eHow.com Video: Chinese Home Decorations

Chinese Home Decorations

Chinese Home Decorations

Chinese home decorations bring meaning and symbolism to a space. Coins, zodiac animals and lucky bamboo offer wealth, harmony, growth and more. Add oranges for positive energy. 

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Video Transcript:

I'm Anjie Cho, and today I'm sharing with you the meanings behind using Chinese decorations in your home.

First are the ten Chinese coins of the Ching Dynasty. These are reproductions of coins from the Ching Dynasty representing the ten emperors from that time period. The coins represent abundance of wealth and power. It's beneficial to put these in an area that's easily seen from the entry. It can bring you wealth and money from an upright and legitimate source.

Another Chinese home decoration is the 12 zodiac animals. This is a representation of all 12 animals together on a cord. Each year is represented by a different animal and they are all included here, rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, ram, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. Each animal represents an archetype. This decoration combines all 12 of the zodiac animals to represent harmony. This decoration is beneficial to put in the center of a home to represent harmony with all the members of the family.

The third Chinese home decoration is lucky bamboo. Bamboo is abundant in Asia and grows very quickly. It represents upright and honest growth as well as flexibility and adaptability. The bamboo plant does not flower or fruit. Its life span is long but simple. It's also hollow which represents an empty heart of humbleness. Coincidentally in Western culture, it's a symbol for the green sustainability movement.

In Feng Shui lucky bamboo is best when it's straight and not curly or twisted which can represent the opposite of upright and positive growth. Lucky bamboo represents a wood element of kindness, flexibility and healing growth.

Plants also add life energy to a space. Lucky bamboo is great because they can thrive in a variety of lighting conditions and in water or in soil and it's very easy to find. If the green starts to fade into yellow, it probably needs a little bit more light. Just so you know the lucky bamboo you will often find is technically not bamboo but symbolically the plant works the same way.

Finally, the last Chinese home decoration I will talk about is a bowl of oranges. In feng shui, oranges and orange peels contribute positive, fresh and brightening energy our inner and outer environments. Oranges are very auspicious and lucky in Chinese culture. You can always find oranges as decorations at any Chinese festivity. The oranges transform the home with vibrant, life-giving positive energy.

An easy way to incorporate oranges as a home decoration is to get a lovely Asian style bowl like this one, a green, black or white bowl complements the color of oranges very well. In Feng Shui a bowl of fresh oranges adds happiness and brightness to any room.

I'm Anjie Cho, Feng Shui designer with Anjie Cho Architect and founder of Holistic Spaces and today I shared with you the meanings and applications for Chinese home decorations.

by Anjie Cho

De-Stress Your Bedroom: Feng Shui Style

featured this week in Savor Magazine

Did you know your bedroom environment greatly influences your stress levels and ability to truly rest and regenerate? We spend many passive “yin” hours sleeping in this room. It’s no surprise that in Feng Shui philosophy, your bedroom represents you. Here are some tips to create a harmonious space of relaxation and repose.

Location, Location, Location

Location absolutely matters! Specifically, I’m referring to the location of your bed in relation to the bedroom door. The best location for the bed is the farthest position from the door, while not in line with or behind the swing of it.

When you are lying in bed, you want to be able to easily see the door. You feel safe when you can see your bedroom door; therefore, your mind and body relax because you are in control of your environment. If this arrangement is not possible, set up a mirror such that while you are lying in bed, you can clearly see out the door.

What’s Underneath?

What is underneath your bed influences your sleep and well-being. It is recommended that you keep nothing under your bed, so the energy and “chi” can flow easily around you while you are sleeping. We spend many idle hours asleep, so you are easily susceptible to the energies of the objects below your bed.

If you must store things here, stick with soft bed-related items such as linens, blankets and pillows. Be sure to stay away from sharp objects and specifically anything negatively nostalgic like photos of ex-partners.

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by Anjie Cho

Bring a bit of feng shui into your home

featured last month on SheKnows.com, article by Sherri Kuhn 

The entryway to your home sets the tone for your whole living space, but what about the effect it has on your career success? Feng shui suggests that black and other dark colors have an impact on your success. We spoke with feng shui experts to find out how we can incorporate these concepts into our own homes — and boost our careers at the same time.

How does feng shui relate to your career?

The Kan Gua is located near the front entry, and is the career area of a home. "The colors of the Kan Gua are black, navy blue and dark blue," says Diana Hathaway Timmons, color expert at About.com, interior designer and author of Sell Your Home Without Losing Your Zen. "Decorating with these colors in the Kan Gua of your home can enhance career opportunities." She stresses that while using these colors is beneficial, it is important to approach it in a balanced way, or it will create the opposite effect. "Feng shui is all about balance, and that includes the use of colors," she adds. "Using large amounts of dark color in the room traps the chi (energy) and will defeat the purpose of using color as a career enhancement."

Your face to the world

Visualize the front entry to your home, which is what people see first when they approach your home or enter it. "The entry and front door of your home represent your face to the world, how the world sees you and how easily opportunities can come to you," says Anjie Cho, registered New York State architect and feng shui interior designer. "The entry is also related to your path in life as well as the season and energy of winter," Cho adds. "Using black to emphasize water and career will increase your career success. The colors black and dark blue, the number one, wavy shapes and the element of water symbolize this area."

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by Anjie Cho