Q&A Sunday: Feng Shui for a Quiet Lifestyle

Anjie Cho March 29, 2020

I'm moving unexpectedly due to a poor experience in my previous apartment. The manager feels it would be a better fit for my quiet lifestyle. Question: I desire peace, tranquility and an ambiance of water. I love citrus smells too. What feng shui suggestions do you have for a small apartment, family of 4 (3 kids & myself)?

Trina S., Las Vegas, NV

Hi Trina,

Thanks so much for your question. I’m so sorry that you had such a poor experience in your home that you need to move. I hope your new place does fit your quiet lifestyle better.

I find that so many of us seek peace and tranquility. I can’t tell you how many clients come to me, and they just want a relaxing home. You’ve also indicated you are attracted to water, which is related to dark colors (think black and very dark blue) as well as the Path in Life area on the feng shui bagua. It's also associated with fluidity, wisdom and intelligence. It's good news that you love citrus smells! In feng shui philosophy, oranges can welcome positive, life-affirming energy. Physiologically, oranges also help relieve depression and improve mood. Check out our orange peel ritual for space clearing that's perfect for the new lunar year!

I don’t have your floor plan, but you wrote that you’re searching for quiet. I can offer some general tips based on my intuition and what you have shared. If you love the ambiance of water, perhaps include a water element in your living room. The sound is soothing and brings water energy. Water elements, like fountains, can welcome wealth if you direct the water current towards inside or the center of your home (rather than out the door). As mentioned above, oranges are also are a great way to bring in life energy. We have some space clearing techniques on the blog or our orange Happy spray that is especially good for new homes. It’s also good to periodically clear the space no matter how long you’ve lived in your home.

Most importantly, because you have three kids, please review the commanding position and bed locations. If possible, try to locate each child's bed in the commanding position. This position is diagonal, or kitty corner, from the door with a clear view of what is entering. The commanding position is especially important for children. If you have bunk beds for the kids, and this is all you have space for, be sure to stay tuned for a future post. We'll talk more about that. But they're not ideal for kid's feng shui. You can read more about designing a kids' room with feng shui here.

I hope these help! Send us your floor plan sometime, and we may be able to offer some more specific tips.

by Anjie Cho

Thanks for reading our "Q&A Sunday". We will be answering questions submitted by our readers. Click here to submit any Feng Shui questions!

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Q&A Sunday: Feng Shui and Autism

Anjie Cho November 17, 2019

I found your blog last week and I totally love it. I've already done a couple of simple adjustments that have actually made a great impact on the space. Like moving my couch into a commanding position and clearing my entry way. I also noticed that my son, who is severely autistic, has been affected as well. Our living room seems to now be his perfect place to sit and do a quiet, focused activity- usually reading a picture book. How do you think feng shui applies to those with sensory issues, like autism and Asperger's syndrome? Do you have any recommendations on applying feng shui to an autistic child's bedroom?

Danielle P., Columbia, MO

Hi Danielle,

Aww thanks so much for your kind words. I’m so happy that the feng shui adjustments have impacted your son in such a positive way! I think this is a really important subject, so I also consulted with two other experts. My sister, Stephanie Cho, is a psychiatrist at George Washington University, and my friend Nancy Guberti, practices functional medicine and has worked with dozens of autistic children.

We all (Stephanie, Nancy and myself) agree that placing autistic children in the commanding position creates a safe and soothing environment. From the feng shui perspective, the commanding position sets you up so that there are fewer surprises; you can literally see what or who is coming into your space. For an autistic child, this helps to prevent opportunities for disturbances and creates a calming space.

Stephanie advised that for aspects of the environment that are sensory oriented, such as colors or smells, the feng shui guidelines are not as applicable, as this depends on each autistic child. Their associations with their senses are highly individual. Therefore it's best to notice and be aware of what colors, scents, or objects have positive associations with each child. Then it can be helpful to place that in their bedrooms. But by far, the commanding position is the way to go with the bed and, if possible desk or sitting areas.

The commanding position would place the bed (or other major furniture) such that when one is lying in the bed, that they can see the door while not in line with this door.

Nancy also suggested clutter-free environments for autistic children's bedrooms. The less busyness, the better. Less sensory input and "noise." I would recommend using storage with doors or bins. This is a great way to cut down the clutter and reduce the amount of noise in a space. :)

I'm thrilled to hear that the small changes you made as a result of our blog have made such an impact in such an important area of life. You and your son are proof that feng shui really does work! Please let me know if you make any of the adjustments Stephanie, Nancy and I have suggested and how they work out!

by Anjie Cho

Mindful Design is a new way to learn feng shui. Our a unique training program takes an holistic approach to learning the art of feng shui design. Mindful design is about becoming aware, and attentive, to the energy around you: both inner and outer qi. It is about promoting a better way of living and creating sacred spaces that support, and nourish. Visit us at mindfuldesignschool.com.

Thanks for reading our "Q&A Sunday". We will be answering questions submitted by our readers. Click here to submit any Feng Shui or Green Design questions!

Stale Nursery Trends It’s Time to Say Goodbye To

Anjie Cho October 24, 2018

featured on Domino by Caroline Biggs

Ask any parent-to-be and they’ll probably say the same thing: Half the fun of prepping for a baby is designing the nursery. But before you go pinning up a storm on Pinterest, it’s important to take a minute to think about the trends that are actually worth putting in your little one’s room. While some ideas might offer initial appeal—much like other outdated home décor crazes—a lot of nursery fads are fleeting.

Luckily, we have a lot of designer friends to call upon for help. We asked these interior aficionados what nursery trends are on their way out, and they had a lot to share. From animal prints to crib mobiles, read ahead for the trends the experts say it’s time to bid adieu to.

Gendered Colors

As gendered stereotypes become more and more passé in the real world, it’s no surprise that hip designers are making a concerted effort to create gender-neutral nurseries.

“Gender roles in society are beginning to be revisited, and so are the traditional go-to hues (i.e. pink for girls and blue for boys) used in nurseries,” says designer Anjie Cho. “Gray—my favorite is Benjamin Moore’s Gray Owl—is the new yellow of non-gendered nursery colors; it works with pastels and is both soothing and neutral.”

…read full article

If you’d like to learn more about feng shui check out the Mindful Design Feng Shui certification program. Laura Morris and I launched our program in September 2018. To get on the list about it, sign up at: www.mindfuldesignschool.com.

Mindful Design is a new way to learn feng shui. Our unique training program takes an holistic approach to learning the art of feng shui design. Mindful design is about becoming aware, and attentive, to the energy around you: both inner and outer qi. It is about promoting a better way of living and creating sacred spaces that support, and nourish.