Have you ever walked into a room and noticed it looked and felt really good?  Or, perhaps you’ve been in a space that drained your energy and made you want to exit immediately. What’s the difference? While there are many factors contributing to our overall experience, the items in the environment and they way they are set up have a significant impact on us – physically, mentally and emotionally. Feng Shui is a way to arrange your environment to enhance your life.  It’s a powerful tool to create harmony and balance and to manifest what you want – even in the areas of love and commitment.

Think about this: Everything in our space has a message for us.  That’s because there is a thought, feeling or memory attached to it.  Some of the messages are positive, some are neutral, and some are negative.  Can you imagine if you set up your home so it was filled with positive messages that lifted your energy up and supported your intention around love and commitment? It’s an empowering concept.

Here are Ten Feng Shui Tips to do just that.

Tip #1

Remove the TV. Before you say “no way,” consider this incentive: A recent study found that couples who had a TV in the bedroom had sex half as often as those that didn’t. Why? Because the TV is a major distraction. In fact, it sits there starring at you screaming, “Turn me on!” while your partner is silently screaming, “No, turn me on!” Perhaps it would have been less of an obtrusion years ago when TVs were 16 inches, but nowadays, you just can’t miss the 50” flat screen and its built-in temptation to watch. For those of you who are adamant about keeping a TV in the bedroom, try enclosing it in a cabinet or concealing it in some way.

Tip #2

Now that the TV is gone, let’s remove some other distractions…including the computer, phone, and stereo. Trust me, you’ll notice the difference. If you must have music, again try enclosing the components or setting up your iPod discreetly.

Tip #3

Next up…photos. Since your bedroom is a private space for you and your partner, put photos of your family and friends in other parts of your home. There’s no better way to water-down intimacy than having the eyes of these folks watching from afar. Same with religious/spiritual images…even a gentle Buddha sitting peacefully can feel intrusive when you are in a passionate embrace.

Tip #4

And, speaking of eyes watching us – even our own can be triggering. Large mirrors in the space are distracting and reduce intimacy. Despite one popular belief (often held in Vegas) that mirrors enhance romance, most of us will actually feel better – and less self-conscious — without them in the bedroom. If you do have mirrors, try placing them where they can’t be seen from the bed. And, if you have mirrored closet doors, flip them around on the runners or add a curtain in front that you can close as needed.

Tip #5

Remove any/all clutter — especially clutter that’s visible in the space. Start with the surface areas (tops of nightstands/bureaus, etc.). Keep only what’s functional such as a lamp or clock or those things that are adding beauty to the space like candles and plants. Remember that much like the TV, clutter is a distraction. So get rid of anything you don’t need, use or love to create a more restful and romantic environment.

Tip #6

Ask yourself if the position of your bed indicate that you are open to partnership. If one side is pushed up against the wall, it would be hard to accommodate a mate. So, make sure there is equal space on either side of the bed for both people to get in/out comfortably. Also, add two bedside tables and two lamps – preferably of equal size to symbolize balance and equality (even if you perceive that you should maintain the control). And, position the head of your bed against a solid wall with a view of the door. This will help you and your partner relax and be even more present with each other.

Tip #7

What’s on your walls? A good guideline is to display artwork that is romantic or peaceful. The image of a couple embracing can affirm love and partnership. And, even abstract artwork can add softness, style, and personality.

Tip #8

Assess your bedding. Does it need to be refreshed? Perhaps you can splurge on a new duvet cover, sheets, and pillows. If you do, select warm colors (flesh tones are great) and sensual fabrics (e.g. cotton satin, microfiber, silk, etc.). Keep bold patterns & colors to a minimum – in fact, just accent with them instead of using them as a primary focus. This will help create a calm and welcoming environment.

Tip #9

Set the mood and enhance the ambience with soft lighting. Install dimmers and use floor and table lamps to avoid the jarring nature of overhead lights. Add window treatments (for the straight men reading this, window treatments are curtains, draperies or other coverings), area rugs, throw pillows, and blankets. Use candles, real plants with soft round leaves, and/or fresh flowers to complete the look/feel.

Tip #10

Take pleasure in your hard work and enjoy the Feng Shui benefits. By reducing distractions and anchoring the idea of partnership, it will be easier to keep romance alive.

May the new “schway” in your bedroom support connection, romance, passion, sensuality, love and commitment for the two of you!

* Additional tips are available on the “Everyday Feng Shui” instructional audio CD available here.

