Hitting the “Wow” Factor: Decorating a Shelf

Anjie Cho October 26, 2022

Photo and design by Anjie Cho Architect PLLC

I’ll let you in on a little decorating secret. The difference between a well-designed room and a “WOW!” designed room lies in the details. After you’ve picked out the right wall color and cozied up to your new favorite furniture, it’s time to pull together the finishing touches, like decorating a set of shelves. Go for the “wow!” by following these five tips.

Balance

Even voracious readers need bookshelves with more than just books. If books are a component of your shelving plans, create pockets of reading material balanced between decorative items such as framed photos, small sculptures and other collectibles. Intersperse your favorite reads with your decorative elements. The same applies to the functional shelving dedicated to your crafting supplies, your bathroom, kitchen and more!

Group sets of like items with other functional or decorative elements between them. In a bathroom, place a basket with your make-up between two different sets of towels. In the craft room, organize your fabric in complimentary tones, for example, and pepper baskets of sewing supplies, favorite photos and other trinkets in between the stacks. Try out different combinations!

Embrace Empty Space

A shelf stuffed full can crowd and overwhelm your space. Leave some wiggle room and blank spots. This isn’t about gaping holes. It can be more subtle than that. For example, try stacking taller books on their sides instead of placing them in the shelf upright. Leave space between the top of the stack and the shelf above it. Don’t wedge your items in tightly together. Leave small gaps to give a little breathing room and a peek at the back of your shelf unit or wall.

Jazz Up The Background

The oft ignored back panel of a book case is a canvas waiting to bring your space to life! Paint the inside of a bookcase a few shades darker than your wall color. Alternatively, go for a complementary paint color, decorative patterned paper or mirrors. Get creative. If you’re really up for something different, try alternating two complementary colors or a solid and a simple pattern behind every other shelf.

Get Eye Level

Grab a seat in the room and take a good look at which shelf falls at eye level. This should be your focal point. Use that shelf to feature your photos, artwork or other favorite elements. Then sit back and enjoy the view.

Layer It Up

You can create the illusion of deeper shelves by layering items. Push a grouping of books toward the back and place a small piece of art in front of them. Use natural items like coral and stones in front of framed and matted prints. The one-two (or three!) punch of elements will trick the eye into seeing a space with more depth than the shelf really has.

by Anjie Cho

If you’d like to learn more about feng shui, check out Mindful Design Feng Shui School at: www.mindfuldesignschool.com

Why Your Holistic Space Needs Art

Anjie Cho August 31, 2022

Art may not be the first thing you think of when designing your holistic space, but it actually plays a very important role on many levels. Art, by nature, is very subjective, but its effects in design are much more objective and global. Adding the perfect pieces to your home can bring your area together in various ways.

Balance The Five Elements

We've mentioned art many times as one of the easiest ways to balance out the five elements in any space. As each element relates to a certain area of the feng shui bagua, symbolized by certain shapes, colors and subjects, selecting a piece of art can bring in one or more of the five elements. For Earth you can add earthy colors like brown, orange and yellow and square shapes. For Metal, look for metallic colors, whites, grays and circular shapes. For Water, choose the colors dark blue and black and wavy shapes. For Wood, opt for green, blue and columnar shapes, and finally, for Fire, look for the color red and triangular shapes.

Meditation

Some types of sacred art can be viewed and contemplated in meditation. For instance, the yantra mandalas are created through meditation in action but also can be a visual focal point of a meditation practice. Sacred art is often created with mantra and symbolism. I once attended and event at the Rubin Museum of Art called a "Dream Over". The museum hosts this event in which attendees are assigned a piece of art that you contemplate overnight. Participants meditate, are read bedtime stories and are invited to sleep and dream under their selected piece of art. Art can be a wonderful way to guide meditation and open your mind to inspiration and creativity. What moves you? Look for that in your art pieces.

Add Nature

While the best way to add nature to a space for feng shui adjustments is with living plants, there are times when that option isn't feasible. Maybe your thumb is charcoal black or you have boisterous pets (or children). In this case, choosing artwork that depicts nature can be a great alternative. Be sure to pay attention to the colors in your art and match them to your feng shui needs for the specific room.

