An Introduction to Using Color in Feng Shui - Part 2

Last month we talked about how important, and increasingly popular, the use of color psychology is in creating a holistic, sacred space for each of us. By now, you know when it's best to use greens, teals, blues, purples and violets, yellows, oranges and browns. As many colors as that may be, it's just the tip of the color iceberg! 

Let's take a look at a few more colors and what they symbolize in feng shui. 

Whites

Not surprisingly, white symbolizes purity and simplicity. This color is very bright and stark and is the ultimate yang, or active, color.

White can represent an empty slate as well, but it's important in design to view it as just that, since it can be so harsh on the eyes. Imagine looking out at a field of fresh, clean snow. Think of how that bright, empty color puts a strain on your eyes. Who wants to be constantly blinded in their own space?! 

To utilize this color in your space, use white as accents in areas with more color or opt for warmer, off-white tones for wall colors. 

Grays

Gray shades offer the ultimate balance, as a combination of black and white, yin and yang. They can, however, be a bit depressing and cold for some, especially those already dealing with mood issues.

Despite this possibility, grey is a great color to use in your spaces, as it attracts helpful people to your life and helps support the intentions of other colors in a space. 

To use grey in your home or office, consider adding the color to the Benefactors area of your bagua map or combining shades of grey with a complementary color scheme

Deep, Dark Blues

Since there are a plethora of shades of blue, it's necessary to note a difference between the healing, yang energy of brighter blues and the supportive, meditative, more yin energy of dark, deep blues. 

Since very deep, almost black blues are related to the Water element and the Knowledge area of the bagua, they represent a sense of calm and security and can offer a sense of settling and quiet. 

Though blue generally represents the Wood element, these darker shades of blue are perfect for meditation spaces, bedrooms (as long as you don't have a mood disorder) or anywhere you can use a little Water element. Look for artistic accent pieces or accent walls, since you don't want to go too dark with an entire room.

You can also place a piece of Lapis lazuli crystal in the Knowledge or Completion area of your bedroom for support with self-expression and growth.

I hope you're getting a good idea of what colors are best for your space and which ones will nurture you most! Check back in next month for another dose of color 101, where we'll finish up with passionate shades of red, blacks and, on a lighter note, pinks and peaches!

by Anjie Cho


6 Fun Ways to Use Stripes in Your Décor

Think you can’t balance sass with classic? Fun with sophisticated? Think again. Decorating with stripes gives your home a textural balance of timeless spunk. Here are some great ways to incorporate stripes into your décor. 

Pillow line up

Whether you’re sprucing up a sitting area or a bedroom, mingling striped pillows with floral or delicate patterned pillows is a foolproof design trick. Just stick within a one-color palette. The result will be a homey, yet cohesive design. 

Lengthen your walls

For the subtle among us, a nice muted or tone-on-tone vertical stripe on wall paper or fabric wall treatment will give more height to your room. Feeling bold? Stripes in more pronounced contrast colors make a statement. Whether you apply your striped finish to one wall as an accent or take it all the way with a roomful, make sure you get those lines hung straight and even. If you decide to paint your stripes on the wall, pull out your blue painters tape and a level to ensure crisp, clean lines.

Jazz up the floor

If you’ve got hardwood, you’ve got beautiful natural lines just waiting for a chance to shake things up! Refinish your floors using the wood slats as a natural guide. Be creative and design the pattern that best reflects your style. If you’re not ready to break out the paints for a wood floor or to create a pattern with tile flooring, area rugs offer the flexibility of a dose of pattern and color without the long-term commitment.

Go up

Make a statement with a striped ceiling. Break out the tape and paint brush! You can keep your bars of color isolated to the ceiling or you can continue the vertical lines of an accent wall up and across the overhead space. If your room has a pendant lamp or chandelier, your lines can radiate out from the light source like sun rays shining across your room.

Cushions and bedding, oh my!

Your furniture is a great place to introduce stripes. Pick a piece to spotlight instead of going all out. A single chair or ottoman in a stripe pattern demands notice. In the bedroom, bring in the lines with your bedding. A striped bed skirt paired with a floral or solid duvet can be stunning. Alternately, striped sheets can complement a more demure bedspread. Like the throw pillows, you can mix and match your patterns of your seating and bedding as long as you stay within the same color palette.

Accessorize

From lamps to mirror frames, from wall art to drapes, stripes can be an accessory's best friend. Just don’t overdo it. Pick a few items to feature lines, and intermingle them with solids and complementary patterns.

by Anjie Cho


Sagging Sofa? Refresh Rather Than Replace.

There’s a time in every day when you want to kick off your shoes and sink into the welcome embrace of your favorite seat in the house. Over time, however, the well-loved and much used couch can show its age. If your once plump and lush sofa is looking more squished and sagging, follow these six steps to bring new life into your favorite seat. 

1. Snap a photo of your sofa.

While it’s always fun to admire your work with a good before/after visual, that’s not our goal here. Having a picture will help you reassemble the couch properly when you’re done. And if you’re going to spice things up with a few new throw pillows, having that snapshot for your designer or with you in the stores will come in handy, too!

2. Remove the seat cushions from the sofa.

The cushions likely have a zipper on the side that faces into the couch. Remove the covers. This is a good time to wash those! Just make sure you follow the directions on the tag. Go the eco-friendly route and air dry the covers outside. While you’ve got everything taken apart, vacuum the foam cushions and the base of your sofa. 

3. Inspect the frame of your sofa.

Is it in good shape? Are the springs looking worse for the wear? You may find the bones of your favorite coach are beyond your abilities to repair. If that’s the case, it might be time to find a new love. However, if the frame just needs a little TLC, one option is to place a sheet of plywood over the base of your seat. This will create a new platform for the cushions to sit on. Cut the platform to fit the base properly. Once you put your cushions back into place, you’ll never know the wood is there. 

4. Plump your back cushions up. 

Use Poly-fil batting and/or quilt batting to plump up the back cushions of your sofa. If the back cushions don’t come off the frame of your couch, they may still have a zipper at their base. That’s when you reach for the Poly-fil. Tuck generous handfuls of fill behind the existing pillow or foam. If you need help, use a ruler to get the stuffing into the corners and edges. Fill each cushion until you achieve your desired level of plump and comfy

If you can remove the cushions, wrap the foam with layers of quilt batting. Use spray adhesive to help hold each layer of batting in place. How many layers? That depends on how plush you want your seat and how much space you have between the existing cushion and the seat cover. You want your revitalized cushion to have a tight fit, but it still needs to get in the cover. 

5. Reassemble your sofa. 

Place the now clean and plumped cushions back into place. If you have any extra Poly-fil, freshen up your throw pillows before you place them back into place. Or take your sofa photo shopping, and pick up new throw pillows or fabric to make your own covers for the existing pillows.

6. Kick off your shoes and sink into your renewed, refreshed, favorite seat!

by Anjie Cho