Feng Shui is a way to arrange your space to enhance your life.  It’s also a powerful tool to improve your health.  Here are five simple tips to help you sleep better, reduce stress, boost your immune system and create a more healthy and supportive environment!

1. Relax Your Nervous System

- Declutter! Get rid of anything you don’t need, use or love and keep surface areas clear.

- Put your desk, bed, sofa, etc. in the command position where you have a full — or at least a peripheral view of the door – and your back/head against a solid wall.

- Minimize sharp edges/angles in your environment – especially with furniture. You’ll reduce bumps, bruises and your fight-or-flight response.

2. Boost Your Immune System

- Keep your toilet lids down to avoid spreading germs throughout the bathroom.

- Take your shoes off! Footwear carries dirt, bacteria and chemicals. Why bring it into your home?

- Add plants throughout the home to clean the air and beautify the environment.

3. Get a Good Night’s Sleep with a Calm and Relaxing Bedroom

- Put your bed in the “command position” and avoid sleeping under a window or overhead beams.

- Keep surface areas and the space under bed clear.

- Remove “distractions” including TVs, computers, phones, etc.

- Use calming colors and inviting fabrics.

- Install soft lighting and window treatments.

- Keep mirrors out sight – they activate the energy in the room by reflecting light, objects & people!

4. Reduce or Eliminate EMFs (Electromagnetic Fields)

- Keep electronics out of the bedroom. Replace old, digital alarm clocks with a battery-powered clock or keep your clock away from the bed.

- Do away with the microwave – it produces extremely high EMFs even when not in use; turning it on generates harmful EMF levels. If you must have one, use it sparingly and move 15-feet away while in use. Remember, almost everything can be warmed and cooked with radiant heat.

- Unplug appliances and electronics when not in use; avoid sitting/sleeping close to them.

5. Get Rid of Toxins/Chemicals in Your Home

- Use low- or no-VOC paint.

- Incorporate green building materials whenever possible.

- Opt for organic, natural fiber rugs and fabrics.

- Clean your home with natural products.

- Wash your clothes with chemical-free laundry detergent.

- Check the labels on your toiletries and select soap, shampoo, etc. without harmful chemicals.

- Buy organic produce – skipping the pesticides on food.

Remember that your surroundings matter. Creating a clean, clear, beautiful environment can help improve your health and vitality. Honor your home with daily maintenance and it will support your well-being.

Life and its unexpected twists and turns can be stressful enough…do we really want our environment adding to the problem?

Clutter can affect your peace at home or productivity and focus at work.  While we all know we need to reduce or remove it entirely, somehow the piles keep growing, the surface areas are full and the floor is barely visible.  It’s overwhelming enough to make us abandon our efforts.  Instead, we often resign ourselves to living in a mess.

Perhaps you are one of the lucky ones…a naturally organized clutter-free individual.  There are some out there - a select few who strive to have little or nothing left lying around.

Then, there are the rest of us.  I include myself in that group because I’m not a natural-born clutter-buster.  While I speak about it all the time, I have to work really hard at keeping my environment organized.  Just ask my mom what my room looked like as a teenager!  But, as soon as I had my own place and began studying Feng Shui (a way to arrange your space to enhance your life), my inner- organizer - and disciplinarian - kicked in.

There are a million excuses for living with disarray in our environment - one of the most common being a lack of time.  Well, I ask you today, do you really have time to be disorganized?

Clutter and disorganization add additional stress to our lives and create unnecessary chaos in our home and office.  An abundance of “stuff” becomes a major distraction and can disturb our sleep, ruin a romantic moment, stifle creativity and reduce our ability to be productive.

Clutter has a major impact on us.  Because everything in our environment has a message for us, clutter forces our brain to process too much at once.  It also impacts our body - activating the nervous system and putting it into overdrive.

Where is the clutter in your life?  Can you identify it?  Review your space and ask yourself three questions:  1) What do I really need in this environment? 2) What do I actually use (regularly)?  and 3) What do I truly love?

Are there things you can give away, throw away or recycle?  Are there things you could file, store or put away neatly if you cleared out space in your drawers, cabinets and closets?  You may need to start by clearing out the clutter that’s tucked away so you have room to store what you need.  Are you willing?

Clutter in our home and office adds anxiety to our lives.  In a fast-paced world where there is an abundance of stress, do you really want your environment to be part of the problem?   I invite you to use this new awareness to be part of the solution.