Add Color Without Paint

On a similar note, there are often occasions when painting a space is not an option, such as when renting an apartment. In this case, artwork can serve as a way to add color and brighten a room without breaking terms of a lease. Images can add a healthy dose of color on their own, or you can grab a blank canvas and paint it one solid color for a big pop.

Nurture Inspiration

Part of what makes a space holistic is that it provides nourishment and inspiration to its residents. We've even done a few posts and a podcast on how to make your space inspirational. One easy way to do this is with art. One of the best things about art is that it can be interpreted in so many ways and boosts creative thinking. Find a piece that inspires you to work toward your goals, make more art, spend more time on creative outlets, etc.

Strengthen a Room's Purpose

I mentioned earlier that it's important to keep each room's needs in mind when selecting art. This can also be used to your advantage! In design, we often aim for a certain feeling or aura in specific rooms. For instance, the bathroom is often meant to be a place for relaxation and the bedroom for passion. Adding curated artwork can help establish these purposes. Before you look at art, take stock of what you want each room in your space to inspire and find a piece that matches that feeling!

Whether you make your own art, find art that speaks to you or commission a personal piece, bringing artwork into your space can go a long way in making a house into a holistic home. If you're on the lookout for artwork now, consider a Holistic Spaces mandala or reach out to some of our favorite artists below:

Amy T. Won
Mavis Gewant
Carmen Mensink
Karl Lorenzen

by Anjie Cho

If you’d like to learn more about feng shui, check out Mindful Design Feng Shui School at: www.mindfuldesignschool.com

Understanding Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)

Anjie Cho November 24, 2021

First things first, indoor air quality (IAQ) is precisely what it sounds like: the measure of the quality of air inside a building or other structure meant for occupation. It is widely known that our planet suffers from a significant amount of pollution, but this pollution isn't limited to the air we breathe outside our homes. In fact, studies show that the air we breathe inside our homes and other buildings, where we spend most of our time, can be anywhere from two to five times as toxic as outdoor air due to a variety of chemicals included in paint, cleaning agents, etc.

From a feng shui perspective, indoor air quality affects the energy flow in your home. You want the most positive and supportive qi around you to support your health and livelihood.

Since, as I mentioned, humans spend the majority of our time inside, it is extremely important that we improve the condition of our IAQ. Poor IAQ can lead to many negative side effects including nose bleeds, asthma, upper respiratory irritation and much more. In addition to physical ailments, polluted IAQ can be very costly, whether in company terms, where it can cost in the form of employee compensation and negative publicity, or on a more personal level, which can lead to increased medical bills and purchasing of excessive products to eliminate symptoms.

Fortunately, as with most environmentally unfriendly issues, there are ways to reduce the level of harmful substances in your indoor air and increase the quality of the air your family breathes.

One of the easiest ways to increase your IAQ is by monitoring the chemicals that are used, and subsequently released into the air, in your home. Rather than using commercial, toxic cleaning supplies, try switching to non-toxic, DIY cleaning agents, as they provide a much cleaner, safer air quality for your home's inhabitants. Oh, and they're easier on the wallet.

Another easy way to control the quality of your home's air is by ensuring that atmospheric conditions are optimal for human living, not life of micro-organisms. Keep humidity in the home between 30% and 50% by taking steps like venting your dryer outside your home, using a humidifier or air conditioner in the home and taking care not to overwater houseplants.

Taking time to ensure your home is properly cleaned and free of dust particles and other tiny organisms will also help with controlling the amount of allergens in your family's indoor air. Mop often with just water or non-toxic soap to ensure that dust doesn't settle on hard floors, and vacuum on softer floors. Clear your indoor space by opening windows and letting in fresh air, and instead of harmful chemical air fresheners, try the naturally refreshing scent of lemon or other citrus peels (like orange, feng shui's favorite!).

IAQ is becoming increasingly important as we face growing danger due to pollutants in our atmosphere. Bettering and maintaining a high quality for your family's home is as easy as changing a few patterns and trying new things. You have nothing to lose, except for allergens and ailments!

by Anjie Cho