Furniture arrangement can improve mood

By Gigi R. Mann

A home is not a mere transient shelter: its essence lies in the personalities of the people who live in it.
H. L. Mencken
US editor (1880 - 1956)

Everything in your home environment impacts your daily life. The surroundings we live in reflect who we are as people.
Much like how our personal styles are reflected by the way we dress, a simple touch such as adding a belt to the outfit could make all the difference.
How we can enhance our surroundings by rearranging our furnitures or adding a mirror in the living room is not just interior design- it goes deeper than that.

Your living quarters is in many ways a visible transformation of your inner self, perhaps a metaphor of how your life is at any given moment. Ever feel in control when your desk is neat and organized, or frazzled when you're running out the door and can't seem to find where you've left your car keys? Everything in your home has an effect upon you, from the smallest hook on the wall, to the largest design furniture in the living room. While we can't always control the external factors in our daily lives, we can control our home surrounding by improving it with Feng Shui.

Feng Shui (pronounced fung shway) is a traditional Chinese knowledge that strive to achieve balance between good and bad energies. Translated as "wind and water," this philosophy has been practiced for thousands of years, and it has got its influences in America and around the world. Donald Trump has been noted to have consulted a Feng Shui specialist before building his extravagant Trump International Hotel in New York. Oprah Winfrey has also purportedly looked for guidance to help balance her energy flow.

This ancient knowledge has evolved from protecting people from harsh environmental conditions to perfecting one's home. Modern physics has a similar notion of believing all things contain their own energy. The basic idea of Feng Shui remains--- and that is to enhance the flow of life's force, also known as "Chi," to create balance and harmony.

By simply acknowledging a few tips and tricks, and making positive adjustments to your physical environment, Feng Shui can help you optimize your home and improve the way a place feels. The basic idea of energy flow is simple: imagine a flow of energy going through your home like a river, making sure to arrange the furnitures like so that the water keeps flowing around it and that it is not blocking the flow. You want the flow to continue at a rate that it can sustain itself, so the speed should neither be rushed (empty room) or becomes trapped (cluttered room). Just remember that the "Chi" entering your rooms through the passing spaces like windows and doors should flow freely like fresh air. By arranging your furnitures to keep the flow at a leisurely speed will provide comfort to your home.