Feng Shui Your Living Room
Your main sofa, the largest seat in the room, should be in a command position with a clear view of the door with other seats clustered around it, almost as accent pieces, in round, semi-circular or even a square arrangement.
Feng Shui Fix: Rearrange furniture in a way that permits the chi — and conversation — to flow freely. Hang two bamboo flutes directly below the beams at 45 degree angles so the mouth piece is at the top end to alleviate the negative effect of beams in your home. You can also paint the beams the same color as the ceiling.
Does your sofa fit your family’s needs?
The sofa is often the heart of the living room, where people sit, sprawl, cuddle and sometimes even sleep. When selecting a sofa, make sure you like the way it looks and feels — not only in the furniture showroom, but in your home. Take time testing out sofas for comfort; and, if you’re buying a new sofa, measure the room before you go shopping. There’s nothing worse than falling in love with a piece of furniture in the showroom, only to realize it will be too big for your room.
Natural fibers, including soft cottons, linen, microfiber and even denim in a more casual living room, are recommended for comfort and to encourage the flow of chi. Leather sofas tend to be stifling and create stagnant chi. The same way you stick to a leather sofa in warm weather, the energy collects in the material as well.
Want a new sofa but can’t afford one yet? Slipcovers and brightly colored pillows add new life to your furniture and can brighten a room, improving the flow of chi.
Is your living room well-designed for your family’s use?
Of course, things like a white rug in a space with children and pets is just not practical. Is your living room a space where everyone feels welcome or do breakable items discourage children? Is the television the focal point of the room? Is this appropriate for your family? Would enclosing the TV within a cabinet (or moving it to a different room) be better?
Keep in mind, a well-used living room is much better for positive chi than a room that is used only on special occasions. If you have a family room and a living room, one may be neglected.
Do whatever you can to encourage activity in the living room — invite over guests and gather in that space, or hold family game night in the living room.
Consider the room and determine if it helps you meet your life’s goals and live your true purpose.
Perhaps a game table in the corner would encourage family time. A bookshelf in the Knowledge and Wisdom section may encourage a love of reading for your children.
