Le Duc McNamara Family

We are looking at building a new home. Tara found a cool color choosing tool at behr.com today. She picked colors for the exterior and trim and was able to see what an example house would look like. It was very exciting to see. The best feature is the ability to upload a picture of the house we want to build and see what the color will look like. The bummer is it costs $4.95 to do this and it’s a bit cheesy.

Lots of questions come too mind when thinking of building a house. What colors should we use? Where should it be positioned on the property? What else should we consider in designing our home? We are looking to feng shui for input. According to Wikipedia; Feng shui is the “ancient Chinese practice of placement and arrangement of space to achieve harmony with the environment.”

Thousands of years of design are represented in the feng shui principles. The goal is to invite positive energy or “chi” into the home and have it move through the structure smoothly, uninhibited. Good Feng Shui is touted to promote beneficial energy.

The Bagua Chart

The bagua represents the interrelationships of natural element and their position in the environment. Feng shui is based on these ideas. Getting the right order or position of elements can increase positive energy flow through the home.

Floor Plans

The About.com article, “How To Design Your Home With Feng Shui“, is a great place to start with floor plan layout. Here is an excerpt from the article:

1. Select a square or rectangular lot which is level. Water views are especially desirable.
2. Place your front door so that it is easily accessible from the road. However, the pathway to your door should not form a straight line.
3. Build only one front door. Never build double doors or two front entryways.
4. Avoid rock gardens or obstructions near the entryway. Keep hedges trimmed back.
5. Consult a ba-gua chart to select the most harmonious placement of rooms.
6. Strive for high, well-lit ceilings.
7. Pay special attention to the placement of doors, windows and stairways. Avoid long corridors and awkward or cramped floor plans.
8. Consider the relationship between light, color and mood. Avoid strong overhead lighting and dark, monotone color schemes.
9. Always seek clean lines and open spaces. Try to keep your new home free of clutter and debris.

Tips:

1. Listen closely to your instincts. What room arrangements make you feel most comfortable?
2. If your architect does not embrace feng shui ideas, consider hiring a feng shui consultant to assist during the design process.
3. Fill your new home with love and light. Honor it with a celebration.

Areas to Consider from About.com

• Create a Healthy Home
• Family Harmony
• The Kitchen
• The Bathroom
• The Master Bedroom
• Kids Bedrooms
• Encourage Life-long learning
  
• Light in the home

More About Colors at About.com

• The Five Elements Overview
• Colors Overview
• Orange - Fire, South (Fame & Reputation) and Southwest (Love & Marriage)
• Red - Fire, South (Fame & Reputation)
• Pink - Fire, Southwest (Love & Marriage) Pink color is the universal color of Love
• White - Metal, West (Creativity & Children), Northwest (Helpful People & Blessings)
• Gray - Metal, West (Creativity & Children), Northwest (Helpful People & Blessings) or North (Career & Path in Life)
• Black - Water, North (Career & Path in Life)
• Blue - Water, East (Health & Family) and Southeast (Wealth & Abundance)
• Green - Wood, use in the East, Southeast and South (Nourishing to your health)
• Yellow - Fire, East and Southeast, anywhere need light, increase self-esteem, strengthen well-being
• Brown - Wood, East (Health & Family), Southeast (Wealth & Abundance), and South (Fame & Reputation)
• Purple - Fire, Use sparingly and maybe with a meditation room

More feng shui information can be read at About.com

Placement & Elements in Feng Shui