I recently overheard a reported laughingly describe a boutique in New York City that hired a Feng Shui Consultant to come in before opening day. He “hung a few crystals and mirrors around the place,” – and on the first day projected sales were exceeded by five hundred percent.
Somehow Feng Shui is viewed by many as some mystical eastern religion embraced by the same people who call Madame Hoochy’s psychic hotline for dating advice. Indeed, I’ve had several “closeted” clients who, after hearing stories such as the one above, had me come to their place of business only after I could assure them that I would not let their colleagues know what I was doing. Representing myself only as a “space designer,” it was still clear that the people working in the business viewed my presence there as silly. Ironically, once the office was rearranged, the very same skeptics who questioned the value of “space design” were suddenly drawn to it like a magnet, along with everyone else. I might mention that this was accomplished by rearranging the furniture - not a crystal or mirror anywhere.
The reality is - no matter how skeptical; everyone is affected by the way a space looks and feels. Why do you go in some homes and feel comfortable and at ease, and others are unpleasant and make you anxious to leave? The same is true of restaurants, hotels, and retail businesses - go through your own list of favorites in these categories and think about how much “atmosphere” had to do with it. Here’s another example on the most obvious level. You could sit down in someone’s living room and ignore an ugly coffee table – but a dead flower arrangement on top of it would bother you. You probably wouldn’t regard your own aversion to the dead flowers as a mystical experience - instead you would probably be wondering how it didn’t bother your host. But if you were to analyze it further, there is clearly something more to the dead flowers than just aesthetics, which is why the ugly coffee table wouldn’t bother you in the same way. The fact is that a dead flower arrangement would have a negative effect on you and everything else in the room. The reverse of this concept is true as well. At some point you’ve probably walked into a place and felt instantly relaxed - Bed and Breakfast Inns are well known for accomplishing this effect. Is it just because the furniture is prettier than yours. Probably not. The most popular Bed and Breakfast Inns offer atmosphere, and customers pay top dollar to get it.
For most of us, organizing and decorating a new home is a task we take quite seriously. We are trying to create our own space that makes us feel comfortable and content. What most of us don’t realize is that in some places in the world this is an art and a science, and in China this science - known as Feng Shui, has been studied and practiced for 5,000 years. Also known as “the art of placement”, it seeks to integrate the individual with his/her environment in a way that supports the individual emotionally, physically, and intellectually. Feng Shui represents a blending of sciences including ergonomics; the psychology and physiology of light, color, sound, and air quality; psychology and use of intention. Our mood, relationships, success, and all aspects of our lives are affected by the things around us, and most are much less obvious than the dead flowers. A color that is soothing in one place can increase stress levels in another. The position of you bed can make the difference between restful sleep and being tired day after day. A room that is dreary one day can be cozy the next, just by changing the lighting. Successful Realtors know this when they prepare to show a home. Turn on all the lights; play soft classical music in the background; boil some apple pie potpourri. These are the simplest principles of Feng Shui, yet have an immediate, dramatic effect and greatly increase the likelihood of an offer.
What does a Feng Shui consultant do? Contrary to the perception of the reporter mentioned at the beginning of this article, they probably would not come into your home and hang crystals and mirrors all over the place. A good Feng Shui consultant is a trained professional that, like a good interior designer, will help you achieve an environment that you enjoy and can live with comfortably. But whereas the designer is there to suggest fabrics, furnishings and the like, the consultant is there to suggest arrangement and organization of all the objects in the home based on the floor plan and the needs of the individuals in it. The consultant will recommend colors that will create a balanced and harmonious environment, but you’ll be on our own with the paint chips. The consultant may also suggest a live plant, a lamp, or the addition of some other objects in the room, but after that it’s up to you. Finally, the difference between a decorator and a Feng Shui Consultant is the time involved. The consultant comes to your home and spends some time assessing what each room needs, then provides you with the recommendations. This process usually takes only a few hours - after that, you can implement the recommendations as time and budget allow.
When selecting a Feng Shui consultant, make sure they are trained and experienced. Ask about their references. You might also ask for some of their own case histories - every Feng Shui consultant worth their salt will have plenty of amazing result to tell you about. Ideally, the best time to Feng Shui your home is when you first move in. Your home really can have all of the “atmosphere” you might pay for in a Bed and Breakfast - start enjoying it from the very beginning!
The Benefit of Feng Shui in Your New Home
