Originally Published October 13, 2005 -- Your
Wellness Guide
Create a Harmonious
Home With These Trends and Tips
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More information on
creating a harmonious home:
Color Encourages Balance and Improves
Well-being
Simple Living -- New Tools and Trends
Add Scents to Improve Your Life
Closing The Door
On The World: Home As A Sanctuary
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The
wellness lifestyle home is no longer some Zen extreme that you saw
in a high-end architect magazine. It is rapidly becoming part of
the mainstream consumer’s life either by design, re-design, add-ons,
or takeaways. Consumers are becoming smarter and more aware about
what makes them feel at home, what brings them peace and
tranquility, and some of the tools and techniques for bringing
balance and health into everyday life. |
“Homes are
being designed with less formality,” says Leslie Parraguirre, the owner of
Colours, Inc., an interior design firm in Las Vegas. She says
that since 9/11 she has seen an increase in clients turning to be within
the home and with family. As a result, there are less formal living and
dining areas and more attention on the heart of the home: the kitchen.
The kitchen has turned into an informal living space.
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Colors are now
softer, says Parraguirre, utilizing earth tones and warmer greys, such as a
taupe grey versus a cold grey. “There is also a strong trend on having
soothing light. People are hiring lighting consultants to create lighting
systems and specialized settings -- bright for cleaning, soft for soothing.”
When you feel
peaceful and at home, that usually means warmth. In your home, this not
only means the color of the walls but also the flooring. Non-slick, wood
floors using natural-looking wood is making a comeback. If you like tile or
stone, then choose a warmer tone. Greenery in and out of the home with
plants, trees, and planters also invite nature’s serenity.
Have you ever
thought about the welcome factor of your door? Parraguirre says that the
big heavy doors that make the entrance cumbersome to open are being replaced
with lighter-weight doors. Uncomfortable and rigid sofas and chairs are
being swapped for couches that have more depth, are pet friendly, and family
oriented. Ease and comfort, without sacrificing style or security, is the
main theme. |
Source: Richard Bialosky
An
example of Vedic architecture, ancient principles are used to make homes an
oasis from the world. |
While getting rid
of clutter has been talked about for some time, it seems to be a never-ending
topic of discussion because clutter is so easy to accumulate. But the change
now is not just in the act of de-cluttering but changing your lifestyle to not
need clutter -- a way of life. This means not having as much of a connection to
“things” in your life, keeping only those items that serve a purpose or have
some other important value or motivation. Purging potential junk is a daily
habit.
Rooms are
considered functional. Pull the exercise equipment and office out of the
bedroom. Save your bedroom for meditation, sleeping, reading, and an overall
de-stress place.
Feng Shui
concepts, both strict and casual, have made an entrance into the conscious
consumer’s mindset. For those who are seeking the root of Feng Shui and all its
guiding rules and principles including a compass viewpoint, Vedic architecture
and design is of renewed interest -- a focus on orientation, placement, and
proportion.
In Vedic
architecture, every part of your home, from the ground up, would be built with
harmonic proportions, dimensions, and orientation. Your home would face east
“to benefit from the sun as it rises,” says Architect Richard Bialosky. “The
quality of the sun on the entry of the home is important.” Rooms would be
placed according to a defined compass, such as the kitchen in the southeast
corner. And the building plan’s measurements would be made with perfect
vertical and horizontal proportions.
A community in
Florida is being built with Vedic architecture. It’s called
Mandala Club,
which also uses green building standards.
Don’t have the
option for a home redesign? Apply the pyramid philosophy of Feng Shui -- the
person comes first, not the place, and the five senses are engaged.
“Research has
shown that different shapes and forms can affect people in different ways,” says
Feng Shui Expert Connie Spruill, co-author of
Feng Shui With What You Have. She
recommends taking a look at the objects that are surrounding you and seeing what
you can do to change them or manipulate them so that they send subliminal,
positive messages to your brain -- to motivate you, bring you happiness, and
give you a feeling of order and comfort.
Terra
Wellington
is a
national authority on creating a wellness lifestyle.
www.terrawellington.com
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Wellington