions!

Check Out A Feng Shui Designer's Blissed-Out NYC Apartment

featured on MindBodyGreen by Emma Loewe

Today on Holistic Home Tours, we’re checking out the New York City home of interior architect and feng shui designer Anjie Cho. 

Perched in the Lower East Side neighborhood of Manhattan, Anjie Cho's space feels worlds away. The interior architect has used her knowledge of feng shui to deck out her new apartment—which she shares with her husband, Jeremiah, and their two Chihuahuas, Javier and Pearl—like only a pro could. She's letting us in on how she used feng shui to create an oasis in the middle of the city, and you're going to want to take notes.

What are three words that describe your design philosophy at home?

Simple, bright, calm.

What was the first room you tackled when you moved in?

Definitely the bedroom. We needed a place to sleep, and in feng shui the bedroom is thought to be the most important room in the house since it represents who you are. Since I have a home office, we split the bedroom up with some white fabric panels to create separate spaces. My husband loves how soft and tent-like these feel.

...read full article