How To Apply Feng Shui To Your Baby Nursery

You choose the most dependable doctors, the greatest gear, and the coziest clothes. So why not attempt to achieve harmony within the environment with Feng Shui? You choose the most dependable doctors, the greatest gear, and the coziest clothes. So why not attempt to achieve harmony within the environment with Feng Shui?

Feng shui literally means ‘wind, water’ and involves balance in the environment in which we live. The Oxford English Dictionary defines it as, “a system of laws considered to govern spatial arrangement and orientation in relation to the flow of energy, and whose effects are taken into account when location scouting and designing buildings.” This flow of energy is called ‘chi’ and it sustains everything in life. Feng shui proposes that, by arranging and aligning the room correctly, energy will flow better in the room and that all who reside in the room will flourish and prosper better than if the energy is the room was not harmonious. Designing a nursery with feng shui benefits not only the child, but the rest of the family. Here are some basics to bear in mind when designing a nursery.

Timing
The Chinese are very superstitious and therefore believe it’s best to leave decorating the nursery until the last few weeks leading up to the birth – so mischievous spirits are not tempted to do damage to the baby. However, we don’t think that leaving the heavy-duty decorating is the best idea for a heavily pregnant woman! Maybe it’s best to sit in a comfortable chair and give instructions to your partner.

Room Position in the House
Ideally, a child’s room should be in the middle, or the ‘bosom’ of the house, as Raymond Catchpole, chairman of The Feng Shui Society calls it, to induce feelings of security in the child. Cathpole also advises, “A new baby should have a bedroom that is not over a garage or has an empty space below. The bedroom also shouldn’t be located where there is excessive noise that might keep the baby from sleeping, such as close to a living room where the TV is on or close to a noisy street or neighbor.”

Colors
The best colors for a child’s room are soothing tones that aren’t boring, such as the pale blues, pale green and a nice yellow. Something that is sunshine-like is always a good choice. Some experts advise that babies’ rooms should be in soft ‘yin colors’ which evoke serenity and rest, like pastel blues and greens, peach or light buttercup. Primary colors are not ideal as they can be quite stimulating and, therefore, not restful in a sleeping place. While rooms with bright colors and many decorations are typical when we think of nurseries, feng shui consultants advise that a less ‘busy’ room in terms of design will show parents an improvement in sleeping and behavior.
Crib Position in Nursery
Whenever you enter a bedroom, the bed is placed in the proper position for an adult: you’d expect to see the head of the bed against the furthest wall so while in bed a person can see what’s coming. This is a command-type of position. However, so many people put cribs in odd ways. Cribs are often lined up with the door which is disastrous in feng shui as this attracts harsh energy, or they are placed along side a wall, but rarely, if ever, is a crib placed like it should be: with the head against the wall.” The first year is all about sensory input — they feel everything. Having your baby in a command position allows him to have that comfort and safety.

Other Feng Shui Decorating Advice
It’s nice to personalize a room and carefully selected items can do this. Framed family pictures are ideal as they provide security and happiness. A green plant is essential as it cleans the atmosphere – but make sure it is out of reach of little hands! Lighting should be soft and keep electrical goods to a minimum to reduce the amount of electromagnetic radiation. Curtains are apparently better than blinds too, and often white is the preferred color, although this may lead to early mornings in the summer! You do want to have a fair amount of toys and things to keep your baby stimulated, but not so much that he or she will feel over-stimulated and over-loaded, but keep the bulk of these items someplace else.